Not Made After the Law of a Carnal Commandment Hebrews 7:16

“It is far more evident”, declared the writer of Hebrews as he referred to the arising of “another priest” who was “after the similitude of Melchisedec”, and we discover in chapter seven and verse sixteen of Hebrews this “other priest” was not made “after the law of a carnal commandment” where we read:

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

The verse begins, “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment,...”. The writer began with the word, “Who is made” which means “this other priest became, came into existence, began to be, happened and appeared”, “not after the law” or “not down from, throughout, according to and toward the rule producing a state approved of God” “of a carnal” which means “fleshly and depraved” “commandment” which refers to “an order, command, charge precept or injunction”. This “priest”, Jesus, did not come into existence according to a temporary order or injunction as did the Levites.

The verse continues, “...but after the power of an endless life.”. The writer added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over that which was just stated, “after the power” or “down from, throughout, according to and toward the strength and ability” “of an endless” which means “of an indissoluble and not subject to destruction” “life” or “the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate”. Rather than being a “life” that was subject to the flesh and death, this “priest” was made according to the “ability and strength” of an “eternal life”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see, once again, how Jesus Christ is superior to all the “priests” who came before Him. They lived, but then died, and were subject to “carnal” or “fleshly” endeavors, but Jesus came as the “eternal life” giver. Through the provision of His death on the cross for our sins, we are now given the opportunity to have “eternal, everlasting life”. This idea transcends the ones created in the law, and since God Almighty is the law giver, why wouldn't He be able to allow there to be one established who was greater than the “carnal commandment”?

Next time the writer shares that Jesus was “a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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