Heb 7:20-21 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 20. Not without an oath ] "The apostle's reasoning here is founded on this, that God never interposed his oath , except to show the certainty and immutability of the thing sworn. Thus he sware to Abraham , , that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; and to the rebellious Israelites , , that they should not enter into his rest ; and to Moses , , that he should not go into Canaan ; and to David , , that his seed should endure for ever, and his throne unto all generations . Wherefore, since Christ was made a priest, not without an oath that he should be a priest for ever, after the similitude of Melchisedec , that circumstance showed God's immutable resolution never to change or abolish his priesthood, nor to change or abolish the covenant which was established on his priesthood; whereas the Levitical priesthood and the law of Moses, being established without an oath , were thereby declared to be changeable at God's pleasure." This judicious note is from Dr. Macknight .

‏ Hebrews 7:20-21

Verse 20. Not without an oath] "The apostle's reasoning here is founded on this, that God never interposed his oath, except to show the certainty and immutability of the thing sworn. Thus he sware to Abraham, Ge 22:16-18, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and to the rebellious Israelites, De 1:34, 35, that they should not enter into his rest; and to Moses, De 4:21, that he should not go into Canaan; and to David, Ps 89:4, that his seed should endure for ever, and his throne unto all generations. Wherefore, since Christ was made a priest, not without an oath that he should be a priest for ever, after the similitude of Melchisedec, that circumstance showed God's immutable resolution never to change or abolish his priesthood, nor to change or abolish the covenant which was established on his priesthood; whereas the Levitical priesthood and the law of Moses, being established without an oath, were thereby declared to be changeable at God's pleasure." This judicious note is from Dr. Macknight.

Verse 21. Those priests] The Levitical, were made without an oath, to show that the whole system was changeable, and might be abolished.

But this] The everlasting priesthood of Christ, with an oath, to show that the Gospel dispensation should never change, and never be abolished.

By him] God the Father, that said unto him-the promised Messiah, Ps 110:4, The Lord sware, to show the immutability of his counsel, and will not repent-can never change his mind nor purpose, Thou art a priest for ever-as long as time shall run, and the generations of men be continued on earth. Till the necessity of the mediatorial kingdom be superseded by the fixed state of eternity, till this kingdom be delivered up unto the Father, and God shall be all in all, shall this priesthood of Christ endure.