Paper by: Ralph Thoren and others
Date: November 5, 2023
Just who is Melchizedek and why is he important in our study of our Lord Yeshua?
Melchizedek is a mysterious and enigmatic figure appearing in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis and the Psalms, and referenced in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Hebrews.
Described as the King of Salem (believed to be ancient Jerusalem) and the Priest of the Most High God, Melchizedek blesses Abram (later Abraham) after his victory over the kings. His uniqueness lies in his dual roles as a king and a priest, a combination not found in the traditional Jewish Levitical priesthood. He is also notable for his lack of genealogy, appearing and disappearing from the scriptural narrative without a trace of lineage or legacy, which the Book of Hebrews compares to the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Melchizedek’s brief but powerful biblical presence has sparked extensive theological debate and speculation about his true nature and origins throughout history.
Hebrews 6:20 {NASB 95} where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
An interesting study. What does it mean, “according to the order of Melchizedec”??
After some research, lots of possibilities emerge.
Dr. TIM GRAY wrote the following commentary:
Gospels emphatically point out that Jesus is a descendant of the line of David, from the tribe of Judah. This royal lineage is essential for Jesus’ claim to be the king of Israel, the Messiah. But some Jews posed the following challenge:
If you claim that Jesus is king because He is of the royal line of David, from the tribe of Judah, then how can you claim that Jesus is also a priest, since priests must be from the tribe of Levi? Either Jesus is from the tribe of Levi or the tribe of Judah: Which is it?
This question arises in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 7:14). The text answers the question by citing Psalm 110, where the Lord says to the royal Messiah, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 7:17). The Messiah is said to be a priest, not after the order of Aaron and the Levites, but according to the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the priest-king of Salem who blesses Abraham and offers up bread and wine to God. King Melchizedek is a priest during the age of the patriarchs, before Levi and his descendants are even born. Priest Melchizedek is most likely in the order of the first-born sons.
Jewish tradition and the early Church Fathers believed that Melchizedek (“king of righteousness”) was the throne name of the first-born son of Noah: Shem. According to Shem’s genealogy, he outlives Abraham, and this would explain the passing on of the blessing from Noah to Shem to Abraham. This may also explain why Saint Paul stresses that Jesus is the first-born of many brethren (Rom 8:29). As God’s eternal first-born son (first-born does not necessarily mean that there are subsequent siblings; an only child, for example, is still a “first-born”), Jesus is the eternal high priest of God.
Whether or not Melchizedek is Shem, it is clear that the Messiah, according to Psalm 110, would be a priest—not a priest of the order of Levi, but of the order of Melchizedek.
Conclusion:
A priest in the order of Aaron or Levi would be a Law Giver. Israel had plenty of those then and now. Our Lord who is our King and high priest came as God’s son to live in the flesh as we do and leave the flesh as we will. He gave us access to the Holy place of temple 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
He offers us Salvation. Amen