Hebrews chapter 7

vs 10

Thankfully, Jesus was born of a virgin, otherwise people would be talking about how David had Jesus in his body when he did things. We can be spared that.

This verse really does show the power of familial and ancestral links, and the importance of history, to these people. We would never think of this. We would not consider the effect of an action of our ancestors in such a way. And in fact, on a more negative note, it could be argued that such thinking has been used historically to perpetuate slavery and class distinctions through bloodlines. That's what aristocracy became all about.

vs 11

The idea that if there is something yet to come, that the present thing obviously isn't built for eternity, is a very interesting notion. It's a mixture of comforting and disturbing. Comforting because we know we have a perfect model to look forward to. Disturbing because we're working in an imperfect one. Thankfully, our church culture (I mean locally) doesn't tend to equate church with salvation or covenant relationship, whereas the Jewish culture (not necessarily the Law itself!) did do that with the Law and the priesthood.

vs 12

I take it they mean from Aaron to Melchizedek, not from high priest to high priest.

vs 13

Because Levi was the tribe designated to serve at the altar.

vs 14

Or any other tribe, I would imagine.

It's an interesting verse to show that this stuff about tribes and ancestry is important to Jews. Gentiles obviously don't care what family of Israel Jesus was born into.

vs 15

Like, say, Jesus.

vs 16-17

I'm guessing the focus here is on the term "forever". Jesus' life may have been taken from him, but it wasn't destroyed. If you are resurrected, you are indeed indestructible. Humanity are an eternal race, really. Unless you're an annihilationist, then the fact is that even those who go to hell stay there forever. Interesting thought.

vs 18

That being the old law, which we have already read earlier is not to be used for eternity.