The Mystery of Melchizedek Revealed

 

By Nick Bibile

 

Genesis 14: 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!

We have only two scriptures on Melchizedek in Genesis then his name appears after about one thousand years in Psalms.

Psalm 110: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Who is Melchizedek?

Some of the Jewish writers and Christians believe he was the son of Noah, Shem. Some believe he was an angel. Also some believe he was a Canaanite king and priest. There are others believe he was a Christophany that an Old Testament appearance of Christ Jesus. Then the others believe he was a type of Christ. My personal view is that he was a type of Christ, although most believe he was a Christophany, Christ appeared to Abraham in the Old Testament. Why many would say that Melchizedek was Christ in the Old Testament because of the following verse.

Hebrews 7:He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

But the scriptures do not say, he was the Son of God but he was like the Son of God, or resembled the Son of God,

It is the book of Hebrews that reveal Melchizedek. I believe the book of Hebrews was written by the greatest theologian during that time, none other than apostle Paul. He is writing to the Jews. If you read Hebrews chapter seven, in comparison with Genesis 14:18-20 you will see Melchizedek was greater than Abraham as the lesser was blessed by the superior and Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. No Jew would like to hear that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham as it is very hard for a Jew to swallow.

The reason why apostle used Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews to show that the Levitical system of the priesthood was weak, done away and now even the Gentiles can worship God through the order of Melchizedek priesthood.

Hebrews 7: 18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

The great theologian apostle Paul is using Melchizedek to the Jews in interpreting institution of the priesthood. The priesthood that came from Aaron had a beginning, Aaron was subjected the kings. Aaron’s priesthood ended. Levitical priesthood was national, to the Israelites. Now it is done away. But the Melchizedek priesthood does not have a beginning or an end, it is not national but to the whole world.

How did Melchizedek address God? He did not address God as Yahweh but by El Elyon (Most High God) then goes on to say who this Most High God.  He is the Possessor of heaven and earth. These are Gentile terms.

 Paul is telling the Jewish Christians using Melchizedek to prove his case, his priesthood is not national but to the families of the world. Remember Genesis 12 when God blessed Abram.

12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God kept Melchizedek’s genealogy a secret as to show that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. Christ did not come from the tribe of Levi but from the tribe of Judah. Christ came according to the order of Melchizedek, not only for the Jewish believers but also for the Gentile believers.

Hebrews 7: 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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