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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2016 16:43:25 GMT -6
4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
[New American Standard Bible]
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JB
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Dedicated TruthSeeker
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Post by JB on Oct 24, 2016 20:41:49 GMT -6
The writer is still deciphering David’s prophetic statement in Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” He’s showing how Melchizedek was symbolic of Christ by showing how they are similar and drawing theological truths from that. In the last section, the writer compared Jesus and Melchizedek to emphasize that Jesus is now in God’s presence. He is serving as a High Priest and acquitting or plea bargaining God’s wrath against us. His priesthood will never end. As King of Righteousness, King of Peace, and God’s Son, Jesus is able to deliver the salvation our hope is anchored to. All we must do to receive that salvation is hold fast to that hope.
4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Three questions are implied and three answers are given in this passage to make a point: - Who was greater, the Levites or the rest of Abraham’s descendants? The Levites were greater because Abraham’s other descendants gave tithes to them.
- Who was greater, Abraham or the Levites? Abraham was greater because the Levites descended from Him.
- Who was greater, Melchizedek or Abraham? Melchizedek was greater because Abraham gave tithes to him. In fact, even Levi in a sense paid tithes to Melchizedek since he was in his great-grandfather’s loins at the time. [This type of reasoning would have appealed to the Jews of the day even though it may not be the way we think. Abrahamic and Levitical lineage was everything to them.]
MAIN POINT: Abraham the lesser received a blessing from Melchizedek the greater. The lesser tithes to the greater, but the greater blesses the lesser.
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
MAIN POINT: Another priest of another law needed to be established. The Levitical priesthood was a priesthood of the Mosaic Law (they were descendants of Aaron). But what good did that Law accomplish? Not once did it bring perfection in anyone.
13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
MAIN POINT: Melchizedek was obviously a priest of a different law. Although Melchizedek was a priest, neither Moses nor Levi had been born yet.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
MAIN POINT: Analogously to Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest forever because He lives forever. Like Melchizedek, our high priest Jesus didn’t descend from Levi (He descended from Judah). He breaks out the phrases “physical requirement” and “power of an indestructible life” in v.23ff, so I won’t comment on it here.
17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
MAIN POINT: Since the priesthood was replaced, the law was also replaced. The Law of Moses was weak and useless. It was incapable of making anyone perfect, so no one could draw near to God through it. So with Jesus’ priesthood, the law was replaced with a better hope that DOES allow us to draw near to God.
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘you are a priest forever’”); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
MAIN POINT: If all the above weren’t enough to establish Jesus’ superiority, God made an oath that Jesus Christ would be a priest forever. Jesus’ Sonship with the Father and the grace He extended to us is the guarantee (or “surety”) of that oath. The point of v.21 is that a Levite was inaugurated as a priest by an oath he took – often called the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1-8). But Jesus was inaugurated as a priest by an oath God took (Psalm 110:4). How much greater that makes Him!
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.But no such physical requirement is involved in Jesus’ priesthood. MAIN POINT: Jesus is our permanent priest. There will never be a change of the covenant of grace over which He presides. Because He always lives, He can continue forever making intercession for us to God. He can save us forever because He lives forever. There were many Levitical priests, of course, because priests died. If they died and weren’t replaced there would be no one make intercession for men to God. But Jesus never dies. He will be a priest forever.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
No more depending on fallible humans to bridge the gap between God and us. We have a perfect intercessor, the only sinless man, who offered Himself up for our sins!
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