Melchizedek's descent or of his death. Thus he stands forth in
contrast to the Levitical priests whose descent is described, and who
die and are succeeded by others. He was also superior to those
priests, because Levi, in the person of his father Abraham, paid tithes
to Melchizedek. Since Melchizedek's priesthood is superior to that of
the Levitical priests, much more is that of Christ, of whom
Melchizedek, great as he was, is only a type. Then the author shows
that the rise of a new priesthood must imply the birth of a new
religious system. Christ "hath His priesthood unchangeable," but needs
not to repeat His sacrifice (vii.).

Then the author shows that the new liturgy and the new sanctuary of the
Christian Church are superior to the liturgy and the sanctuary of
Judaism. Though Christ's blood was shed only once, He retains the
character of Priest (viii. 3); He hath "somewhat to offer," viz.
Himself in His sacred manhood in heaven. He thus acts as a Mediator of
the new covenant {215} promised in the Old Testament (viii. 6-13). The
tabernacle was only a temporary parable; Christ acts as High Priest in
the holy of holies, the actual presence of God typified by the
tabernacle; He has consecrated the new covenant between man and God by
His own blood (ix.). The repetition of the Levitical sacrifices proves
their impotence. But that of Christ is adequate. It is an offering of
inherent value, being the offering of the will of Christ, instead of
the offering of unconscious beasts. And we need no other atonement,
for His unique offering has a perpetual value (x. 1-18).

The writer then proceeds to insist upon the appropriation and
application of the truths which he has expounded. It is our privilege
to have full confidence, and our duty to assemble for worship: apostasy
is most serious (x. 19-39). The writer next describes the nature of
faith, which is a faculty which makes the future as if it were present,
and the unseen as if it were visible. It is illustrated by a
magnificent roll-call of heroes from Abel to the Incarnation. These
heroes, who saw both worlds, and realized how petty the material world
is compared with the spiritual, had real insight (xi.). Emulate their
example, enduring persecution, knowing that our Mount Zion is superior
to Sinai, and our coming to church a reunion with angels and saints
(xii.).

The Epistle closes with a practical exhortation concerning brotherly
love, hospitality, pri