Melchizedek
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18).
The identity of Melchizedek of Salem has been a subject of interest by many a commentator. He appears on the scene suddenly and vanishes just as quickly. Genesis, Psalms, and Hebrews mention him. So little is known of his life that we may not consider him a type if it were not for Paul’s discussion about him in Hebrews.
The only historic account of Melchizedek is in Genesis 14:9-20 when Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (now southwestern Iran), headed an alliance of four kings that took captive inhabitants of Sodom, including Abram’s nephew, Lot. Abram took a small force of 318 servants to rescue Lot. They succeeded in a battle at Hobah, sixty miles south of Damascus. On the group’s return Melchizedek appeared, king of Salem (Jerusalem, Psalms 76:2), and “a priest of the most high God.”
Genesis 14:18, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” (KJV).
Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
Here we learn that Melchizedek was king of Salem who brought bread and wine, and was priest of the most high God. This is the first place in the Bible where the word “priest” is used. The name Melchizedek is made of two parts: melchi, “king” (H4427), and zedek, “righteousness,” or “justice” (H6663) — a king of righteousness, or a righteous king. Melchizedek combined the offices of priest and king.
The gift of bread and wine suggests a connection to Jesus, who used bread and wine at the last supper to represent his body and blood. Jesus also said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). The miracle of Jesus in Cana was to provide wine (John 2:1-10), turning six large stone jars of water into the best wine.
Melchizedek said two things. (1) In Genesis 14:19, he blessed Abram: “Blessed be Abram of the most high God.” (2) In verse 20, Melchizedek blessed God for Abram: “And blessed be the most high God.” Melchizedek acknowledged that God had delivered the enemies into Abram’s hand. This is the first time God intervened in a war to give a victory. In Genesis 14:14 Abram had only 318 trained men, yet he defeated the armies of four kings. It reminds us of Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites with only 300 men in Judges 7:7.
Melchizedek blessed Abram with two gifts (bread and wine), and Abram in return “gave him tithes of all” of the spoils of war. Here we encounter another first, the precedent of the tithe, established long before the Mosaic law and the Levitical priesthood.
A THOUSAND YEARS LATER [1]
Disappearing as suddenly as he came on the scene, Melchizedek is lost to the sacred writings for a thousand years. Then Psalms 110 picks up the name of Melchizedek. David’s forecast of the Messiah adds that the order of Melchizedek in verse 4 is “for ever,” owlam (H5769), always, eternal, a perpetual priesthood. This Psalm talks of a victorious king, a triumphant priest, having power both to rule and to heal. He was a king of righteousness ruling the city of peace, an apt picture of our King and his kingdom.
The name Melchizedek fits the reign of King David. David was King, melchi, of Israel, ruling from Jerusalem, and the priest in David’s time was Zadok (meaning righteous, H6659). Through Zadok the religious influence of David was exerted (2 Samuel 8:17, 15:24).
Melchizedek was an abiding priest in the sense that his death was not recorded. David was made a ruler “for ever” in the sense that God promised David that the power of the throne would always be vested in his family line. What a truly remarkable promise! Every king over Jerusalem for eighteen generations was descended from David. Ultimately, the right of rulership from King David vested in Jesus, a son of David who literally abides forever.
A THOUSAND YEARS LATER [1]
A thousand years after David, Melchizedek reappears in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. He addressed the Jews that were familiar with the Scriptures who trusted in the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood. The Jews were challenged to learn that Jesus qualified as a priest, for he was not of the Levitical family, being from the tribe of Judah. But Paul points out that Jesus is a priest of a higher order.
Paul noted that the Melchizedek priesthood preceded, and was superior to, that of Levi. Melchizedek was honored by Levi, for while “yet in the loins” of his father Abraham, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:9, 10). Paul also showed that this higher priesthood was different. Levitical priests were appointed to sacrifice for sins, but not Melchizedek.
