SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:16
el cual no es hecho conforme a la ley del mandamiento carnal, sino por virtud de vida indisoluble;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 7:16
Verse 16. Who is made] Appointed to this high office by God himself, not succeeding one that was disabled or dead, according to that law or ordinance directed to weak and perishing men, who could not continue by reason of death. This is probably all that the apostle intends by the words carnal commandment, entolhv sarkikhv, for carnal does not always mean sinful or corrupt, but feeble, frail, or what may be said of or concerning man in his present dying condition.
But after the power of an endless life.] Not dying, or ceasing through weakness to be a priest; but properly immortal himself, and having the power to confer life and immortality on others. HE ever lives, as Priest, to make intercession for men; and they who believe on him shall never perish, but have everlasting life.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Who was made , etc..] Not as man, much less as God; but as a priest, constituted and appointed one: not after the law of a carnal commandment : either the ceremonial law in general, which was a carnal one, if we consider the persons to whom it belonged, the Israelites according to the flesh; it was incumbent upon, and might be performed by such who were only carnal; and it was performed by and for men that were in the flesh, or mortal; and if we consider the matter of it, the subject on which various of its rites were exercised was the flesh or body, and which were performed by manual operation; and the sacrifices of it were the flesh of beasts; and these were for the sins of the flesh, and for the removing the ceremonial uncleanness of it; and the virtue of them reached only to the purifying of the flesh; and the whole of it is distinct from the moral law, which is spiritual, and reaches to the spirit or soul of man; whereas this only was concerned about temporal and external things: or else the law of the priesthood is particularly intended; or that commandment which respected the priesthood of Aaron; which law regarded the carnal descent of his sons; enjoined a carnal inauguration of them, and provided for their succession and continuance in a carnal way; after which, Christ the great high priest did not become one: but after the power of an endless life ; this may be understood either of the Gospel, according to which Christ is a priest; and which is called life, in opposition to the law which is the ministration of death; and because it is the means of quickening dead sinners, and of reviving drooping saints; and points out Christ the way of life, and has brought life and immortality to light: and may be said to be endless, in distinction from the law, which is temporary; and because it is itself permanent and everlasting; contains in it the promise of eternal life, and is the means of bringing souls unto it: and there is a power goes along with it; which distinguishes it from the weak and beggarly elements of the ceremonial law, which is abolished, because of the weakness of it; for it is attended with the power of the Spirit of God, and is the power of God unto salvation: or else this intends the endless life which Christ has, in and of himself; and which qualifies him for a priest; and stands opposed to the mortality of the priests, and to that law which could not secure them from it: the priests died, and the law by which they were priests could not prevent their death; Christ is the living God, the Prince of life, he had power to lay down his life as man, and power to take it up again; and his life, as man, is an endless one, which qualifies him for that part of his priestly office, his intercession and advocacy: or it may design that power, which his Father has given him as Mediator, of an endless life, both for himself and for all his people; and regards his ever living as a priest, and the perpetuity of and the continual virtue and efficacy of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-25 - The priesthood and law by which perfection could not come, are don away; a Priest is risen, and a dispensation now set up, by which tru believers may be made perfect. That there is such a change is plain The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priest were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, muc less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the Hig Priest of our profession holds his office by the power of endless lif in himself; not only to keep himself alive, but to give spiritual an eternal life to all who rely upon his sacrifice and intercession. The better covenant, of which Jesus was the Surety, is not here contraste with the covenant of works, by which every transgressor is shut u under the curse. It is distinguished from the Sinai covenant with Israel, and the legal dispensation under which the church so lon remained. The better covenant brought the church and every believe into clearer light, more perfect liberty, and more abundant privileges In the order of Aaron there was a multitude of priests, of high priest one after another; but in the priesthood of Christ there is only on and the same. This is the believer's safety and happiness, that thi everlasting High Priest is able to save to the uttermost, in all times in all cases. Surely then it becomes us to desire a spirituality an holiness, as much beyond those of the Old Testament believers, as ou advantages exceed theirs.
Greek Textus Receptus
ος 3739 ου 3756 κατα 2596 νομον 3551 εντολης 1785 σαρκικης 4559 γεγονεν 1096 5754 αλλα 235 κατα 2596 δυναμιν 1411 ζωης 2222 ακαταλυτου 179
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. The law of a carnal commandment (nomon entolhv sarkinhv). The phrase N.T.o . Nomon the norm or standard, as Rom. vii. 21, 23. Entolhv, the specific precept of the Mosaic law regarding Levitical priests. Comp. Eph. ii. 15. Sarkinhv fleshly, indicates that the conditions of the Levitical priesthood had reference to the body. Fitness for office was determined largely by physical considerations. The priest must be of proper descent, without bodily blemish, ceremonially pure. See ch. ix. 1-5, 10, and comp. Rom. viii. 3. Such a priesthood cannot be eternal. After the power of an endless life (kata duanamin akatalutou). Dunamin inherent virtue. Rend. for endless, indissoluble. Comp. kataluqh loosened down, of a tent, 2 Cor. v. 1; of the stones of the temple, Matt. xxiv. 2. Jesus was high priest in virtue of the energy of indissoluble life which dwelt in him, unlike the priests who die, ver. 8. This truth the writer finds in the Psalm 18, 19. The structure of the passage is as follows: The two verses contain a proposition in two parts. The verb ginetai is or comes to pass is common to both parts. jOuden-oJ nomov is parenthetical. Rend. "for there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment, because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the law made nothing perfect), and the bringing in thereupon of a better hope through which we draw nigh unto God."
