Melchizedek The Priest
February 13, 2022
Commentary
We now come to the mysterious king-priest Melchizedek (v. 1). We do not know a great deal about him. In Genesis 14 there are only three verses about him (Gen. 14:18-20). The writer of Hebrews uses this story from Genesis to show that Christ is even greater than Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, and Levi (Abraham’s descendant). Therefore, the Jewish priesthood (made up of Levi’s descendants) was inferior to Melchizedek’s priesthood (A type of Christ’s priesthood).
A thousand years later David makes a brief mention about him in Psalm 110:4. And now after another thousand years, the writer of Hebrews gives us a little more information about him. The writer sees in the name of Melchizedek, and in the name of his city, indications of the kind of king he was (v. 2). There is much speculation about Melchizedek, but it seems that he was a historical person whose ministry was a type of Christ. He was the king of Salem, which became Jerusalem.
Melchizedek was a king and priest whose priestly order was “forever,” which is the main teaching of Christ in this chapter. The writer then says something very strange about Melchizedek that the text in Genesis does not say (vv. 3-10): He had no parents, genealogy, birth or death. Unlike other important figures in Genesis, none of these things was recorded about Melchizedek. He just wanders onto the pages of Genesis for a few verses and wanders off. Jesus, in His incarnation, had a father (the Heavenly Father), a mother, and a recorded genealogy – a kingly genealogy, but not a priestly genealogy (vv. 5-10). Like Melchizedek, Jesus is qualified to be a priest without the expected ancestry. Christ did not achieve His position by the authority of earthly parents. He had no descendants to take His position. He too is a continual priest, and He is the Son of God.
Application
The Lord Jesus, my great High Priest, lives forever in heaven. When I am tempted to make compromising deals in this world I need to remember that my dependence must be in Him.
Hebrews 7:1– 10 (NET)
1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him. 2 To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time. 4 But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. 5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham. 6 But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise. 7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior, 8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive. 9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham. 10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
Illustration: Little Girl Asked Her Mother Who Made God
A little girl asked this question of her mother. “Mother, who made God?” The mother was astonished that her little girl should ask such a question. “That’s a mighty big question,” she replied, The mother took off her wedding ring and, placing it in the hand of her five-year-old, said, “Where does the ring end and where does it begin?” Quite puzzled, the child replied, “There is no starting place and no stopping place to a ring.” “Just so it is with God,” replied the mother. “There is no beginning and no end to God. He always has been, and always will be.” (Ken Alford – Sermon Central 3/94).