Christ and Melchizedek
According to Hebrews 6:20, Christ “has entered [heaven] as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Previously the writer of Hebrews declared, “He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (5:10). The mention of Jesus as “high priest” in 6:20 follows the initial declaration that the believer has eternal preservation because of Messiah’s eternal priesthood; the mention in 5:10 was briefly interrupted by the warning of apostasy. In 6:20, the writer now begins his theme that Messiah’s high priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood.
Since his mention in Scripture is brief, Melchizedek is often considered an enigmatic figure. The only Old Testament accounts of Melchizedek are recorded in Genesis 14:17-20 and he is mentioned again in Psalm 110:4. He is not mentioned again until the Book of Hebrews. Nevertheless, God predestined the events of his life so he would be a type of the Messiah (cf. 7:3). According to Hebrews 7:1, Melchizedek was “king of Salem” (early name of Jerusalem), and “priest of the Most High God.” Abraham met him when returning from a military victory and “apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils” (7:2). Hebrews 7:7 records the significance of this tithe: “But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.” The tithe of Abraham to Melchizedek is expanded in Hebrews 7:4, 6, 8-10.
Levitical priests “have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people” (7:5). The Jewish people and priests trace their heritage to Abraham. When Melchizedek, “the one whose genealogy is not traced from them,” received the tithe from Abraham, the former had no genealogical relation to the chosen people. However, Abraham recognized a non-Jewish priest as his superior. In the Aaroninc priesthood, “mortal men receive tithes” (7:8) to continue the succession of the priests. Since there is no mention of Melchizedek’s death, his priesthood must be perpetual. Melchizedek received the Levitical tithes, which means the Aaronic priesthood paid tithes to him (7:9). The argument of Hebrews 7:11-20 is that a change in the priesthood has occurred. “Another priest . . . according to the order of Melchizedek” (7:11) is the Messiah; Messiah’s “indestructible life” (7:16) qualifies Him to be a Priest like Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 confirmed the perpetual priesthood of Messiah.
The first coming of Messiah to Earth was to be obedient unto death. Since He was obedient and faithful unto death, Jesus became the sinner’s substitute under the wrath of God, but He is sinless, and therefore, rose from the grave and ascended to the Father, returning to the glory which He had with the Father before the world was created. Following His ascension, the Messiah entered the heavenly throne room and was declared the Son of Man (i.e., the Son relating to mankind who was a partaker of humanity; Heb 2:14). The Son of Man approached the Ancient of Days to be exalted and glorified (John 13:31-32; cf. Phil 2:8-11; Heb 12:2). Presently, the Son of Man is seated at His Father’s right hand (Psa 110:1) which occurred after He was presented as the Son of Man to His Father (Dan 7:13-14). Following the Son of Man’s presentation to the Ancient of Days (7:13-14), Christ entered the Holy of Holies through (by means of) His own blood, and is now seated at His Father’s right hand. All worldwide authority is given to Jesus, the Son of Man. The Father has divinely directed for the Son of Man to co-reign with Him over all creation (Psa 110:1; Dan 7:13-14; Eph 1:20-22). At the end of the age, the Son of Man will depart from the heavenly throne room of the Ancient of Days and will return to Earth in power and glory to reign historically and visibly as Messiah upon the throne of David.
The priesthood of Messiah assures the fulfillment “of a better covenant” (7:22) which means the realization of the Abrahamic, Land, Davidic, and New Covenants. Although “the former priests...existed in greater numbers,” the Messiah “holds his priesthood permanently” (7:23-24). God’s “oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever” (7:28). The oath of God was referenced in 7:21 which quoted from Psalm 110:4. Human priesthood has been replaced by a divine, perpetual priesthood of Messiah.
Since his mention in Scripture is brief, Melchizedek is often considered an enigmatic figure. The only Old Testament accounts of Melchizedek are recorded in Genesis 14:17-20 and he is mentioned again in Psalm 110:4. He is not mentioned again until the Book of Hebrews. Nevertheless, God predestined the events of his life so he would be a type of the Messiah (cf. 7:3). According to Hebrews 7:1, Melchizedek was “king of Salem” (early name of Jerusalem), and “priest of the Most High God.” Abraham met him when returning from a military victory and “apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils” (7:2). Hebrews 7:7 records the significance of this tithe: “But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.” The tithe of Abraham to Melchizedek is expanded in Hebrews 7:4, 6, 8-10.
Levitical priests “have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people” (7:5). The Jewish people and priests trace their heritage to Abraham. When Melchizedek, “the one whose genealogy is not traced from them,” received the tithe from Abraham, the former had no genealogical relation to the chosen people. However, Abraham recognized a non-Jewish priest as his superior. In the Aaroninc priesthood, “mortal men receive tithes” (7:8) to continue the succession of the priests. Since there is no mention of Melchizedek’s death, his priesthood must be perpetual. Melchizedek received the Levitical tithes, which means the Aaronic priesthood paid tithes to him (7:9). The argument of Hebrews 7:11-20 is that a change in the priesthood has occurred. “Another priest . . . according to the order of Melchizedek” (7:11) is the Messiah; Messiah’s “indestructible life” (7:16) qualifies Him to be a Priest like Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 confirmed the perpetual priesthood of Messiah.
The first coming of Messiah to Earth was to be obedient unto death. Since He was obedient and faithful unto death, Jesus became the sinner’s substitute under the wrath of God, but He is sinless, and therefore, rose from the grave and ascended to the Father, returning to the glory which He had with the Father before the world was created. Following His ascension, the Messiah entered the heavenly throne room and was declared the Son of Man (i.e., the Son relating to mankind who was a partaker of humanity; Heb 2:14). The Son of Man approached the Ancient of Days to be exalted and glorified (John 13:31-32; cf. Phil 2:8-11; Heb 12:2). Presently, the Son of Man is seated at His Father’s right hand (Psa 110:1) which occurred after He was presented as the Son of Man to His Father (Dan 7:13-14). Following the Son of Man’s presentation to the Ancient of Days (7:13-14), Christ entered the Holy of Holies through (by means of) His own blood, and is now seated at His Father’s right hand. All worldwide authority is given to Jesus, the Son of Man. The Father has divinely directed for the Son of Man to co-reign with Him over all creation (Psa 110:1; Dan 7:13-14; Eph 1:20-22). At the end of the age, the Son of Man will depart from the heavenly throne room of the Ancient of Days and will return to Earth in power and glory to reign historically and visibly as Messiah upon the throne of David.
The priesthood of Messiah assures the fulfillment “of a better covenant” (7:22) which means the realization of the Abrahamic, Land, Davidic, and New Covenants. Although “the former priests...existed in greater numbers,” the Messiah “holds his priesthood permanently” (7:23-24). God’s “oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever” (7:28). The oath of God was referenced in 7:21 which quoted from Psalm 110:4. Human priesthood has been replaced by a divine, perpetual priesthood of Messiah.
posted by orthopodeo | 3:26 PM
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