1._For this Melchisedec, etc. _He has hitherto been stimulating the Jews by exhortations, that they might attentively consider the comparison between Christ and Melchisedec. At the end of the last chapter, that he might return from his digression to his subject, he quoted again the passage from the... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Without father, etc. _I prefer this rendering to that of “unknown father;” for the Apostle meant to express something more emphatic than that the family of Melchisedec was obscure or unknown. Nor does this objection disturb me, that the reality does not correspond with the figure or type, because... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Now consider_, _etc. _This is the fourth comparison between Christ and Melchisedec, that Abraham presented tithes to him. But though tithes were instituted for several reasons, yet the Apostle here refers only to what serves his present purpose. One reason why tithes were paid to the Levites was,... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And verily they, etc. _It would be more suitable to render the words thus, “because they are the sons of Levi.” The Apostle indeed does not assign it as a reason that they received tithes because they were the sons of Levi; but he is comparing the whole tribe with Melchisedec in this way. Though... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Blessed him, etc. _This is the fifth comparison between Christ and Melchisedec. The Apostle assumes it as an admitted principle that the less is blessed by the greater; and then he adds that Melchisedec blessed Abraham: hence the conclusion is that the less was Abraham. But for the sake of streng... [ Continue Reading ]
7._The less is, _(114) _etc. _Let us first know what the word _blessed _means here. It means indeed a solemn praying by which he who is invested with some high and public honor, recommends to God men in private stations and under his ministry. Another way of blessing is when we pray for one another;... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. _He takes the silence respecting his death, as I have said, as an evidence of his life. This would not indeed hold as to others, but as to Melchisedec it ought rightly to be so regarded, inasmuch as he was a type of Christ. For as the spiritual kingdom and... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Levi also, etc. _He advances farther, and says, that even Levi himself, who was then _in the loins of Abraham_, was not exempt from the same subordination; for Abraham, by paying tithes, made himself and his posterity inferior to the priesthood of Melchisedec. (117) But here one, on the other han... [ Continue Reading ]
11._If therefore perfection, _or, moreover if perfection, (118) _etc. _From the same testimony the Apostle concludes, that the old covenant was abrogated by the coming of Christ. He has hitherto spoken of the office and person of the priest; but as God had instituted a priesthood for the purpose of... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For the priesthood being changed, _or, _transferred, etc. _As the authority of the Law and the priesthood is the same, Christ became not only a priest, but also a Lawgiver; so that the right of Aaron, as well as of Moses, was transferred to him. The sum of the whole is, that the ministry of Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
13._For he of whom these things are spoken, _or, _said_, (121) _etc. _As the Apostle was speaking to them who confessed Jesus the Son of Mary to be the Christ, he proves that an end was put to the ancient priesthood, because the new Priest, who had been set in the place of the old, was of another tr... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And it is yet far more evident, etc. _He proves by another argument, that the Law is abolished. He reasoned before as to the person of the priest, but now as to the nature of the priesthood, and the reason for which it was appointed. The ancient priesthood, he says, had to do with external rites... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Carnal commandment, etc. _It was called _carnal_, because it refers to things corporal, that is, to external rites. We know how Aaron and his sons were initiated into their office. What was fulfilled in Christ by the hidden and celestial power of the Spirit, was shadowed forth under the Law by o... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Thou art a priest forever, etc. _It is on the single word _forever, _that the Apostle lays stress in this passage; for he confirms what he said of an _indissoluble life_. He then shows that Christ differs from the whole race of Levi, because he is made a priest for ever. (122) But here it may be... [ Continue Reading ]
18._For there is verily a disannulling, _or _abrogation, etc. _As the Apostle’s discourse depends on this hinge, that the Law together with the priesthood had come to an end, he explains the reason why it ought to have been abolished, even because it was weak and unprofitable. And he speaks thus in... [ Continue Reading ]
19._For the Law made nothing perfect, etc. _As he had spoken rather harshly of the Law, he now mitigates or, as it were, corrects that asperity; for he concedes to it some utility, as it had pointed out the way which leads at length to salvation. It was, however, of such a kind as to be far short of... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And inasmuch as not without an oath, etc. _Here is another argument, why the Law ought to give place to the Gospel; for God has set Christ’s priesthood above that of Aaron, since in honor to the former he was pleased to make an oath. For when he appointed the ancient priests, he introduced no oa... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And they truly, etc. _He had already touched on this comparison; but as the subject deserved more attention, he unfolds it more fully, though the point discussed is different from what it was before; for then he concluded that the ancient priesthood was to come to an end because they who exercis... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Wherefore he is able to save, etc. _This is the fruit of an eternal priesthood, even our salvation, if indeed we gather this fruit by faith as we ought to do. For where death is or a change, you will there seek salvation in vain; hence they who cleave to the ancient priesthood, can never attain... [ Continue Reading ]
26._For such an high priest, etc. _He reasons from what is necessarily connected with the subject. These conditions, or qualifications, as they commonly say, are of necessity required in a priest — that he should be just, harmless, and pure from every spot. This honor belongs to Christ alone. Then w... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Who needeth not, etc. _He pursues the contrast between Christ and the Levitical priests; and he points out especially two defects, so to speak, in the ancient priesthood, by which it appears that it was not perfect. And here, indeed, he only touches briefly on the subject; but he afterwards expl... [ Continue Reading ]
28._For the law, etc. _From the defects of men he draws his conclusion as to the weakness of the priesthood, as though he had said, “Since the law makes no real priests, the defect must by some other means be remedied; and it is remedied by the _word of the oath; _for Christ was made a priest, being... [ Continue Reading ]