Hebrews 7:12-14 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertained to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
‘For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.’ Change in Priesthood and Law: The priestly order of Aaron was now being abolished to make way for the original priesthood that preceded it – the order of Melchizedek. This made it necessary to change the law also and abolish all its sacrificial offerings which could not bring perfection, reconcile men to God, make them holy or take away sins (7:12; 10:5-10). God planned to change the law and its priesthood to introduce Jesus Christ as the only Priest and Sacrifice and substitute the gospel system for the Levitical institutions.
‘For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.’ The Messiah, of whom these things were predicted, did not come from the tribe of Levi and had no Levitical genealogy to prove His claim to the priesthood.
‘Evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda.’ Paul speaks with all confidence that Christ came from Judah, according to the official Jewish genealogies. The genealogies of both Matthew and Luke establish this fact. There were no difficulties in them in that day or the enemies of the gospel would have used them as proof against Christ being the Messiah.
‘Sprang out’ [Greek: anatello] had risen. Generally used of the sun rising (Matt. 4:16; 5:45; 13:6; Mark 4:6; 16:2; Jas. 1:11; 2Pet. 1:19; cp. Luke 12:54). Here, Christ is risen out of Judah as the sun in all its strength to bring light to Israel and knowledge to His people (Isa. 9:1-2; 11:1; Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:77-79).
Living the Word 