The argument in the present chapter rests on the certain truth, that God appointed Melchisedec to be a type of Christ in his priestly office, and ordered every thing concerning his history in such a way as to make the type as perfect as it could be in the case of a mere earthly priest. By his wise p... [ Continue Reading ]
KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; this is the meaning of the Hebrew word Melchisedec. SALEM; that is, peace; Melchisedec was therefore in his own name and that of his city a fit type of the righteous Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:4-5; Isaiah 32:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT FATHER-END OF LIFE; the inspired record takes no notice of any of these things; and this was designed by the Holy Ghost, that his priesthood might thus typify the priesthood of Christ in a double way; first, as to our Lord's human nature, as being a priest of another order than the Levitical... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW GREAT THIS MAN WAS; see verses Hebrews 7:6-7, and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE A COMMANDMENT TO TAKE TITHES; NUMBERS 18:21-32. THOUGH THEY COME; though their brethren of whom they take tithes, come out of the loins of Abraham. Thus the Levitical priests are raised above their brethren in official dignity.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE; Melchisedec. RECEIVED TITHES OF ABRAHAM, AND BLESSED HIM THAT HAD THE PROMISES; being thus exalted, not as the Levitical priests were, above the rest of their brethren, but above Abraham himself, and thus, as the epistle goes on to show, above the Levitical priesthood also.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LESS-THE BETTER; in official dignity.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN THAT DIE-HE LIVETH; he passes to another point in which Melchisedec's priesthood was typically superior to that of the Levitical priests: it had no limitation; all the testimony we have of him is as a living priest and king, no mention being made of his death or the end of his priesthood. The wr... [ Continue Reading ]
LEVI ALSO; and in him the Levitical priests of whom he was the father. PAID TITHES IN ABRAHAM; paid tithes to Melchisedec, and thus acknowledged his superiority.... [ Continue Reading ]
A new argument is now introduced. Since the Levitical priesthood and the law were given together, as parts of one whole, so that the annulling of the one is the annulling of the other, why should God have promised another priesthood, and with it another economy, except because the former priesthood... [ Continue Reading ]
HE; Christ, spoken of in Psalms 110:4. TO ANOTHER TRIBE; not that of Levi, from whom the priests under the law were to descend.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS YET FAR MORE EVIDENT; that there is a change of the priesthood, and with it, of the economy.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS MADE; constituted a priest. NOT AFTER THE LAW OF A CARNAL COMMANDMENT; not with a temporary and inefficacious priesthood, corresponding with the carnal ordinances of the law under which he ministers. Compare, for the meaning of these words, chap Hebrews 9:9-10; Hebrews 10:4. AFTER THE POWER... [ Continue Reading ]
A DISANNULLING; setting aside and bringing to a close the ceremonial law and its priesthood. WEAKNESS AND UNPROFITABLENESS; as to the work of making a true expiation for sin, and thus opening a true way for salvation. See the following note, verse Hebrews 7:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW MADE NOTHING PERFECT; the ceremonial law was not designed for that. It answered the local and temporary purpose for which it was intended, but its sacrifices could not, like the sacrifice of Christ, purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God, cleanse from sin, justify and s... [ Continue Reading ]
Still another argument to show the superiority of Christ's priesthood to that of Aaron and his sons: He was made priest with an oath, they without an oath. The added solemnity of the oath shows the superior dignity of the priesthood.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SURETY; one who becomes responsible for the fulfilment of a covenant. A BETTER TESTAMENT; or, a better covenant. The same Greek word is rendered now covenant, as in chap Hebrews 8:6, etc., and now testament, as in chap Hebrews 9:15, etc. The later is the appropriate rendering where there is a ref... [ Continue Reading ]
The last argument for the superiority of Christ's priesthood over that of the Levitical priests, after which there is a summing up of the perfections of our great High-priest, Christ Jesus, verses Hebrews 7:25-28.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HIM; as their high-priest, not venturing before God in their own name.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAME US; was needed by us. MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS; where he ministers before God. See chap Hebrews 8:1-2; Hebrews 8:4; Hebrews 9:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS HE DID ONCE; made a full and complete atonement, so that no further sacrifice for sin would ever be needed.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSECRATED; or perfected as a High-priest. Compare chap Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 6:9. Christ is in all respects such a Deliverer as sinners need. None perish for want of an all-sufficient and willing Saviour, nor because a way of salvation is not opened, nor because God does not desire their salvation... [ Continue Reading ]