The connection of thought may be given thus: — It has been shown that the position of Melchizedek towards Abraham involves of necessity his superiority to Abraham, to Levi also and his descendants, so that “the order of Melchizedek” is altogether different from, and higher than, “the order of Aaron.” This being so, how could this other priesthood take the place of the Levitical if this latter had answered its full purpose?
Perfection. — Literally, the making perfect — the full accomplishment of the essential aim of priesthood, in bringing men “near to God.”
Received. — The better reading is hath received. — The object of this parenthesis is to point out the intimate relation between the Law and the priesthood: “I speak of the Levitical priesthood, for it is on the basis of this that the Law given to the people rests.”
Another priest. — That is (as the Greek implies), a priest of a different kind (Hebrews 7:13; Hebrews 7:15). The question is equivalent to a strong denial: there could be no such need.