Melchizedek–The Superior Priesthood

What is a priesthood?

What is a priest?

Who do you want as a representative for you? What kind of character qualities would you look for?

Hebrews 6:19–20 NIV

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

3rd time he quotes Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.””, showing Jesus to be a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:6 “And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.””

Hebrews 5:10 “and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:20 “where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Who was Melchizedek?

Why is Jesus a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek?

An order, a group of people united in a formal way.

The Jewish priests were qualified to be a part of the priesthood by their birth into the family line of Aaron.

What is this order of priests? What are the qualifications?

As we go through this passage we will see that Melchizedek is what we call a Type, pointing ahead to Christ.

What is a type?

From Basic Bible Interpretation, Zuck

Resemblance

natural similarity, not forced

Historical Reality

real persons, events, or things

don’t look for hidden or deeper meanings. It should come naturally, and not something that is just up to the interpreter.

Prefiguring

a form of prophecy

it points ahead to something similar, but better!

Heightening

the type has aspects of what it prefigures, but what is prefigured is always greater

Divine Design

Not any analogy or illustration, but rather resemblances planned by God to help us see and understand the greater thing when it happens

Types are designated as foreshadowing in the New Testament

Types vs. Illustrations

Types look forward, predictive

Illustrations look backward to help illustrate a truth

Example: Joseph

Rejected deliverer

Not predictive, not designated in the New Testament

Example: Elijah in James 5:17

James 5:17 NIV

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Could have used other Old Testament Saints who prayed.

Hebrews 7:1–2 NIV

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

Background - Genesis 14

Genesis 14, Abraham rescued his nephew lot by defeating 4 kings in battle with his 318 servants, who were basically shepherds, and 3 of his friends.

Genesis 14:18–20 NIV

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Melchizedek - King of Righteousness

The name, Melchizedek in Hebrew literally means, King of Righteousness

King of Salem - King of Peace

Salem can refer to Jerusalem, Psalm 76:2 “His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.”

Salem - peace, wholeness

Jesus the King of Righteousness, and the King of Peace

Hebrews 7:3 NIV

Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Without Father or Mother?

To be a priest, one had to be of the tribe of Levi, and more specifically, of the family line of Aaron. One’s mother also had to be an Israelite who was never divorced, nor had been immoral.

Priests for the Jews were priests because of lineage, not because of their character.

Melchizedek just appears on the scene. We have no record of his lineage, but he was certainly not of the line of Levi, for Levi was the third generation after Abraham.

A Priest forever

Jewish priests died, and were replaced by their sons.

Melchizedek is only mentioned in the scriptures as alive, and no record of being passed on to sons.

Hebrews 7:4–10 NIV

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Superior to Priest of Levi by Order

Hebrews 7:11–17 NIV

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Superior to Levi on the Basis of His Life

The power of an indestructible life!

Hebrews 7:18–22 NIV

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Superior on the Basis of the Oath

Hebrews 7:23–25 NIV

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Superior because He is Priest Forever

Hebrews 7:26–28 NIV

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Sacrificed Once for all!

What about me?

Am I reading and studying the Old Testament?

Melchizedek is only found in a few verses, and yet is so important in understanding Christ. Do I read the Old Testament to help me understand God and His plans?

Do I remember Jesus is both King of Righteousness and King of Peace?

We need a priest because of our sin, our unrighteousness.

We cannot have peace until our unrighteousness is dealt with.

Do I remember that my salvation is only based upon Christ?

He sacrificed once for all. I do not add to my salvation. I do not re-crucify him. I receive his work as my priest; his work on my behalf.

Am I becoming more mature, more like Christ my savior?

Hebrews 7:26 NIV

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.