P f 1-3-. Melchizedec's greatness. Greater than Levitical priests.
g -3. His priesthood not transmissible.
h 4-10. Greater than Abraham, and therefore than Levi.
i 11-14. Change of priesthood. Change of law.
i 15-19. Change of priesthood. Dis-annulling of commandment.
h 20-23. The Lord's greatness. God's oath.
g 24. His Priesthood intransmissible.
f 25-28. The Lord's greatness. Greater than Levitical priests.
Hebrews 7)
1 For this Melchizedec (see Gen. 14:18-20, king of Salem, Priest of the Most High (see Acts 7:48) God, Who met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To Whom Abraham gave a tenth part (cp. Gen. 28:20) also of all; first being by interpretation (see John 1:38) King of righteousness, and after that King also of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Who is Melchizedec? He had no mother or father. Yet, He received tithes of Abraham. His names means "King of the upright, or righteous". There is only One Who fits this description. Melchizedec is Jesus Christ.)
3 Without father, without mother, without descent (not born of woman), having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; (Who created God? No one!)
but made like unto the Son of God (because He was); abides a priest continually. (Melchizedec is presented to us without any reference to any human qualifications for office. He had neither beginning of days nor end of life.)
4 Now consider how great this one was (i.e. priest [v.3]), to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (He was made like unto the Son of God, because He was the son of God.)
5 And they indeed that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But He whose descent is not counted out of them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (Melchizedec wasn't a descendant of Aaron, but certainly received the tithes of Abraham. How could that be? Keep reading.)
7 And apart from all contradiction the less is blessed by the better.
8 And here indeed men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. (Abraham knew that Melchizedec was better, and capable of blessing him. We tithe to priests that die. Abraham tithed to One Who lives forever.)
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, payed tithes through Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedec met him. (Levi was a descendant of Abraham. In other words, Levi was in the seed of Abraham, when Melchizedec received tithes from Abraham.)
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for upon (as a basis) it the people were furnished with law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? (If the salvation given by the Levitical priests was irrevocable, why then was it necessary for Jesus to rise after the order of Melchizedec? The answer is that the only irrevocable salvation is found in Jesus Christ.)
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change of the law also.
13 For he on whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no one gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord has risen out with regard to Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (Mary's father was of the tribe of Judah, but her mother was of the tribe of Levi. In Jesus the line of the kings, Judah, is joined with the seed line of the priests, Levi. We don't need to change God's law. His covenant with us is irrevocable. It can't be changed.)
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedec there arises another priest,
16 Who has become, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifies, "You are a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec." (Quoted from Ps. 110:4. Let there be no mistake, Jesus is Melchizedec.)
18 For there is indeed a disannulling of the commandment going before on account of the weakness and unprofitableness.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the super-induction of a better hope did; by the which we draw near to God. (Note that there are also a better covenant [v.22]; better promises [8:8]; better sacrifices [9:23]; a better substance [10:34]; a better country [11:16]; a better resurrection [11:35]; a better thing [11:40]. In chap. 1, Christ is shown to be better than angels; in 3, better than Moses; in 4, better than Joshua; in 7, better than Aaron; in 10, better than the Law. Only through Jesus are we able to draw near to God.)
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath He was made Priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but This with an oath by Him That said to Him, "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec:") (Do you think this is the 1st time this is written? It is not. Make a note of Psalm 110:4. God swore this, and He will not repent. The promise of salvation through Jesus Christ is irrevocable. It can not be changed!)
22 By so much has Jesus become a surety of a better covenant.
23 And they truly were many priests, because of their being hindered from continuing by death:
24 But this Priest, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable (lit. not passing over to another) priesthood.
25 Wherefore He is able to save also them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing ever living, as He is able to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate (Gr. chorizo, see Acts 1:4. Cp. Gen. 49:26. Deut. 33:16) from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (See Matt. 6:9,10. I.e. than those who dwell in them.)
27 Who needs not daily, as the high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once for all, when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law appoints men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, makes the Son, who is perfected for evermore.