Then Paul appealed to David’s Psalm, which declares that Messiah would be of the Melchizedek priesthood, combining the office of both King and Priest. Furthermore, this was a blessing priesthood, rather than a sacrificing priesthood (Hebrews 7:12-17, 24-25).
PAUL’S WARNING
Earlier in Hebrews, Paul said respecting Melchizedek, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11-14). This word “dull” comes from the Greek word nothros (G3576), meaning lazy, slothful, or dull. It is rendered “slothful” in Hebrews 6:12. Apparently those brethren had not paid sufficient attention to grasp the deeper issues of faith. A similar affliction can easily occur today in our Laodicean period. There is always room for improvement and for avoiding complacency.
Should we become complacent, let us seek the cause and overcome it. If we lack time from pressing duties, then we should trim these wherever possible, redeeming the time, remembering Paul’s words to Timothy, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life” (2 Timothy 2:4). If we seem to lack an interest for the Truth, then we need to refocus from earthly to spiritual values. For earthly interests can cloud our spiritual appetites and our vision.
A deficiency here will affect not only our own spiritual alertness, but also our brethren. When attending classes or conventions, come prepared with a point or two to share with the brethren, or a question to focus our spiritual energies on. If our conversations are filled with earthly affairs, then there is much room for improvement. If we do not have an appetite for spiritual food, possibly we have a spiritual virus.
We recall that silver trumpets were used to attract Israel’s attention when something important was about to occur. Only the priest and his sons were ordained to use these trumpets (Numbers 10:2,8, 1 Chronicles 15:24).
Every advance of the church throughout the age was heralded by the silver trumpets of truth. Those who were dull of hearing and lacked interest in the latest announced truths, missed the benefits. Shall we who have heard the blast of the seventh messenger announcing the second presence of our Lord, now lose our interest and hunger for the fresh beauties of God’s word? Shall we rest upon our attainments and grow slothful? Will the truth grow old and we lose our love for it? Or will we be energetic and anxious to pursue gems of truth that lie still before us, deep in the mine? Let us totally fall in love with the truth in our Christian walk.
JESUS IS LIKE MELCHIZEDEK
Aaron was of the Levitical priesthood, Jesus is of the Melchizedek priesthood, and both were called of God (Hebrews 5:4,5). In Hebrews 6:19, 20, Paul says Jesus, our forerunner, has ascended into heaven, entering “within the veil.” In verse 20 he focuses on a single expression, “for ever,” in Psalms 110:4.
Paul explains in Hebrews 7:3 that Melchizedek was “without father, mother, without descent, neither having beginning of days, nor end of life” — that is, having no record of parents or pedigree — whereas the Levitical priests had to demonstrate their pedigree from Aaron. The priesthood of Jesus, like the priesthood of Melchizedek, did not depend upon tracing its roots to Aaron.
Melchizedek as a priest had no predecessor in the Genesis record. He was a priest by God’s appointment. Jesus, as a priest, has no predecessor in the heavenly office he attained. Jesus also became a priest by divine appointment.
Christ will be a king and priest, as Melchizedek was.
The Apostle Paul noted that the record does not mention the passing of Melchizedek, yet the death of Aaron is recorded. This contrast represents that the antitypical Melchizedek will be without end of days. How beautifully this fits our Lord Jesus, who now has eternal spiritual life. Jesus’ priesthood is perpetual, extending to the Messianic Age of blessing all the families of the earth.
WAS MELCHIZEDEK SHEM?
The Jewish people, in admitting the superiority of Melchizedek to Abraham, sought to account for it by alleging that the royal priest was no other than Shem, the most pious of Noah’s sons. Recorded in several Qumran fragments (for example 11QMelch), most rabbinical writers concur that Melchizedek was Shem the son of Noah.
