The question of the priesthood of Christ has been a debate for centuries, and it was more so acute among the Jews of the first century. According to these early Jews, a priest had to descend from the house of Levi. The high priesthood of Christ thus was posited to questions based on this one misstep: Jesus did not descend from a priestly tree, and therefore was lacking in recognition of the priesthood (Pearson and Delcor, 1971). The unknown writer of the Book of Hebrews was inspired by the Holy Spirit and checked to the validity of the ministry of Christ. After about two millennia, the truth was finally revealed: Christ was a high priest in accordance with the Melchizedek order. As mentioned in Hebrews 5:6, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek” and reinforced in verse 10 of the same chapter as "declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek" (American Bible Society, 1986). Does the question then lie as Who was Melchizedek? Melchizedek is briefly mentioned, first in the Old Testament, then he disappeared. Melchizedek was a King, and from his association with Abraham, he serves to confirm the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Background of Melchizedek
First, Melchizedek appears as a friend to Abraham in the early Chapters of Genesis. After Abraham had left his father’s lands alongside his nephew, Lot, he came to the place where he had to part with Lot. Lot headed to Sodom as Abraham headed to the lands of the Kush. War in the East saw four Kings from the East coalescing to defeat a coalition of five in the valleys of Jordan. The Eastern Kings abducted Lot and took Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, in response, mobilized 318 trained men who invaded the lands of Gomorrah at night, rescuing his nephew and plundering the spoils of war. On return from his victory, Abraham met the King of Salem, Melchizedek; also, a priest, who greeted him with joy, offering him bread and wine and he celebrated with Abraham, Genesis 14:1-18, (American Bible Society, 1986).
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When Abraham and Melchizedek, met it became the first instance in which Abraham received blessings from a foreign king. Melchizedek acknowledged the greatness of God and praised the faith of Abraham. Melchizedek also noted that the victory of Abraham was due to his faith in God. Abraham accepted the blessings of Melchizedek, thus honoring him. Unlike other kings of Sodom, Abraham welcomed Melchizedek. This acceptance forged the first bond between Abraham and priesthood, Genesis 14:19, (American Bible Society, 1986).
Secondly, Melchizedek blessed God’s glory and praised the Mosh High for delivering Abraham from his enemies. He acknowledged that the victory of Abraham against the four kings, who had defeated five kings, was not in Abrahams' but Gods, ‘Genesis 14:20, (American Bible Society, 1986).
The response of Abraham was by giving Melchizedek one-tenth of his plunder from the war. The act was the first incident of tithing before the Law of Moses was established. The actions of Abraham indicated that he accepted the claims of Melchizedek and acknowledged the glory of God at war over his own. His efforts also showed that the spoils of war belonged to God, and as such, the plunders were to be dedicated to the honor of God.
The Person of Melchizedek
Melchizedek is identified by the writer of Hebrews in Chapter 7. The first three verses state that “This Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the king s and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also King of Salem, meaning “King of Peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” Hebrews 7:1-3, (American Bible Society, 1986).
Melchizedek identifies to a King of Righteousness, and of Peace. Melchizedek’s name is an allusion to the kingship of Christ, who is described by Jeremiah as a Righteous King and by Isaiah as the Prince of Peace, King in Salem (Jerusalem) is thus an amalgam of Christ. Also, the King of Salem is an allusion to the King of Peace. Jerusalem means peace. Melchizedek was therefore the crown King of Peace and Righteousness, two characteristics that have been ascribed to the rule of Christ after his second coming.
Secondly, the verse reveals and confirms that Melchizedek served the Highest God. According to the verse, the Priesthood of Melchizedek was established first by God before He later instituted the Priesthood of Levi. The God of Israel, who initiated the Aaronic Priesthood, was the one who instituted the priesthood of Melchizedek.
The verse also tells of a Priest without father and mother. The verse says that Melchizedek lacked a defined genealogy. Melchizedek was nonetheless a man and thus means that he had a father and a mother. The verse asserts that the genealogy was not recorded. The records lack from birth to the time of his appointment as a priest. Nonetheless, this does not discredit his priesthood.
In comparison to Aaron, Aaron had a detailed history and genealogy. The debate by the Jews shows that they valued genealogy. The tree of genes enabled them to trace an individual to place them in the right place as priests, and more so, they had to be from the tribe of Levi. The lack of a genealogy record of Melchizedek thus posed a challenge since he could not be placed anywhere to confirm that he was qualified for approval by the Jewish standards.
The verse also talks of the King of Salem without neither beginning nor end. The Priesthood of Melchizedek is thus without end, and since there is no beginning nor end of Melchizedek, such means that his reign of peace is without beginning and end. The Levitical priesthood, however, had a start and will have an end. The Priesthood of Melchizedek is symbolic of the continuous reign of Christ, which goes without end. He is like Christ, unlimited in scope and time. Origins do not bind his priesthood, and thus he is boundless, being a priest of all nations, unlike the Levitical Priesthood, which was limited to the Jewish kingdom (Stuckenbruck, 2018).
The existence of Melchizedek is puzzling to many. Some have claimed that it was a theophany of Christ. An impersonation of God figure in the early Testament. He is described as “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” Hebrews 7:3, (American Bible Society, 1986). The verse implies a pre-incarnation of the person of God, who is known to be unlimited to time nor space, or of Christ who is without limits, not earthly origins. Various scholars have cited the appearance of the figure of God in Genesis 18:1, which states that “The Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in his tent while the day was growing hot.
The pre-incarnation of the figure of Christ to Abraham is, however, disputed, and Christian scholars like Dr. Homer Kent have cited various reasons against it. First, Melchizedek is just 'like the son of God' and not the Son of God (Spreafico, 2014). The phrase, 'like the son of God, is also used to refer to the fourth figure who appeared in the furnace in the book of Daniel (Daniel 3:25). Secondly, the Psalmist also refers to the Messiah as a priest "of the order of Melchizedek, who will reign forever” Psalms: 110:4, (American Bible Society, 1986). The person of Melchizedek was, however not divine, but was a man who is continually a priest.
The Importance of Melchizedek
The priesthood of Melchizedek has been proclaimed to be higher than that of Aaron using two illustrations from the books of the old Covenant. First, Melchizedek is confirmed to be higher than Abraham. The author of Hebrews asks: “Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils” Hebrews 7:4, (American Bible Society, 1986). Abraham is considered the father of faith, the father of multitudes, and the patriarch of Israel. The author brings to light the issue of superiority, asserting that if Abraham considered giving one-tenth of his plunders to the priest, then he acknowledged his more significant over him (Abraham). Abraham was not obliged to tithe Melchizedek, but his actions show that he held him to higher esteems, at the caliber of God.
Secondly, the Levitical priesthood that was ordained by Aaron is not dismissed but asserted as equally important, but not higher. “And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by, the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on” Hebrews 7: 5–8, (American Bible Society, 1986). The laws of Moses ascribed the receiving of tithes to the Levites, who served in the temple. The Levites were ordained by God to serve his priesthood in the temple. The Levites thus held a superior position, closer to the bosoms of God, and the givers of tither held a lesser place. Abraham, being a patriarch, voluntarily acknowledged that Melchizedek was superior to him, and ascribed his status to that of the lesser one before the eyes of Melchizedek. Abraham humbled himself. The author of Hebrews acknowledges this and states that the historical action of Melchizedek and Abraham shows that, just as Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, so is he more significant than all who emanated Abraham loins.
Conclusion
The author of Hebrews concluded by stating that “Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7: 9–10) (American Bible Society, 1986). Abraham is thus greater to the ordinary Jews, but significantly lesser at the presence of Melchizedek. Similarly, the Levites are more minor at the presence of Abraham, but much lower at the appearance of Melchizedek. In summary, Christ, is priest in Melchizedek order, thus more significant than the ordinary priest who is ordained in the order of the Aronian Levites.
References
American Bible Society. (1986). The Holy Bible . New York.
Pearson, A., & Delcor, M. (1971). Melchizedek From Genesis To the Qumran Texts and the Epistle To the Hebrews. Journal For The Study Of Judaism , 2 (2), 115-135. doi: 10.1163/157006371x00244
Spreafico, A. (2014) Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4. Wisdom For Life . doi: 10.1515/9783110301649.309
Stuckenbruck, L. (2018). Melchizedek in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. Journal For The Study Of The New Testament , 41 (1), 124-138. doi: 10.1177/0142064x18788983
