MELCHIZEDEK. Hebrews 7:1-3 Why is the Melchisedec priesthood introduced, and how does it relate to Christ's high priestly ministry? The Melchisedec priesthood is unique because of Melchisedec himself [7:1-3]. We read about him three times in the scriptures: Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and the epistle to the Hebrews. Each of these instances is separated by 1000 years. In Genesis, we have a brief recounting of a historical event that lays the foundation for what we know about Melchizedek. In Psalm 110, there is a prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, illustrated by the two offices he held. Here in Hebrews, we have an explanation of our Lord's priesthood, illustrated by Melchisedec.
We take a brief look into the “dispensation of government” that preceded the “dispensation of promise,” which began with Abraham. Although the world was filled with idolatry, God has always had His people who believed in Him by faith alone and who obeyed and served Him. To be “a priest of the Most High God” was no small matter. Being both a priest and a king simultaneously was an even greater privilege and responsibility. This was a foreshadowing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who would come 2000 years after Melchizedek.
The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness,” and “Salem” means “peace.” The ideal king rules with righteousness, and when righteousness rules, peace follows. Righteousness and peace will characterize the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ in the future kingdom. Melchizedek's personal character reflected high morals. He was the king of righteousness as well as the king of peace. Like our Lord Jesus, who is from eternity to eternity, there is no record of His genealogy.
What we know about Melchizedek from Genesis is that he was greater than Abraham, as evidenced by the fact that he blessed Abraham, not the other way around. In his relationship with Abraham, he was the one who blessed Abraham when they met, returning from the battle where he had freed the king of Sodom and brought Lot back. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, not Melchizedek to Abraham. Melchizedek was also the recipient of tithes, one-tenth of all that Abraham received. The "blesser and receiver" is greater than the one who gets the blessing and gives the tithes.
He held two offices: king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, which was never part of the Aaronic priesthood. A thousand years later, David, the king of Israel, wrote of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 as a prophetic illustration of the coming King of kings, who is the Great High Priest forever—our Lord Jesus Christ. Another thousand years after that, the Holy Spirit guides the minds and hearts of those who read Hebrews and are members of the body of Christ to the eternal priesthood of our Lord, the Prophet, Priest, and King.
The record of Christ's genealogy links Him with Israel through both Joseph and Mary. Regarding His being the Son of God, there is no recorded genealogy because He was the eternal Son. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all eternal Persons who have no beginning of days or end of life. There is no recorded birthday or death day for Melchizedek, and in this way, he was a type of the Lord Jesus.
We remember Christ's birth at Bethlehem and His death at Jerusalem, but we know He was eternal in His existence. At His birth, He came from heaven as "God manifest in the flesh." At His death, the grave could not keep Him. He rose from among the dead after three days and three nights. Melchizedek's priesthood was perpetual, like our Lord's, who is a priest forever.
The priesthood of Aaron was that of a small nation founded on God's promise to Abraham. Although that nation is the one God chose to reveal Himself to the world through, their priesthood is now limited and second-rate because a kingdom of priests has been born of the Spirit and has direct access to God through our Great High Priest, who is God.