Melchisedec, King of Salem - The First High Priest Chapter Six

MONEY CHANGERS 6

Melchisedec, King of Salem – The First High Priest


Hebrews 7:1 “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God ...
Genesis 14:18 “... Melchizedek king of Salem ...”

WHO IS THIS MAN MELCHIZEDEK, WHO WE SEE APPEARING ONLY ONE TIME IN SCRIPTURE, IN GENESIS CHAPTER 14?

Melchizedek, in the Hebrew, is Malkiy-Tsedeq, mal-kee-tseh'-dek; “from melek and tsedeq; king of right; an early king in Pal.
Salem is Shalem, shaw-lame': peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem: Salem.
Though only a few words are written about Melchisedec, I believe there is enough contained in those few words for us to be able to see and learn much.
Heb. 7:4 “Now consider how great this man was ...
In this chapter of the New Testament, the writer describes how much greater Melchisedec was than even Abraham.
In verse three, there are some very interesting things said of him, that could cause some to believe him to be more of an angel or some other spiritual being than a man. Some have even believed that he was Christ himself. Not all versions of the Bible use the word 'man' in Heb. 7:14. Verse three says this of him -
Heb. 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.
It tells us here that he was MADE LIKE the Son of God. Now there is a great difference in being made like something or some one, and actually being that thing or person.
The Greek word for 'made' is aphomoioo, af-om-oy-o'-o; to assimilate closely: - make like” (Strong's) The Thayer's Lexicon gives this meaning for 'made like' - “to be made like, render similar.”
God evidently, purposely made this man to represent Christ.
Now we know that Christ is eternal, and here it sounds as though Melchisedek is eternal too. However, the Greek word for “without father” is apator, ap-at'-ore; fatherless, that is, of UNRECORDED paternity. “Without mother” is ametor, am-ay'-tor; motherless, that is, of unknown maternity ... “
“Without descent” is agenealogetos, ag-en-eh-al-og'-ay-tos; UNREGISTERED as to birth,” (Strong's) (emphasis mine)
Considering then, these words, unrecorded, unregistered, and unknown, we can see the suggestion that there were parents, but that no one knew of them, nor was there any record of them. This would agree with what is said in Heb. 7:6, speaking of this man.
Heb. 7:6 “But he whose descent is not counted ... “
The Greek word for 'counted' is genealogeo; “to reckon by generations, that is, trace in genealogy: count by descent” (Strong's) Genealogy means “An account or record which traces the ancestry of a certain individual or family” (Webster's)
Again we have the suggestion that there may have been ancestors, but who they were, or where they came from is unknown and unregistered. Not having a record of ones birth does not prove you were not born. If, however, anyone does believe that Melchisedec was put here by God by any means other than natural birth, there is nothing told in scriptures as to such an event. By not knowing Melchidec's beginning or ending, he symbolizes the eternal Son of God, who is of an eternal priesthood.
Scripture is clear in telling us that he was made like unto the Son of God and does not say that he was the Son of God.
It is interesting that he was a king when no one knew his genealogy. No one could say “this man came from a good family” or “He has the same honest character of his father.”
God willed him to be king at that time in history. He represented Jesus Christ, before Christ had been born, and what the people knew of him was apparently only what they saw of him.
Apparently Melchisedec lived in Jerusalem, for in Gen. 14:18 he is called “king of Salem” and Salem was an early name for Jerusalem. (See Ps. 76:1 & 2).
Here is another very unusual thing about this man. He was both a king and a high priest at the same time. He was the first mentioned king of Jerusalem, and as far as we know the only one to ever exist before the Law of Moses. Since we have no record of his life span, we do not know how long he was king.
Later God would have his judges over his people, the Israelites, but would not have them to have any kings, but to give all their honor to him alone, until the people chose, against his will, to have a human king as did other nations.
The first king given to them, who was Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin. The second king was David, and he was of the tribe of Judah. God made a promise to David that from David on, all the kings would be of the tribe of Judah, as was Jesus himself.
2 Sam. 7:16 “And thine house and thine kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”
God said this of the Messiah, in Isaiah 9:7-
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom ...“
Even Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, as was David, and only men of that tribe could be kings according to the Law. But we see Melchisedec being king long before any of these promises were made and even before the nation of Israel came into existence. He stands alone then, as being the only man before Christ, to be both a king and a priest at the same time. When the Mosaic Law was established, God declared that only Levites could be priests, and he later established that only men of the tribe of Judah could be kings. It was impossible then, according to the Law, for one man to be both king and priest.
Again we see Melchisedec representing the Messiah, who, after fulfilling the Law, would be both our king and high priest eternally. We see that God had a plan from the very beginning. He had a definite purpose for Melchizedek. He is not mentioned in scripture by happen chance. Speaking of the Messiah the writer of Psalms had this to say -
