_CHRIST JESUS IS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDECH; AND SO, FAR
MORE EXCELLENT THAN THE PRIESTS OF AARON'S ORDER._
_Anno Domini 63._
IN the preceding chapter, the apostle proposed to go on with the
Hebrews to the perfectionofChristian knowledge and experience,
demonstrated by arguments draw... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS MELCHISEDEC,— The apostle had spoken of an high-priest
after the order of Melchisedec thrice before, ch. Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews
5:10 Hebrews 6:20 and he had hinted, that _he had many things to say
of him, and hard to be understood;_ all therefore which has been said
in the preceding chapter i... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM ALSO ABRAHAM GAVE, &C.— Great as Abraham was, yet he gave
tithes to, and was blessed by Melchisedec; and in consequence this
priest was greater than Abraham; for, without dispute, he who
receiveth the blessing, is inferior to him who giveth it. See Hebrews
7:7. _Melchi_ signifies _king,_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER,— No more is intended by this, in the
opinion of most of the great expositors than to observe, that the
father and mother of Melchisedec are no where mentioned, nor are they
pretended to be known; nor is any hint of his family taken notice of
in the scriptures which sp... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONSIDER HOW GREAT THIS MAN WAS,— _How great he,—this person,
was._ Heylin. "He was superior to Abraham, for he _blessed him;_ and
he was superior to Levi, or any son of his, since (if I may be allowed
so to say) _they paid tithes in Abraham;"_ Hebrews 7:9. This is a
severe stroke upon the Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TAKE TITHES, &C.— _According to the law, to take tithes of the
people,_ that is, _of their brethren._ Our author's design is to
magnify the priesthood of Melchisedec: in order whereto he magnifies
the dignity of the Levitical priesthood, and then shews that the
other, of Melchisedec, was to be pr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WHOSE DESCENT IS NOT COUNTED FROM THEM— This sufficiently
explains what is meant in the preceding verses by Melchisedec's being
said to be _without father or mother:_ his _descent_ or _genealogy_
was not derived either from Abraham's line, or from any other; but,
such as he was, he exercised... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LESS IS BLESSED OF THE BETTER.— That is, _The inferior is
blessed of the superior._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HERE MEN THAT DIE, &C.— _Here_ [according to the law] _men that
die take tithes; but there,_ [in the case of Melchisedec,] _he, of
whom it is witnessed that he liveth._ As to the single point of taking
tithes, the case was the same both with the Levitical priests and with
Melchisedec: but the di... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS I MAY SO SAY,— Elsner is of opinion, that this should be
translated, _to say the truth;_ and he produces some passages out of
the classics to vindicate this version.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEREFORE PERFECTION, &C.— _But if,_ or _now if perfection had
been._ The Levitical priesthood was appointed, when the law was given
to the Jews. But could perfection have been had by the priesthood
appointed under the law, or had that been the design of it, the
scriptures would have had no occas... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED,— Another priest arising, there
must be a change of the priesthood; but how does it follow that there
must be a _change of the law?_ For though the priesthood admitted an
alteration, might not the law, as to other points, have continued the
same? The truth is, so muc... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE OF WHOM THESE THINGS ARE SPOKEN— Namely, the Christ, who was
to be of the order of Melchisedec. This is another reason why the law
was to be changed; for the priesthood being designed,not to be in the
tribe of Levi, to which the law of Moses had absolutely and entirely
fixed it, the change of... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT OUR LORD SPRANG OUT OF JUDAH;— It may be worth remembering
here, that Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Chrysostom, refer to the
table made at the taxation in proof of this; and it may be considered
whether the apostle does not insinuate the same reference. Undoubtedly
he would not have spoken in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT IS YET FAR MORE EVIDENT;— "And, independent on all
genealogical controversywhich the most ingenious malice couldurge
concerning Mary's family, it is yet more abundantly manifest that the
law must be changed, from the least attention to that scripture alone,
so frequently mentioned, _That,_ or... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS VERILY A DISANNULLING— _"For there is an abrogation of
the former commandment,_ concerning the Levitical priesthood, _upon
account of the weakness and unprofitableness of it: For the law made
nothing perfect,_ and consequently could not make the priesthood so,
or confer those advantages... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN AS MUCH, &C.— The apostle produces here another argument to
prove the superior excellence of the new covenant above the law of
Moses; or rather, the superior dignity of the priesthood of Christ,
above that of the Levitical priesthood. The reasoning is this: "The
more solemn and aweful the man... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEBREWS 7:23 AND THEY TRULY WERE MANY PRIESTS,_— _And as to those
priests, there were many of them established successively, because
death prevented their continuance;_ Hebrews 7:24. _But he, eternal as
he is, hath a priesthood, which cannot be transferred to others._ By
means of his continuance fo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, &C.— _Whence,_ or _on which account, he is able to save_
εις το παντελες, _completely, perfectly._ The apostle is
speaking of a complete and perfect salvation, which is to last for
ever, in opposition to what the Levitical priests could give by any
annual expiation, which extended no furt... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SUCH AN HIGH PRIEST BECAME US,— _"For such an high-priest suited
us,_—was proper for us,—_as was_ perfectly _holy;_ that is, in a
life quite pure; free from all sin, unpolluted."—The high-priest who
was polluted in a legal sense under the Mosaic law, could not
officiate._—Separate from sinners:_... [ Continue Reading ]