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S. Michael Houdmann
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In biblical Christianity, the Melchizedek priesthood is an office that applies only to Christ. Melchizedek is introduced in Genesis 14:18 and is described as the king of Salem and "priest of God." ...
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Singapore Moses
► WHO IS MELCHIZEDEK? 1. King of "Salem", ancient Jerusalem city (Heb. 7:1; Gen. 14:18). 2. Priest of God in Abraham's day (Heb. 7:1; Gen. 14:18). 3. He met Abraham returning from his military victory (Heb. 7:1; Gen. 14:16- 18). 4. Abraham gave him one- tenth of the spoils (Heb. 7:2; Gen. 14:16- 24). 5. Melchizedek was called King of righteousness (Heb. 7:2). 6. He was called King of Salem, or King of Peace (Heb. 7:2; Gen. 14:18). 7. He had no descent (Greek:agenealogetos (G35), without genealogy); without recorded father or mother; and without recorded beginning of days or end of life (Heb. 7:3, 6). He had a father, mother, birth, and death, but these were not recorded, so that he could be a type of Christ who was an eternal being really without beginning and ending (Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6- 7 Jn. 1:1- 2 Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8- 11). 8. He made a type of Christ, so that Christ could be made a priest after his order (Heb. 7:3; 5:6, 10; 6:15- 20 7:1- 10, 15- 21). As God Christ was not begotten, was not God's Son, and had no birth or death. Only as man did the second person of the Divine Trinity have a begetting, a father, a mother, a birth and a death(Acts 13:33). 9. He was an ordinary man (Heb. 7:4). 10. He was greater than Abraham (Heb. 7:4- 7). ► What further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? As per Heb. 7:11, the eternal priesthood typified by Melchizedek was the original priesthood. It existed over 400 years before the Levitical order. Over 600 years after the Levitical priesthood David by the Holy Spirit predicted that another priest--a perfect one--would arise after the order of Melchizedek. The law, therefore, did not contain the original priesthood, which existed typically in Melchizedek and became reality in Jesus Christ. ► Why is there a Change in Priesthood and Law? Three points summarizes why there is a change in Priestly order of Aaron: 1. The priestly order of Aaron was now being abolished to make way for the original priesthood that preceeded it--the order of Melchizedek. This made it necessary to change the law also and abolish all its sacrificial offerings which could not bring perfection, reconcile men to God, make them holy or take away sins (Heb. 7:12; 10:5-10. 2. God planned to change the law and its priesthood, to introduce Jesus Christ as the only Priest and Sacrifice, and substitute the gospel system for the Levitical institutions. (Heb. 7:15) 3. God designed to change the Levitical priesthood because of the OATH in Ps.110 which declares the Messiah should be the priest after the order of Melchisedec who was not only a priest but also a prophet and a king (Heb 7:1-10). None of the Levitical priests exercised a double or a triple office as was manifest in Jesus Christ ► What is the significance of Melchisedec priesthood? Melchisedec priesthood is ETERNAL (FOR EVRER) and must be supported by ALL children of Abraham (Heb. 6:20; 7:1-11,17,21). Christ taught "Tithing" as eternal(Mt. 23: 23; Lk. 11: 42; cp. Mt. 5: 20 with Lk. 18: 11- 12). ► Why Christ Better than Melchizedek? 1. Christ will be the future eternal KING of Jerusalem (Ezek. 43:7; 48:35; Zech. 14; Rev. 20); Melchizedek was the past temporary KING (Heb. 7:1). 2. Christ is an eternal PRIEST (Heb. 6:20; 7:17); Melchizedek was temporary (Heb. 7:1). 3. Christ is God (Heb. 1:8; Jn. 1:1-2,14); Melchizedek was a man (Heb. 7:4). 4. Christ is the eternal King of RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 23:6); Melchizedek was temporary (Heb. 7:2). 5. Christ is the eternal King of PEACE (Isa. 9:6); Melchizedek was temporary (Heb. 7:2). 6. Christ is an eternal being from eternal past to eternal end (Heb. 1:8; Jn. 1:1-2 Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6); Melchizedek was not (Heb. 7:3,6). 7. Christ as an eternal being has no father, mother, beginning of days, or end of life (Mic. 5:2); Melchizedek had.
