fit...introductio vero ...The gavr goes back to v. 15. The conclusion there pointed to is confirmed by the decisive fact that the promised priesthood is not only distinct from the Levitical but also irreconcileable with it, exclusive of it; so far, that is, that the Levitical priesthood has no longer any ground for continuance when this has been established.
The whole sentence is divided by mevn and dev into two corresponding parts. Givnetai goes with both; and oujde;n ... novmo" is parenthetical. This construction appears to be established decisively by the correspondence of ajqevthsi" ... ejpeisagwghv , and of the general scope of the two clauses. The commandment stands over against the hope, the weakness and unprofitableness of the one over against the power of the other, whereby we draw nigh to God. Pauvetai, fhsivn, oJ novmo" ejpeisavgetai de; hJ tw'n kreittovnwn ejlpiv" (Thdt.).
7:18.
ajqevthsi"
...
proag. ejnt.
...] The word
ajqevthsi"
occurs again Heb.
9:26; the verb
ajqetei'n
is found Heb. 10:28; Gal. 2:21; 3:15; 1 Tim. 5:12; and is common in the LXX. but it is generally used there of unfaithful, rebellious action: Ex. 21:8; Jer. 3:20 (
ajqesiva, ajqevthma
).
This open, direct disannulling of the previous system, which is, as it were, set at nought, cometh to pass ( givnetai ) in the fulfilment of the divine order, as indicated by the mention of an eternal priesthood on a new type.
The indefinite form of the phrase proagouvsh" ejntolh'" serves to express the general thought of the character of the foundation on which the Levitical priesthood rested as a preceding, a foregoing, and so a preparatory commandment.
The word proavgousa (1 Tim. 1:18; 5:24) expresses not only priority ( an earlier commandment ) but connexion ( a foregoing commandment ). The divine commandment ( ejntolhv ), pointing to an earthly institution, stands in contrast with the hope, rising above earth.
The use of
ejntolhv
fixes the reference to the ordinance of the priesthood particularly (Heb. 7:16) in which, as has been seen, the Law (
oujde;n ejtel. oJ novmo"
) was summed up, so far as it is compared with the Gospel.
dia; to; aujt. ajsq. kai; ajnwf.
]
because of its weakness and unprofitableness
... Vulg.
propter infirmitatem ejus et inutilitatem.
A command, a law, is essentially powerless to help. It cannot inspire with strength: it cannot bring aid to the wounded conscience. And the ritual priesthood was affected by both these faults. It was external, and it was formal. It did not deal with the soul or with things eternal.
Infirmitatem habebat lex, quia operantes se non valebat juvare: inutilitatem vero, quia nemini regnum caelorum valebat aperire (Primas.). oujde;n ou\n wjfevlhsen oJ novmo" ; wjfevlhse me;n kai; sfovdra wjfevlhsen ajlla; to; poih'sai teleivou" oujk wjfevlhsen (Chrys.).
The use of the abstract forms
to; ajsq., to; ajnwf.
, marks the principle and not only the fact. Comp. Heb. 6:17. For
to; ajsqenev"
comp. 1 Cor. 1:27; Gal. 4:9; Rom. 8:3 (
hjsqevnei
).
ejntau'qa hJmi'n ejpifuvontai oiJ aiJretikoiv. ajllj a[koue ajkribw'"
.
oujk ei\pe dia; to; ponhrovn, oujde; dia; to; mocqhrovn, ajlla; dia; to; aujth'" ajsqene;" kai; ajnwfelev"
(Chrys.)
Heb. 7:19. oujde;n gavr ...] The Law, of which the institution of the