who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
16. Carnal commandment, etc. It was called carnal, because it refers to things corporal, that is, to external rites. We know how Aaron and his sons were initiated into their office. What was fulfilled in Christ by the hidden and celestial power of the Spirit, was shadowed forth under the Law by ointment, various vestments, the sprinkling of blood, and other earthly ceremonies.
Observe the necessity there was of raising up another priest, after the order of Melchisedec and not after the order of Aaron, by whom that perfection should come which could not come by the Levitical priesthood, which therefore must be changed, and the whole economy with it, Heb 7:11, Heb 7:12, etc. Here, I. It is asserted that perfection could not come by the Levitical priesthood and the law.
Commenting on Hebrews 7:11-28
For he testifieth,.... That is, either David, the penman of the psalm, or rather the Holy Ghost, the enditer of it, or God in the Scripture, in Psa 110:4 of this form of citing Scripture; see Gill on Heb 2:6. thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; see Heb 5:6.