Articles

Hebrews / Chapter 7 / V1-3

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. ~He 7:1-3

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Hebrews chapters five to eight, illustrated how Jesus’ priesthood was “more superior” and “more excellent” compared to the high priests of the Old Testament. God instituted the Old Testament priesthood, and it was perpetually passed down through the descendants of Aaron from the Tribe of Levi. Their roles included acting as intermediaries for the Israelites in the offering of burnt sacrifices to God and in performing God-specific duties. These priestly duties were exclusive, and could only be performed by Levites and no other tribe. When the King of Judah, Uzziah, in his pride tried to offer up incense on the altar, overstepping the duties of the priests, God struck him with leprosy. Jesus was of the lineage of Judah; thus, He had no part in the Levitical priesthood. Therefore, by quoting from the Old Testament, the author wanted the Hebrew Christians to know that Jesus was a high priest anointed outside the priesthood of the Levites, not according to the order of Aaron but according to the order of Melchizedek.

“Order” in this context meant manner, rank, grade and quality. What were the differences then between Aaron’s and Melchizedek’s order? Aaron was of the Tribe of Levi, the descendant of Abraham; when Abraham returned victorious from the battle at the Valley of Siddim, he offered a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. For if even Abraham, the forefather of the Levites, had to make an offering of a tenth to Melchizedek, how much more honourable he must have been than the Levites! His priestly order clearly excelled that of the Levites and was far more superior (He 7:4-10).

Not only was Melchizedek the most excellent high priest, he was a king as well. From his name, he was known as the king of righteousness, and the king of peace. He had very similar titles to Christ, which He was also known as the Great High Priest, the King of Heaven, God’s Righteousness, and the Prince of Peace. The author continued to cite more similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus, the Son of God; that they were “without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life.” Jesus was the eternal God, who existed even before He was incarnated into this world. With respect to His deity, He existed since the beginning of time and would never die; unlike man, He was without father or mother, without a beginning and without end.

Notably, this very verse sparks debate – which some have taken a literal view of the verse by suggesting that Melchizedek was without a human father and mother, without a date of birth, and without a time of death. Some even went on to speculate that he was the Old Testament Christ, reason being that only God could have manifested these attributes. However, adopting such a view would lead to more problems; for if Melchizedek was the Christ, Christ must have already been a high priest during Abraham’s time. But we find that all high priests needed to be selected from among man (He 5:1-2). Shouldn’t the Lord have to wait until He had become a man just like us, before He could be made the high priest? Otherwise, how could He be able to understand our infirmities and to represent the people in matters relating to God? From the way in which Melchizedek had blessed Abraham, we could also observe that he was not the Christ. For when Melchizedek addressed God, it was done in a manner as how a man would have addressed Him: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Jesus as the Almighty God Himself, would not use words unfitting to His status. Within the whole of the Old Testament, Melchizedek was only mentioned briefly in two places; so how did the author of Hebrews from these passages alone, deduced that he was without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life and resembling the Son of God?

The two passages that speak of Melchizedek are quoted below. Concerning Melchizedek, the author of Hebrews would not have known more than any of us. 

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. ~Ge 14:18-20

The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.” ~Ps 110:4

The bible is God-breathed, all that has been written is accurate to its exact word. Jesus was a priest “in the order” of Melchizedek, shows that the Lord only “adheres to his pattern” and does not suggest that Jesus Christ was Melchizedek himself. Similarly, Melchizedek “resembling the Son of God” does not mean that he was Jesus Himself, but that he was merely “like” Him. They may be alike in certain aspects, but they are not the same person; they are two distinct individuals.

What similarities then does Melchizedek have as compared to Christ? It is known that the Israelites were exceptionally particular when it came to their genealogy, such that every Jew needed to have a record of his own genealogy – a detailed list that contained his tribe, ancestors, father, date of birth and date of decease. To become the high priest, his genealogy would be utmost important! Jesus was not a Levite, how could He ever qualify as a high priest? The Old Testament verses above make no mention of Melchizedek’s genealogy other than him being a priest of God Most High. The author of Hebrews under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understood the reason behind the omission of the genealogy of Melchizedek – so as to demonstrate that Melchizedek was similar to the Son of God; that He was without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life. Therefore, when God sworn saying, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek,” it was for the very purpose of illustrating that Christ became high priest according to the order of an everlasting and indestructible life, and not according to the order of the Levites which was of weak and perishable flesh. For all Levites were born of flesh and eventually died, hence, they were unable to serve their duties as high priest forever and their duties needed to be handed down. On the other hand, Christ was different – He was eternal and would never die; therefore, Christ’s office as high priest was perpetual and never needed changing. Christ thus according to a higher and more superior order became the everlasting Great High Priest.

Furthermore, priests ordained according to the order of Aaron were required to make a sin offering for themselves first before they could do so for the people. Yet Jesus surpassed them all, for He was without sin, holy and without blemish and did not require a sin offering for Himself. The high priests that were chosen according to the flesh served in man-made tents, and these tents were only a foreshadow of the heavenly one. The Lord Christ Jesus instead served in the true heavenly tent as high priest, one that was more superior and far excelling.

The author of Hebrews based on how the Old Testament had recorded Melchizedek to bring out the fact that he was “without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life.” But in reality, Melchizedek was just an ordinary man of flesh and blood with a father and mother, with a genealogy, with a beginning and end of life. The bible withheld these records such that when it would be mentioned “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek,” it was of special significance that could only be fulfilled by the unique priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ.