Melchizedek: A Portrayal Of Christ

In the time of Abraham (see Abram and Sarai), Abraham's nephew Lot was captured during a war between competing kings.

"^14:8 And there went out the king of Sodom [see Sodomites], and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, the same is Zoar; and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; ^14:9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. ^14:10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. ^14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. ^14:12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed." (Genesis 14:8-12 KJV)

"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec"

When Abraham heard that Lot had been taken captive, he mounted a successful rescue mission. Upon his return, "Melchizedek [the King James renders the name as "Melchizedek" in the Old Testament and "Melchisedec" in the New Testament] king of Salem [i.e. an earlier name for Jerusalem] brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God."

"^14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother [i.e. Abraham's nephew is described as a "brother" in the kinship sense] was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. ^14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ^14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

^14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

^14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. ^14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: ^14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14:14-20 KJV)

The next Biblical mention of Melchizedek was by King David in the Psalms. David described Melchizedek as a prototype of an eternal high priest to come i.e. "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

"^110:1 A Psalm of David [see Israelite Monarchy - The Origin].

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. ^110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion [see Zionism]: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. ^110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. ^110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. ^110:5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. ^110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. ^110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head." (Psalm 110:1-7 KJV)

Referring to The Christ, "^5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" in the New Testament Hebrews 5:6 (quoted below) is a direct quote of King David's Psalm 110:4 (quoted above). The writer of Hebrews also contrasts the symbolic and temporary human priesthood as a living prophecy of an eternal High Priest to come.

"^5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ^5:2 Who can have Compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. ^5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

^5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. ^5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

^5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

^5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ^5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ^5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ^5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5:6-10 KJV)

Melchisedec was a living type of the Christ to come (see the Fact Finder question below).

"^6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil [see Why Was It Torn?]; ^6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6:19-20 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews then continues with a prophecy of "Melchisedec" that can only be fulfilled by Christ, not any mere human i.e. "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."

"^7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; ^7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; ^7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

^7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. ^7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi [see Levites], who receive the office of the priest hood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: ^7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. ^7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. ^7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. ^7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. ^7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." (Hebrews 7:1-10 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews again quotes Psalm 110:4 in Hebrews 7:17 in explaining how the physical priesthood was merely a living prophecy of the coming Messiah, not an end in itself - because as physical humans, their service ends, but Christ's place is eternal.

"^7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priest hood, for under it the people received the law, what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? ^7:12 For the priest hood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ^7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. ^7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priest hood. ^7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, ^7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. ^7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7:11-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "^6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever" (Hebrews 6:20 KJV) mean?
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