Hebrews 7:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 7:1-10

The foregoing chapter ended with a repetition of what had been cited once and again before out of Ps. 110:4; Jesus, a high priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. Now this chapter is as a sermon upon that text; here the apostle sets before them some of the strong meat he had spoken of before, hoping they would by greater diligence be better prepared to digest it. I. The great question that first offers itself is, Who was this Melchisedec? All the account we have of him in the Old... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 7:1-28

We come now to a passage of such paramount importance for the writer to the Hebrews and in itself so difficult to understand that we must deal with it in a special way. Hebrews 6:1-20 , ( Hebrews 6:20 ), ended with the statement that Jesus had been made a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is the most characteristic thought of Hebrews. Behind it lie ways of thinking and of arguing and of using scripture which are quite strange to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 7:8

And here men that die receive tithes , The priests and Levites were not only men, and mortal men, subject to death, but they did die, and so did not continue, by reason of death, Hebrews 7:24 but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth ; which is to be understood of Melchizedek; who is not opposed to men, as if he was not a man, nor to mortal men, but to men that die; nor is he said to be immortal, but to live: and this may respect the silence of the Scripture... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 7:8

Here men that die receive tithes - The apostle is speaking of the ecclesiastical constitution of the Jews, which was standing at the time this epistle was written. Under the Jewish dispensation, though the priests were successively removed by death, yet they were as duly replaced by others appointed from the same family, and the payment of tithes was never interrupted. But as there is no account of Melchisedec ceasing to be a priest, or of his dying, he is represented as still living, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 7:8

Verse 8 8.Of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. He takes the silence respecting his death, as I have said, as an evidence of his life. This would not indeed hold as to others, but as to Melchisedec it ought rightly to be so regarded, inasmuch as he was a type of Christ. For as the spiritual kingdom and priesthood of Christ are spoken of here, there is no place left for human conjectures; nor is it lawful for us to seek to know anything farther than what we read in Scripture. But we are not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 7:1-10

Melchizedek. The author here returns from his long digression, and enters upon the central theme of the treatise. I. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT MELCHIZEDEK . ( Hebrews 7:1-3 ) 1. As a man. Such omissions respecting a personage so exalted are contrary to Oriental custom. The points which the Holy Spirit has studiously concealed about Melchizedek are—his personal parentage, his priestly pedigree, and the dates of his birth and death. 2. As a type. ( Hebrews 7:3 ) The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 7:1-10

Christ a Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The writer now returns from the digression. So far he has established from their Scriptures the priesthood of Christ. But that is not enough; that is no reason why he should be preferred to Aaron. He proceeds, then, to show that, however great Aaron was, Christ was greater. But on what grounds can he establish this to the satisfaction of a Hebrew? He rests his proof entirely on those Scriptures which the Hebrew accepted as authoritative, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 7:1-17

The priesthood forever after the order of Melchizedek. It is evident that the whole of this elaborate argument with respect to Melchizedek must be looked at in the light of the reference to Psalms 110:1-7 . In quoting this psalm, the writer was on firm ground so far as his readers were concerned. They would not repudiate the significance of this utterance, that it must have some weighty, practical meaning; and it was his to show them what that meaning was, and so to cheer their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 7:4-10

Christ superior to Melchizedek. I. THE GREATNESS OF OUR LORD IS FORESHADOWED BY MELCHIZEDEK 'S RECEIVING TITHES FROM ABRAHAM . As the representative of Jehovah, Abraham paid tithes to this distinguished priest. There is here an instance of that corporate principle which appears in the writings of Paul, who affirms that by the sin of Adam there came upon the race spiritual loss and exposure to death; and by the appearance and glorious work of our Lord many are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 7:8

And here (in the case of the Levitical priesthood) men that die (literally, dying men ) receive tithes; but there (in the case of Melchizedek) one of whom it is witnessed that he liveth . The difference hero noted is between a succession of mortal priests and one perpetually living, who never loses his personal claim, which is inherent, in himself. But how so of Melchizedek? For it is to him, and not to Christ the Antitype, that the words evidently apply. Is it at length implied... read more

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