By . Greek. kata , as in Hebrews 7:20 . was . . . made = hath become. Jesus . App-98 . surety . Greek. enguos. Only here. testaments = covenant. Greek. diatheke . See Matthew 26:28 . First of se venteen occs. in Hebrew ( App-10 ). read more
Hebrews 7:20-22. 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 manner is, in which any one is appointed to his office, the more important in general is the office: now God engaged himself by oath, in constituting Christ a priest; which he did... read more
22. surety—ensuring in His own person the certainty of the covenant to us. This He did by becoming responsible for our guilt, by sealing the covenant with His blood, and by being openly acknowledged as our triumphant Saviour by the Father, who raised Him from the dead. Thus He is at once God's surety for man, and man's surety for God, and so Mediator between God and man (Hebrews 8:6). better— Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 13:20, "everlasting." testament—sometimes translated, "covenant." The Greek term... read more
The superior priesthood of Jesus 7:11-25Having shown the superiority of Melchizedek to Abraham and Levi, the writer proceeded to point out the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood and Jesus’ priesthood. He did so to clarify for his readers the inferiority of the Mosaic Covenant and its priesthood. Not only was Melchizedek greater than Aaron, Melchizedek, though he preceded Aaron in time, also replaced Aaron."Within the structure of the homily, Hebrews 7:1-28 is clearly defined as a literary... read more
The inviolability of God’s oath 7:20-22Hebrews 7:20-25 draw out the pastoral implications of the conclusion that the writer reached in Hebrews 7:18-19. read more
Because God promised on oath to install Messiah permanently as our priest, the writer could say that Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant. Since the old priesthood was the heart of the Old Covenant, and God terminated both of them, a new priesthood must accompany the New Covenant that is superior to the Old Covenant. Since the new Priest has come, so must the New Covenant have come (cf. Luke 22:20). This is the first mention in the epistle of the word "covenant" that will play a major... read more
Priesthood after the Order of Aaron and of MelchizedekThe theme of Christ’s superiority to the Levitical priesthood is here resumed. In Hebrews 5:1-10 it has been shown that Christ possesses all the characteristics of a true High Priest, and moreover that He is called of God ’an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec’ Now the priesthood of Melchizedek was perpetual, and in this respect he is a type of Christ. His greatness is shown by the fact that he received tithes from Abraham,... read more
(22) By so much was Jesus made.—Better, by so much also hath Jesus become surety of a better covenant. The form of the sentence recalls Hebrews 1:4. As the priest whose appointment is confirmed by the oath of God is raised above all former priests, in the same proportion is the covenant of which Jesus is surety higher, better, than the former covenant. For the “better hope” of Hebrews 7:19 we now read “better covenant”; the new idea is not different in substance, but is more definite and clear.... read more
Hebrews 7:15-16 If God dwells in the heart, and is vitally united to it, He will show that He is a God by the efficacy of His operation. Christ is not in the heart of a saint as in a sepulchre, or as a dead saviour that does nothing; but as in His temple, and as one that is alive from the dead. For in the heart where Christ savingly is, there He lives and exerts Himself after the power of that endless life that He received at His Resurrection. Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections (pt.... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 7:11-28
Christ, a priest like Melchizedek (7:11-28)The necessity for a new priesthood under Christ shows that the Levitical priesthood (and with it the law of Moses) failed to bring perfection. Therefore, the new priest belongs not to Aaron’s order but to Melchizedek’s (11-12). Christ could not be a priest in the Levitical order, because he was not from the tribe of Levi. He was from Judah, a tribe that had no part in priestly affairs (13-14).Laws concerning physical birth and age determined who could... read more