Heb. 7:16-18 = These verses provide additional reasons the priesthood required a "change" (v.12) from the Levitical priesthood through Aaron to the "Order of Melchisedec" (v.11):
1st, the death of former Levitical priests always required subsequent replacements (v.23).
The repetitious replacements of the Levitical priests necessitated a "change" (v.12) in the "Order" of the priesthood from the temporary "the Order of Aaron" to that of the permanent "the Order of Melchisedec" (v.11; Ps. 110:4).
LORD JESUS CHRIST occupies this "changed" priestly Order, for "HE taketh away the first (animal sacrifices by the Levitical priests), that HE may establish the second (CHRIST's own bodily Sacrifice)" ( Heb. 10:9).
This "second" establishment effectively and permanently "sanctified [the believing worshippers] through the offering of the Body of JESUS CHRIST once for all" ( Heb. 10:10; cp. Heb. 7:25).
2nd, the Law, through "commandment" provided the process of priestly succession. Note, here, this commandment is described as "carnal" (v.16) {pertaining to the flesh}, meaning the commandment only applied to human priests in the blood line of the Levitical tribe.
The term "carnal" also speaks of each of the Levitical priest's brief temporariness in office. Death ended each priest's tenure in contrast to that of Melchesidec's (v.3), and of CHRIST's Eternal Priesthood (vv. 16, 21 & 24-25).
3rd, while Levitical priests received their authorization merely through a "carnal commandment", JESUS CHRIST received HIS authorized Priestly appointment through a DIVINE Heavenly Proclamation (v.17).
4th, the very fact that this "commandment" is "carnal", meaning as it pertains only to the sequentially authorized replacements of human priests, it is inherently characteristic of "weakness" and "unprofitableness" worthy of "disannulling" (v.18).
1st, the death of former Levitical priests always required subsequent replacements (v.23).
The repetitious replacements of the Levitical priests necessitated a "change" (v.12) in the "Order" of the priesthood from the temporary "the Order of Aaron" to that of the permanent "the Order of Melchisedec" (v.11; Ps. 110:4).
LORD JESUS CHRIST occupies this "changed" priestly Order, for "HE taketh away the first (animal sacrifices by the Levitical priests), that HE may establish the second (CHRIST's own bodily Sacrifice)" ( Heb. 10:9).
This "second" establishment effectively and permanently "sanctified [the believing worshippers] through the offering of the Body of JESUS CHRIST once for all" ( Heb. 10:10; cp. Heb. 7:25).
2nd, the Law, through "commandment" provided the process of priestly succession. Note, here, this commandment is described as "carnal" (v.16) {pertaining to the flesh}, meaning the commandment only applied to human priests in the blood line of the Levitical tribe.
The term "carnal" also speaks of each of the Levitical priest's brief temporariness in office. Death ended each priest's tenure in contrast to that of Melchesidec's (v.3), and of CHRIST's Eternal Priesthood (vv. 16, 21 & 24-25).
3rd, while Levitical priests received their authorization merely through a "carnal commandment", JESUS CHRIST received HIS authorized Priestly appointment through a DIVINE Heavenly Proclamation (v.17).
4th, the very fact that this "commandment" is "carnal", meaning as it pertains only to the sequentially authorized replacements of human priests, it is inherently characteristic of "weakness" and "unprofitableness" worthy of "disannulling" (v.18).
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