A) INTRODUCTION.

B) A BIBLICAL BREAKDOWN.

C) TO THE REAL MELCHIZEDEK.

D) FROM MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

The name Melchizedek is explained in Hebrews 7:2 as “king of righteousness.”  However, according to Genesis 14:18, he was also known as the “King of Salem.”  Accordingly, Hebrews 7:2-3 explains the “King of Salem” as being that “[2] which is, King of peace; [3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”  And staying with Genesis 14:18 and Hebrews 7:2, we see that Melchizedek “was the priest of the Most High God” (see also Psa. 110:4), “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,” or better, paid his tithe to.

 

Melchizedek, in Hebrews 7:3, is ascribed as “having neither beginning of days,” meaning, “without father, without mother, without genealogy,” and further, as not having an “end of life,” which equals his possibility of being able to “abideth a priest continually.”  Hence, he is “made like unto the Son of God,” Who has “neither beginning of days nor end of life.”

 

 

B) A BIBLICAL BREAKDOWN

 

 

Here is the key.  Melchizedek was a real person, with father and mother, just not known.  By contrast, Scripture is speaking Spiritually about Melchizedek, with the real reference being to identify our Lord as our true High Priest, “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” Psalm 110:4.  Which is the point Paul, in the Book of Hebrews is referencing him in the first place.  What Paul in the Book of Hebrews is doing is setting up Christ in His rightful place as High Priest, even though he came from the tribe of Judah which in the Jewish mind, is a problem (remember, he is writing to the Jewish community attempting to present Messiah Christ to them).  In other words, even though Melchizedek was not from Abraham’s clan, he was still considered to be the High Priest of Abrahams day.  In fact, the Epistle to the Hebrews, especially Chapter 7, makes use of Psalm 110:1-7, which is taken to be a prophecy of Messiah.  And his Jewish audience would know that.

 

The entire discourse therefore of the Seventh Chapter of Hebrews was to set up our Lord as the true High Priest, Who had no beginning, and Who had this office beforehand, even though they did not recognize it until Messiah presented Himself.  Just as Abraham recognized Melchizedek as the High Priest, once he showed himself, so we recognize Jesus as our Heavenly High Priest when He ascended into Heaven into the Holy Place.

 

The relationship between Melchizedek and Christ is that, “type meats its antitype.”  The Book of Hebrews goes to great length to establish this Biblical truth.  For even Abraham paid Melchizedek tithes; and he blessed Abraham; he is the type of a Priest who lives for ever; he neither had beginning; and yet Levi, yet unborn, paid him tithes in the personage of Abraham; and the permanence of his priesthood in Christ implied the abrogation of the Levitical system; he was made a priest without an oath; his priesthood can neither be transmitted nor interrupted by death; the Aaronic priesthood was local, temporary, and national; while the Melchizedek priesthood was prior to the Levitical temporary Laws in regard to the Sacrificial System; and as such, world-wide and everlasting; as evidenced by the fact that, although the “King of Salem,” his influence was over that of Abram; who paid him tithes, even though Abram was not from the city of Salem.  A little winded here; sorry.

 

 

C) TO THE REAL MELCHIZEDEK

 

 

Melchizedek is the first designated “priest;” God Himself calling him to the office, according to Hebrews 5:1.  There are, of course many other implications, such as “Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine,” which was a hospitably to refresh Abram’s weary band, and which, though not referred to in the Hebrew, reminds us of the Lord’s Supper.

 

The question as to who this mysterious personage really was has given rise to a great deal of modern speculation.  It is an old tradition among the Jews that he was Shem, the son of Noah, who survived to this time.  However, the way in which he is mentioned in the Book of Genesis would rather lead to the inference that Melchizedek was of one blood with the children of Ham, among whom he lived, i.e., the town of Salem, of which he was “King,” being from the Canaanite tribe, descendants of Ham.

 

 

D) FROM MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR

 

 

“It was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God.  Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father.”  RH, February 18, 1890; 1BC 1093; 1SM:409.

 

“God has never left Himself without [a] witness on the earth.  At one time Melchizedek represented the Lord Jesus Christ in person, to reveal the truth of Heaven, and perpetuate the Law of God (Letter 190, 1905) 1BC:1092-1093.

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