However, (1) We know Shem’s father was Noah. (2) We have his genealogy going back to Adam. (3) Shem lived six hundred years (Genesis 11:10, 11). (4) A name change from Shem to Melchizedek would surely been recorded in the Bible. (5) It would be surprising to find Shem ruling a city in an area controlled by the descendants of his brother Ham.
HIDDEN CONTRAST
In Hebrews 7:11 Paul asked, “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood … what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec?” Perfection comes to us under the greater, more glorious Melchizedek priesthood — not from the Law, and its typical priests.
There is a contrast established in Hebrews 7:11, compared to Hebrews 8:6, that is helpful here. However, this contrast is hidden in most common versions. In the first text Paul speaks of the Levitical priesthood as a foundation upon which the Law functioned. Upon that foundation “it has been legally set” (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation).
Paul then compares the superiority of Jesus’ Melchizedek priesthood, to the inferior Levitical priesthood, and summarizes some of this in chapter eight. “This is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8:1). This new and superior ministry is of a better arrangement, “which upon better promises has been legally set” (Hebrews 8:6, Kingdom Interlinear).
The expression “has been legally set,” appearing in both texts, is from a single word in the Greek, nomotheteo (G3549). In all of the New Testament, the word appears only these two times. Strong’s meaning is “to legislate, to have enactments injoined, be sanctioned.” Here there is a clear distinction between the age of Law, and the age of Grace. Both have been legislated, enacted, or sanctioned – but each upon a different kind of officiating priesthood. The age of Law was established upon the Levitical priesthood. The age of Grace was established upon the Melchizedek priesthood.
MELCHIZEDEK IS SUPERIOR TO THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
As Melchizedek was superior to Abram, so Christ is superior to Aaron. The Apostle Paul makes seven points in Hebrews chapter 7 that the Levitical priesthood is subservient to that of Melchizedek, and that it will be replaced.
- When God dictated arrangements for Israel, He separated the priestly functions from the kingly functions. The priest, in adjudging the law, had contact with God through the Urim and Thummim. The king exercised the executive role of law enforcement. However, Melchizedek was both a king and a priest (verse 1).
- Abram, and by extension his greatgrandson Levi, paid tithes to Melchizedek (verses: 2-10). “Through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes” (Hebrews 7:9, NAS).
- Priests in ancient Israel were to be born of the ancestry of Aaron. But the Melchizedek priesthood was by appointment, not by heredity (verse 3).
- Melchizedek was the blessor of Abraham who had paid him tithes (verse 6). “Without [any] contradiction the less is blessed of the better” (verse 7).
- The Levitical priesthood failed to bring perfection, necessitating a new priesthood (verses 11 and 12). Thus the Mosaic law, with its priesthood, had to be set aside to allow for this new Melchizedek priesthood. In verse 26 Paul says our priest is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Thus, he is far superior to the sinful and afflicted priests of the Old Testament.
- Aaron’s priesthood was temporary. The Melchizedek order is eternal (verses 14 to 16). Paul quotes Psalms 110:4 that, by God’s oath, Messiah, heir of this priesthood, was to be “for ever.”
- Hebrews 8:27 says the sacrifices offered by Aaronic priests were repeated, as they did not actually remove sin. Whereas our high priest offered once for all, because his sacrifice is ever efficacious.
SACRIFICES FOLLOWED BY BLESSING
When Aaron completed his work of sacrificing, he changed into garments of glory in order to bless the people. The higher priesthood of Melchizedek no longer wear robes of sacrifice, but those of glory and honor. Christ in glory blesses us presently. Christ together with the saints in glory will bless the world in the Millennium, dispensing the blessed results of the age of sacrifice.
In all of these particulars, the Melchizedek priesthood is superior to the old priests, who “serve unto the example and shadow” of the greater realities. Jesus has “obtained a more excellent ministry,” and the old covenant intertwined with the old priesthood “decayeth and waxeth old” (Hebrews 8:5, 6, 13).
— Br. Adam Kopczyk
[1] An approximate period, not intended to be specific.