Ps. 110:4 “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
God had sworn long before the virgin birth of the Messiah that Jesus was going to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Notice, this is not after the order of Aaron, the order established in the Law of Moses, nor according to the Mosaic Law, and this was something important enough that God was not about to change his mind about the matter. He would not repent!
God preordained that there would be a priesthood long before the Levitical priesthood and that the first priest would represent Jesus Christ and his eternal priesthood and covenant.
We can assume then, as Christ's representative on earth during the time of Abraham, the things that Melchizedek did were with purpose, represented the Messiah and would serve as a reminder to those like Abraham who believed in the Saviour to come. He represented the better, living and eternal way that God wanted for man and would bring through his son.
The promise had already been given that a Saviour would come and destroy the enemy. (Ge. 3:15), and I believe this great man served to remind the people at that time of this truth.
In looking at scripture concerning Melchisedec and Jesus, we begin to see major differences between them and the high priests in the Levitical Priesthood. As we have already seen, it is a completely, different order that began before the nation of Israel was established. The New Testament high priest was from the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi, so he had no legal right to be a priest according to the Mosaic Law.
Heb. 7:13 & 14 “For he (Jesus) of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the alter.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” (parenthesis mine)
Moses had made no provision in the Law for anyone of the tribe of Judah to ever serve as priest. So it was necessary for the Mosaic Law to be finished and over with before Jesus could serve as the new high priest, otherwise this would have been illegal.
Another major difference was that, in the Levitical order, a man became high priest simply because he was born a Levite, born a male and born of the son of a high priest. He did not become high priest because he had earned the position or because God had made some special promise to him in particular. It was simply a matter of succession. However, this was not the case with Jesus. His position had been promised him by God himself, who had made him an oath, as we've seen in Psalms 110:4. This oath stated that he would be a priest after the order of Melchisedec, but also that he would hold this position forever – ETERNALY!
Heb. 7:20 – 21 ”And inasmuch as not without an oath; but this (Jesus) with an oath by him that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec:” (parenthesis mine)
So then, in this priesthood, there was one original high priest who stood as a representative of the great high priest whom we would love and serve forever. Then came his only successor, who was actually the one he represented, once the Levitical priesthood was finished. This priest would never have sons who would succeed him as high priest, for unlike those priest who lived for a time, then died, making it necessary for another to take their place, Jesus would live forever.
Heb. 7:23 – 24 “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangable priesthood.”
Scripture does not tell us that when the New Testament came into effect, pastors would step into positions of high priests for the people, in Christ's stead, nor that the church was to pattern its activities after the functioning of the Levitical priesthood. There never was to be one individual to become Christ's substitute, or his only representation on earth, such as a pope, who is called by man, not God, the Vicar of Christ. The new priesthood was to be far better than the first.
1 Tim. 2:5 – 6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all. To be testified in due time.:
There is never again to be any other mediator between God and man, not even Mary, who was his precious mother. Even she had to come to God through Christ, as the rest of mankind, for God ordained it to be so. Now this is not to suggest that there is no place for pastors and other ministers of the gospel. God certainly has a place for them to serve, but they do not stand in God's place for us as his substitute.
Jesus is very much alive and fully able to serve his office by himself, and do it perfectly. His position is one that was promised him by Jehovah God. It is also a position which he earned by fulfilling every jot and tittle of the Law, finishing it and bringing in the New Covenant of which he, and he alone, is the mediator. Also by taking our sins and our punishment, that through the redemption by which we have been purchased, we are now free to live in the better way of grace. Praise his name forever!
Our high priest is both the man Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, and also God. No other priest was both God and man. So then, since Jesus is God, is the Word of God (John chpt. 1), is one with the Father (John 17:21), and they are 'in' each other, it is he who preplanned and pre-designed both the Levitical order and the order of Melchisedec, which preceded it, and also came after it. Therefore, even though Melchisedec is spoken of in Hebrews seven as being superior to Abraham, Jesus was and always will be, superior, not only to Melchisedec, but superior to and above, all others, for he is their creator!
Another very important difference in the high priest of today is that he has never sinned!
1 Peter 2- 21 – 22 “For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps:
