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The Epistle to the Hebrews
The drift and end of this Epistle, is to show that Jesus Christ the Son of God both God and man, is that true eternal and only Prophet, King, and high Priest, that was shadowed by the figures of the old Law, and is now indeed exhibited: of whom the whole Church ought to be taught, governed and sanctified. 2 To show that the doctrine which Christ brought, is most excellent, in that it is the knitting up of all prophecies, 4 he advanceth him above the Angels: 10 And proveth by divers testimonies of the Scripture, that he far passeth all others. At sundry times and in divers manners God spake in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets: in these last days he hath spoken unto us by his Son,
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Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful, and a faithful high Priest in things concerning God, that he might make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
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1 Now he showeth how far inferior Moses is to Christ, 5, 6 even so much as the servant to the Master: and so he bringeth in certain exhortations and threatenings taken out of David, 8 against such as either stubbornly resist, 12 or else are very slow to obey. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus:
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1 He joineth exhortation with threatening, lest they, even as their fathers were be deprived of the rest offered unto them, 11 but that they endeavor to enter into it. 14 And so he beginneth to entreat of Christ’s Priesthood. Let us fear therefore, lest at any time by forsaking the promise of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to be deprived.
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Seeing then that we have a great high Priest, which is entered into heaven, even Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
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For we have not an high Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sin.
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1 First he showeth the duty of the high Priest: 5 Secondly, that Christ is appointed of God to be our high Priest, 7 and that he hath fulfilled all things belonging thereunto. For every high Priest is taken from among men, and is ordained for men, in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
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So likewise Christ took not to himself this honor to be made the high Priest, but he that said unto him, Thou art my son, this day begat I thee, gave it him.
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As he also in another place speaketh, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek,
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And is called of God an high Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
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Whither the forerunner is for us entered in, even Jesus that is made an high Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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1 He hath hitherto stirred them up, to mark diligently what things are to be considered in Melchizedek, 15 wherein he is like unto Christ. 20 Wherefore the Law should give place to the Gospel. For this Melchizedek was King of Salem, the Priest of the most high God, who met Abraham, as he returned from the slaughter of the Kings, and blessed him:
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Without father, without mother, without kindred, and hath neither beginning of his days, neither end of life: but is likened unto the Son of God, and continueth a Priest forever.
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For verily they which are the children of Levi, which receive the office of the Priesthood, have a commandment to take, according to the Law, tithes of the people (that is, of their brethren) though they came out of the loins of Abraham.
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If therefore perfection had been by the Priesthood of the Levites (for under it the Law was established to the people) what needed it furthermore, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not to be called after the order of Aaron?
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For if the Priesthood be changed, then of necessity must there be a change of the Law.
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For it is evident, that our Lord sprung out of Judah, concerning the which tribe Moses spake nothing, touching the Priesthood.
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And it is yet a more evident thing, because that after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest,
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Which is not made Priest after the Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life.
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For he testifieth thus, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
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And forasmuch as it is not without an oath (for these are made Priests without an oath:
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But this is made with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.)
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And among them many were made Priests, because they were not suffered to endure, by the reason of death.
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But this man, because he endureth ever, hath a Priesthood, which cannot pass from one to another.
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For such an high Priest it became us to have, which is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:
