Hebrews 7:11-25
1599 Geneva Bible
11 [a]If therefore [b]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?
12 [c]For if the Priesthood be changed, then of necessity must there be a change of the [d]Law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth unto another tribe, whereof no man [e]served at the altar.
14 For it is evident, that our Lord sprung out of Judah, concerning the which tribe Moses spake nothing, touching the Priesthood.
15 [f]And it is yet a more evident thing, because that after the similitude of Melchizedek, there is risen up another Priest,
16 [g]Which is not made Priest after the [h]Law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life.
17 For he testifieth thus, (A)Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
18 [i]For the [j]commandment that went afore, is disannulled, because of the weakness thereof, and unprofitableness.
19 For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope made perfect, whereby we draw near unto God.
20 [k]And forasmuch as it is not without an oath (for these are made Priests without an oath:
21 But this is made with an oath by him that said unto him, (B)The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.)
22 By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better Testament.
23 [l]And among them many were made Priests, because they were not suffered to endure, by the reason of death.
24 But this man, because he endureth ever, hath a Priesthood, which [m]cannot pass from one to another.
25 Wherefore, he is [n]able also perfectly to save them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth, to make intercession for them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 7:11 The third treatise of this Epistle, wherein after he hath proved Christ to be a King, a Prophet, and a Priest, he now handleth distinctly the condition and excellency of all these offices, showing that all these were but shadows in all other, but in Christ they are true and perfect. And he beginneth with the Priesthood, wherewith also the former treatise ended, that by this means all the parts and members of this disputation, may better hang together. And first of all he proveth that the Levitical Priesthood was imperfect because another Priest is promised a long time after according to another order, that is to say, of another manner of rule and fashion.
- Hebrews 7:11 If the priesthood of Levi could have made any man perfect.
- Hebrews 7:12 He showeth how that by the institution of the new Priesthood, not only the imperfection of the Priesthood of Levi was declared, but also that it was changed for this: for these two cannot stand together, because that first appointment of the tribe of Levi, did shut forth the tribe of Judah, and made it also inferior to Levi: and this latter doth place the Priesthood in the tribe of Judah.
- Hebrews 7:12 Of the institution of Aaron.
- Hebrews 7:13 Had anything to do about the altar.
- Hebrews 7:15 Lest any man might object, that the Priesthood indeed was translated from Levi to Judah, but yet notwithstanding the same remaineth still, he both weigheth and expoundeth these words of David, forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, whereby also a divers institution of priesthood is well perceived.
- Hebrews 7:16 He proveth the diversity and excellency of the institution of Melchizedek’s Priesthood, by this, that the priesthood of the Law did stand upon an outward and bodily anointing: but the sacrifice of Melchizedek is set out to be everlasting and more spiritual.
- Hebrews 7:16 Not after the ordination, which commandeth frail and transitory things, as was done in Aaron’s consecration, and all that whole Priesthood.
- Hebrews 7:18 Again, that no man might object that the last Priesthood was added to make a perfect one, by the coupling of them both together, he proveth that the first was abrogated by the latter as unprofitable, and that by the nature of them both. For how could those corporal and transitory things sanctify us, either of themselves, or being joined with another?
- Hebrews 7:18 The ceremonial law.
- Hebrews 7:20 Another argument whereby he proveth that the Priesthood of Christ is better than the Priesthood of Levi, because his was established with an oath, but theirs was not so.
- Hebrews 7:23 Another argument tending to the same purpose. The Levitical Priests (as mortal men) could not be everlasting, but Christ as he is everlasting, so hath he also an everlasting Priesthood making most effectual intercession for them which by him come unto God.
- Hebrews 7:24 Which cannot pass away.
- Hebrews 7:25 He is fit and meet.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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