22 Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth.”
Now look at Heb. 7:26 – 28 -
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priest, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the LAW maketh men high priests which have infirmity: but the word of the oath, which was SINCE THE LAW, (after it ended) maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” (emphasis and parenthesis mine)
Notice the word 'infirmity' in verse 28, which in the Greek, is astheneia, as-'then'-i-ah; feebleness (of mind and body); by impl. malady: moral frailty ...” (Strong's).
This was the condition of the Levitical priests, but not the condition of Jesus, who was made priest by an oath of God. He is consecrated, which in the Greek is teleioo, tel-i-o'-o; “ to complete, that is (lit.) accomplish, or (fig.) consummate,(in character) ...” (Strong's). Jesus was made high preist, by the word of the oath, and is without human weakness! When he rose up from the dead, he rose without human weakness. He is now complete and perfect! He is the consumnation of all things! His one and only sacrifice was enough to save all mankind and to meet God's requirements. He had no need of ever sacrificing again! HALLELUJAH!!
Jesus is also different from all other priests in that he is the priest, or the sacrificer, as well as the sacrifice. Jesus himself made this proclamation.
John 10:17 – 18 “Therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again ...”
The Levitical high priest, Caiaphas, found Jesus to be guilty of blasphemy, which we know was not the case, but would have been had Jesus not been the Son of God. He consented to his death, as did the chief priests (Matt. 26:57-68), but they did not take his life from him, he gave his life willingly. He came as an unblemished lamb, to be sacrificed for you and I.
John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.”
It was the blood of the lamb, at the time of the Passover in Egypt, that had kept the death angel from taking lives among the children of Israel. (Ex.12:22 & 23), and the blood of the lamb of God has kept God from taking our lives because of our sins. Jesus gave HIS life for OURS!
Heb. 9:13 & 14 “For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot – (Grk. Amomos, [lit.or fig.]: without blame, faultless)” [Strong's] to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb. 10:5 – 7 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world. He saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (In the Greek. The word wouldest means, - prefer, delight in, etc. [Strong's])
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (added notations)
Because of his perfect sacrifice and his eternal priesthood, he is able to save us completely, now and forever!
Heb. 7:25 “Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
The salvation our high priest brought us, through his once and for all sacrifice, was total and complete. The effects of that one sacrifice will last forever. The word 'save' in verse 25 above, is the Greek word sozo, meaning “to save, that is, deliver or protect (lit. or fig.): heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.”
The Greek word for 'uttermost' is panteles, pan-tel-ace', “full ended, that is, entire (neut. as noun, completion): ... (Strong's)
OUR SALVATION LACKS NOTHING!!!
We have been rescued from death, from Satan's rulership, from bondage to the Law, and thus, from sin. Let me also say that it was what Christ accomplished at the cross that defeated Satan and gave us power over him. Satan is not simply rebuked now, because we pay a tithe. In Malachi 3:11, God told the Israelites that he would rebuke the devourer for their sakes, but this was based on the condition that they gave tithes according to the Law. Our high priest has defeated Satan and it is not now based on our keeping the Law of tithing. It has been accomplished by Jesus once and for all!
SATAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED FOR ALL BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS!
Dear Child of God, can you see how awesome are the differences in the high priest we have today and those of the Law? Our high priest is alive and well. He is fulfilling his office beautifully and perfectly in the here and now. He does not need us to feed and clothe him so he can do his job, as those Levites who needed support to carry out their duties. Our high priest is presently seated at the right hand of God.
Col. 3:1) “ ... seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

HE MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US! JESUS TALKS TO GOD FOR US!!

Yes, indeed the priesthood and the Law have been changed. The changes have been tremendous and magnificent. God deserves our thanks and appreciation for all that he has done for us. We should not ignore the salvation he brought to us nor the New Covenant he has given us.
There still is a priesthood, but it is different. There still is a temple, but it is different. And there are still ministers of the temple who are given to the high priest. It is an error to assume that any church building, any organization or any denomination is the present day spiritual substitute for the temple of God. We need not be interested in a representation of the old, but rather, we need to accept what is the new and better.
Just as we are in a new order, under a New Covenant, with a new high priest, so the temple which he serves in, is also new and totally different. Let us accept the new and real, and not attempt to rebuild the old.
We will see what scripture says about the present day temple and those who minister under Christ. We will find out if tithing was taught as the means to support both in the New Covenant.