Kenneth Heck
Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God - this is the title that is over all the children of Adam, not simply one ethnic group or other. John the Baptist was a prophet of the Most High God, and Christ was the son of the Most High God. Since he was without recorded birth, death or beginning and ending of days, Melchizedek wasn't a normal human being. Normal human beings inherit physical and spiritual traits from their parents - but Melchizedek appeared without reference to any heredity. It is possible he came to earth as a great angel, similar to the two angel's appearance to Abraham (who were called men in Gen 18:2). He is described as a man in Heb 7:4, but this applied only to his outward form. The archangel Gabriel is called a man in Dan 9:2. The LORD himself is called a man in Gen 18:2, and a man of war in Ex.15:3, for example. The Levitical priesthood was intended only for the Israelites under the Mosaic Law. The Aaronic covenant of salt (Num. 18:19) was not perpetual but only lasted for until it was violated, just as salt can become worthless (Matt 15:3). It came to its end when the veil in the temple was torn. John the Baptist, also of the Aaronic priesthood, was the temporary bridge between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. Even though Melchizedek disappeared from the earth, his office of priesthood to all peoples remained to be fulfilled through Christ. The Melchizedek order will be continuing until and during the resurrection era through the Sons of God who fulfill both the kingship and priesthood roles in one office, as Melchizedek did while on earth. The change from the Levitical to the Melchizedek priesthood was prefigured even at the time of Moses. Spiritually speaking, this is why there were two tablets of the Law delivered by Moses rather than just one. Also, the two pillars of Solomon's temple represent the two priesthoods. The final switch-over for all the Jews to the Melchizedek priesthood will occur when Christ comes again to judge the nations.
John Appelt
The Melchizedek priesthood is a special line of priests stemming from a real historic person, first mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek was a worshiper of the true God residing in Salem, the ancient name for Jerusalem, and a respected king and priest of God. The order of Melchizedek is first mentioned in Psalm 110:4, which Hebrews 5:5, 6 applied to Jesus Christ. This means Melchizedek was not the pre-incarnate Christ or a theophany. In Hebrews 7:1-3, Jesus is compared to Melchizedek, and that He was “made like the Son of God.” Made like” is the Greek word ‘aphomoiomenos,’ found only this one place in the New Testament. It is made of two words ‘apo’ meaning ‘off’ and ‘homoios’ meaning ‘assimilate’ or ‘made to resemble.’ Together it means as Joseph H. Thayer defined it in his “Greek-English Lexicon”, “causing a model to pass off or copied into an image or shape like it.” In Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:11, it states that Christ was, “after the order of Melchizedek.” Comparing the Son with the Son is not an analogy. One point the writer of Hebrews makes is that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah which according to the law did not produce priests as the tribe of Levi did. So, the priesthood of Melchizedek is a special order. While Psalm 110 is applied to Christ, David originally had in mind an earthly king during his lifetime. This had to be Solomon, as ‘my lord’ is used always for an earthly or human lord (and several times for an angel), but never for deity, especially when used with Lord, i.e., Yahweh, in the same sentence. David would then be saying Solomon was a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This is verified by II Samuel 8:18 and I Chronicles 18:17 which, following the listing of royal officials, have the statement that “David’s sons were chief ministers.” What is odd is that the words ‘chief ministers’ in the original is ‘kohen’ always used as ‘priests.’ Some suggest the term ‘kohen’ or ‘cohen’ may mean something like royal or personal advisors, or confidants, but it is not used elsewhere in this way. Some scholars believe that these changes were intentionally made by scribes who did not think there could be priests who were not of the line of Levi. So ‘chief ministers’ is not a correct translation and furthermore, priests and princes are often distinguished from each other. These sons were priests. David’s sons were not of the Levitical tribe so they could not technically be priests but, in a sense, they were priests. It is possible that David, in conquering Jerusalem, became the honorary Melchizedekian king and priest. Therefore, David, Solomon, and the kingly line of Judah were all royal priests and only in this way could Jesus, as descendant of David, have the right to be the high priest. This also makes believers in Jesus the royal priesthood, I Peter 2:9, and the priesthood of Melchizedek a unique and eternal priesthood.
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