Hebrews Chapter Seven, The Power Of An Endless Life

 

Hebrews 7:15 And it is far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest [16] who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. [17] For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

 

Verse 14 explained that it is evident that Jesus arose from the tribe of Judah, and would not be a priest on earth had He remained here. Verse 15 now contrasts the former verse, adding that it is far more evident, if there arose another priest according to the likeness of Melchizedek.

Focusing on the two words “likeness” and “another” will be beneficial here. The KJV renders “likeness” “similitude,” which means, “the quality of being similar,” according to Oxford. “Another,” is much the same. It can be used one of two ways. If you order a cup of coffee from a local coffee shop and enjoy it, you might go to the counter and say, “I would like another.” What do you mean? One just like it. Or, you may order said coffee, not at all to your liking and go to the counter, demanding, “I would like another.” By this you intimate that you want a cup of coffee entirely different to replace the one that wasn’t very good. It is the former instance we are interested in that the writer employs in this verse.

 

This, the author tells us, is far more evident than Jesus’ lineage. Though descended from Judah in a human sense, He appeared in the likeness of Melchizedek. Verse 16 continues to clarify what is meant, by adding that Jesus has come not according to a fleshly commandment. The NASB translates “fleshly commandment” to “physical requirement.” A man of Levi became a priest in service to God on earth by descent from that tribe. There were stipulations, of course. A man bearing any physical defect could not minister at the altar, Leviticus 21:21. He must marry a virgin of Israel, Leviticus 21:7. They were not even to profane themselves by coming near the dead, save for special circumstances, Leviticus 21:1-3. In the instance of the high priest, no allowances for coming near the dead were made, Leviticus 21:11.

 

But the staunch requirements of serving at God’s altar do not negate the profundity that Levi received his priesthood by inheritance as commanded by Law. The Priest that arose from a different order in turn derives His reception of the priesthood from a different authority. Levi received the priesthood since the days of Aaron’s ordination before Israel entered Canaan. Aaron was indeed chosen and blessed by God to minister at the altar as a type of the Coming One, and his descendants served in part as a perpetual reminder of the true ministry God would one day accomplish by the sacrifice of His Son.

 

Christ came, not by fleshly commandment, but by the power of an endless life. “Power,” in the Greek is “dunamis,” which we have studied before, but we will touch upon again. It means, “new and higher forces that have entered and are working in the world of men.” It is rendered variously in Scripture as power (77x), mighty work (11x), strength (7x), miracle (7x), etc. Essentially it means, “force,” or from a Biblical perspective, “Heavenly force.”

 

Christ’s power to become priest results from His endless life. Recall Hebrews 7:3, 8. Of Melchizedek the same was said, and in verse 15 the writer elicits a clear and rather blunt comparison between the two. If Jesus is in the order of Melchizedek, and He has come by the power, or force, of an endless life, then an interesting contrast can be made to the high priest of God Most High in Abraham’s day. Verse 17 serves to confirm this similarity by once again quoting Psalm 110:4. Christ is a priest forever (according to the power of an endless life) according to Melchizedek’s order. If such power were requisite to obtain this priestly title, then would Melchizdek himself also have to possess the power of an endless life? He is, after all, without father, mother, or genealogy, and verse 8 attests that he still lives, while verse 3 informs us that he remains a priest continually. Melchizedek was, “made like the Son of God.” To “make” can mean to “be suitable as.” Melchizedek was made “like,” Jesus, again inferring a likeness or similitude between Christ and Melchizedek. This parenthetic chapter, which was designated by the author to explain Melchizedek and his relationship to our Lord (see Hebrews 5:10, 11), was written to give these Jewish Christians a better understanding of the nature of Jesus’ claim to being our High Priest, while also telling them why Aaron’s priesthood and the Law that inspired it, are inferior to Him and unprofitable for turning back to.