Hebrews 7

2 king of Salem. See Gen. xiv. 18; Psa. lxxvi. 2, and notes.

3 without descent. Rather, “without pedigree,” i.e., recorded descent. We have no account of his ancestors, nor of his birth and death. So that he “continually” stands before us, simply in the fact of his unique priesthood; and thus is “liked to the Son of God,” whose priesthood is a dignity purely personal; not being received by birth, or transmitted by death, like the Levitical.

4 the patriarch. The head of the whole family of Israel. Melchisedek was superior to Abraham and the priests who sprang from him. Therefore our Lord, of whom Melchisedek was a type, must also be superior to them all.

5 though they come out of the loins of Abraham. Though “the sons of Levi” and “their brethren” are all alike descended from Abraham.

7 without all contradiction, etc. “Without any dispute,” R.V.

8 here. That is, in the case of the Levitical priests; “there,” in the case of Melchisedek.

9 as I may so say. Rather, “And so to speak”; a phrase intended to remove any apparent strangeness in the assertion that Levi paid tithes “through Abraham.” Levi shared in the consequences of Abraham’s act.

13 pertaineth to another tribe. The Messiah “hath taken part in another” tribe from that of Levi. His priesthood then could not be of the order of Aaron. And from Judah it is well known that “our Lord hath sprung forth.” The human nature of our Lord is here shown, as well as the Divine, which has been already emphasised.

15. And it is yet far more evident. It is still further evident that our Lord’s is the superior priesthood; since it is not of a kind to be transmitted by natural succession, but is suited to one who has an endless (or “indissoluble”) life: cp. John v. 26; vi. 53-58.

for that. Rather, “if.”

18. For there is verily, etc. Rather, “For there cometh, on the one hand, a setting aside of a foregoing commandment, etc.; but (19) on the other, a bringing in of a better hope.”

19. For the law made nothing perfect. In the matter of human salvation: see ver. 11; cp. Gal. ii. 15; Rom. iii. 19.

by the which we draw nigh unto God. Cp. x. 19, 22; Rom. v. 1, 2, and notes.

24 hath an unchangeable priesthood. Westcott renders “unchangeable” as “inviolable,” and explains “Christ’s priesthood is His alone, open to no rival claim, liable to no invasion of its functions.” Weymouth and Moffatt, however, translate it as “without any successor.”

25. Wherefore He is able, etc. As “He ever liveth,” He can and will save all, in all ages, “who draw near to God by Him,” and save each of them “to the uttermost,” or “to completeness.”

26 harmless. More exactly, “guileless” (R.V.), or “innocent.”

27 this He did once. That is, Christ offered Himself “once for all” for the sins of the people.

28 consecrated. Rather, “perfected”: see on ii. 10, and Exod. xxix. 9.