{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/wesley/heb007.htm","path":"bib/cmt/wesley/heb007.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/wesley/heb007.htm","text":"Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65]\n \nHebrews 7:1\n \nheb 7:1\nThe sum of this chapter is, Christ, as appears from his type, Melchisedec, who was greater than Abraham himself, from whom Levi descended, has a priesthood altogether excellent, new, firm, perpetual. Gen 14:18, &c. \nHebrews 7:2\n \nheb 7:2\nBeing first - According to the meaning of his own name. King of righteousness, then - According to the name of his city. King of peace - So in him, as in Christ, righteousness and peace were joined. And so they are in all that believe in him. \nHebrews 7:3\n \nheb 7:3\nWithout father, without mother, without pedigree - Recorded, without any account of his descent from any ancestors of the priestly order. Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life - Mentioned by Moses. But being - In all these respects. Made like the Son of God - Who is really without father, as to his human nature; without mother, as to his divine; and in this also, without pedigree - Neither descended from any ancestors of the priestly order. Remaineth a priest continually - Nothing is recorded of the death or successor of Melchisedec. But Christ alone does really remain without death, and without successor. \nHebrews 7:4\n \nheb 7:4\nThe greatness of Melchisedec is described in all the preceding and following particulars. But the most manifest proof of it was, that Abraham gave him tithes as to a priest of God and a superior; though he was himself a patriarch, greater than a king, and a progenitor of many kings. \nHebrews 7:5\n \nheb 7:5\nThe sons of Levi take tithes of their brethren - Sprung from Abraham as well as themselves. The Levites therefore are greater than they; but the priests are greater than the Levites, the patriarch Abraham than the priests, and Melchisedec than him. \nHebrews 7:6\n \nheb 7:6\nHe who is not from them - The Levites Blessed - Another proof of his superiority. Even him that had the promises - That was so highly favoured of God. When St. Paul speaks of Christ, he says, \"the promise;\" promises refer to other blessings also. \nHebrews 7:7\n \nheb 7:7\nThe less is blessed - Authoritatively, of the greater. \nHebrews 7:8\n \nheb 7:8\nAnd here - In the Levitical priesthood. But there - In the case of Melchisedec. He of whom it is testified that he liveth - Who is not spoken of as one that died for another to succeed him; but is represented only as living, no mention being made either of his birth or death. \nHebrews 7:9\n \nheb 7:9\nAnd even Levi, who received tithes - Not in person, but in his successors, as it were, paid tithes - In the person of Abraham. \nHebrews 7:11\n \nheb 7:11\nThe apostle now demonstrates that the Levitical priesthood must yield to the priesthood of Christ, because Melchisedec, after whose order he is a priest, Is opposed to Aaron, Heb 7:11-14. Hath no end of life, Heb 7:15-19, but \"remaineth a priest continually.\" If now perfection were by the Levitical priesthood - If this perfectly answered all God's designs and man's wants For under it the people received the law - Whence some might infer, that perfection was by that priesthood. What farther need was there, that another priest - Of a new order, should be set up? From this single consideration it is plain, that both the priesthood and the law, which were inseparably connected, were now to give way to a better priesthood and more excellent dispensation. \nHebrews 7:12\n \nheb 7:12\nFor - One of these cannot be changed without the other. \nHebrews 7:13\n \nheb 7:13\nBut the priesthood is manifestly changed from one order to another, and from one tribe to another. For he of whom these things are spoken - Namely, Jesus. Pertaineth to another tribe - That of Judah. Of which no man was suffered by the law to attend on, or minister at, the altar. \nHebrews 7:14\n \nheb 7:14\nFor it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah - Whatever difficulties have arisen since, during so long a tract of time, it was then clear beyond dispute. \nHebrews 7:15\n \nheb 7:15\nAnd it is still far more evident, that - Both the priesthood and the law are changed, because the priest now raised up is not only of another tribe, but of a quite different order. \nHebrews 7:16\n \nheb 7:16\nWho is made - A priest. Not after the law of a carnal commandment - Not according to the Mosaic law, which consisted chiefly of commandments that were carnal, compared to the spirituality of the gospel. But after the power of an endless life - Which he has in himself, as the eternal Son of God. \nHebrews 7:18\n \nheb 7:18\nFor there is implied in this new and everlasting priesthood, and in the new dispensation connected therewith, a disannulling of the preceding commandment - An abrogation of the Mosaic law. For the weakness and unprofitableness thereof - For its insufficiency either to justify or to sanctify. \nHebrews 7:19\n \nheb 7:19\nFor the law - Taken by itself, separate from the gospel. Made nothing perfect - Could not perfect its votaries, either in faith or love, in happiness or holiness. But the bringing in of a better hope - Of the gospel dispensation, which gives us a better ground of confidence, does. By which we draw nigh to God - Yea, so nigh as to be one spirit with him. And this is true perfection. \nHebrews 7:20\n \nheb 7:20\nAnd - The greater solemnity wherewith he was made priest, farther proves the superior excellency of his priesthood. \nHebrews 7:21\n \nheb 7:21\nThe Lord sware and will not repent - Hence also it appears, that his is an unchangeable priesthood. \nHebrews 7:22\n \nheb 7:22\nOf so much better a covenant - Unchangeable, eternal. Was Jesus made a surety - Or mediator. The word covenant frequently occurs in the remaining part of this epistle. The original word means either a covenant or a last will and testament. St. Paul takes it sometimes in the former, sometimes in the latter, sense; sometimes he includes both. \nHebrews 7:23\n \nheb 7:23\nThey were many priests - One after another. \nHebrews 7:24\n \nheb 7:24\nHe continueth for ever - In life and in his priesthood. That passeth not away - To any successor. \nHebrews 7:25\n \nheb 7:25\nWherefore he is able to save to the uttermost - From all the guilt, power, root, and consequence of sin. Them who come - By faith. To God through him - As their priest. Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession - That is, he ever lives and intercedes. He died once; he intercedes perpetually. \nHebrews 7:26\n \nheb 7:26\nFor such an high priest suited us - Unholy, mischievous, defiled sinners: a blessed paradox! Holy - With respect to God. Harmless - With respect to men. Undefiled - With any sin in himself. Separated from sinners - As well as free from sin. And so he was when he left the world. And made - Even in his human nature. Higher than the heavens - And all their inhabitants. \nHebrews 7:27\n \nheb 7:27\nWho needeth not to offer up sacrifices daily - That is, on every yearly day of expiation; for he offered once for all: not for his own sins, for he then offered up himself \"without spot to God.\" \nHebrews 7:28\n \nheb 7:28\nThe law maketh men high priests that have infirmity - That are both weak, mortal, and sinful. But the oath which was since the law - Namely, in the time of David. Maketh the son, who is consecrated for ever - Who being now free, both from sin and death, from natural and moral infirmity, remaineth a priest for ever.","title":"Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible: Hebrews: Hebrews Chapter 7","type":"page"}