Who was Melchizedek and what was his significance?
by Mike Scott of www.scripturessay.com
Q. Would you please explain to me who Melchizedek was and the significance of his mention in both Genesis and Hebrews.
Genesis 14:18-20
18* And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
19* He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20* And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all.
Hebrews 7:1-10
1* For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2* to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
3* Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
4* Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.
5* And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.
6* But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7* But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8* In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
9* And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,
10* for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
I. THE HISTORY OF MELCHIZEDEK - WHO IS THIS "MELCHIZEDEK"?
It was a rare thing to find one like Melchizedk living in the midst of idolatry, superstitions, yet being true.
1. Some have suggested that he was:
a. An angel (Origen, Didymus)
b. Enoch (Husius, Calmet)
c. Shem (Jerome, Luther)
d. Christ
e. Holy Spirit
f. An emanation from Deity ("theophany")
g. Melchizedek himself
2. We do not know much about Melchizedek
1) In Genesis 14 we have three short verses
2) In Psalm 110:4, 1000 years later we read
Psalm 110:4
4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
3) Then here in Hebrews chapter 7 - 1000 years later.
4) He could not be “an angel” because the Scriptures say “this man.”
5) Could not be Enoch or Shem, their genealogy is recorded.
6) Could not be Christ
7) Could not be the Holy Spirit
8) Could not be theophany because he is called a “man.”
9) Must be Melchizedek
Verse 1 - Melchizedek, king of Salem
1) We know this to be a reference to Jerusalem
2) “Salem” meant “peace.”
3) Jerusalem means “habitation of peace” or “city of peace.” (Ironically)
4) This was the city that David later chose as his capital when Hebron was too far south for his united kingdom.
5) Gen. 14:18 is the first mention of the City, Melchizedek was king and he was
the priest of the Most High God.
6) He was the actual king as others such as the king of Sodom were mentioned in the same words.
priest of the Most High God
1) It seems a little strange that in a country abounding in corruption a man would be found preserving the pure worship of God.
2) Sodom and Gomorrah was on one side and the Canaanites on the other, yet here was a king who acted also as priest.
3) The world had seemed to turn from God, but here was Melchizedek remaining true.
4) Likewise Christ came into a world of sin, yet he remained true and faithful and became our sinless High Priest.
Who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings
1) According to Gen. 14, Lot had been taken prisoner by several kings:
a) Amrapheal - King of Shinar
b) Ariock - King of Ellasar
c) Chedorlaomer - King of Elam
b) Tidal - King of Nations
2) Abraham completely routed these men and released Lot. Being a priest of the God that Abraham worshipped, we can see why these two would be on friendly terms.
and blessed him
1) Recorded in Genesis 14:19
2) This is the function of the priest - Deut. 21:5; Num. 6:24-26
to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils
1) In the Genesis account it is difficult to find who paid tithes to whom, but this verse leaves no doubt. This act of devotion on the part of Abraham indicated a custom that was practiced in early times.
2) Melchizedek’s blessing of Abraham was the EXERCISE of his priesthood. Abraham’s paying him tithes was the RECOGNITION of it.
3) There must have been a custom of divine origin going back to Adam, of which we know little. Abraham paid this tithe voluntarily in harmony with what he knew to be the requirement of God.
was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness,
1) The word or name translated has meaning:
a) Eve - “mother of all living”
b) Joshua - “savior”
2) Here the name is defined as “king of righteousness.”
3) Jesus is also “righteousness.”
a) Zech. 2:10
b) Christ’s priestly function becomes our righteousness - Heb. 9:25-28
and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace
1) Abraham moved into the territory of Melchizedek, but we see him making a peaceful gesture toward Abraham, the victorious warrior.
2) Gen. 14:18 - He brought bread and wine.
3) See Psalm 104:15 - This gesture refreshed Abraham’s servants and proved Melchizedek’s right for receiving the tithe, as well as being a king of a city whose name is “peace.”
Without father, without mother
1) Archeologists have discovered the use of this expression among:
a) The Greeks
b) The Romans
c) The Jews
2) This expression was used when the names of the parents were unknown
a) Orphan
b) Obscure parentage
c) Greek and Roman gods
3) Remember the context - this is a description of his priesthood - verse 3
without genealogy
1) Without traced ancestry. There was none on record
having neither beginning of days nor end of life
1) Context - His priesthood is under consideration - no record of the beginning or the end of his priesthood.
2) The Aaronic priesthood required a personal genealogy - Ezra 2:61, 62
3) Melchizedek was a priest of an order where natural descent was not regarded, an order free from the restrictions of the Levitical priesthood - Num 3:10.
4) Jewish priests began their service as priests at the age of twenty-five (Num. 8:24; 1 Chron. 23:27, 28) At the age of thirty they began their regular priestly duties (Num.4:3), at the age of fifty their priestly duties ended (Num. 8:25). No such restriction was placed upon the priestly service of Melchizedek.
5) This was a “TYPE” of Christ’s priesthood.
but made like the Son of God
1) Context - The priesthood of Melchizedek is a like Christ’s priesthood. Christ existed BEFORE Melchizedek in order of time, in order of nature Melchizedek’s priesthood existed before Christ’s. The priesthood of the Son of God, ordained and appointed by the Godhead was the original, and Melchizedek’s priesthood was the copy, providing the TYPE.
1) Priest of the most high God.
2) Royal priest possessing personal majesty and authority
3) King of righteousness
4) King of Peace
5) As the one who “blessed Abraham”
6) As the one who received the gifts of God’s people represented by Abraham.
7) No owing his priesthood to natural genealogy.
8) A priest beyond the bounds of the Levitical limitations
he remains a priest perpetually
1) Context - Note carefully it is NOT that the natural life of Melchizedek had not end, but that his priestly life did not cease at the age of fifty, in other words he continued a priest to the very end of his earthly existence. (A.Barns) “The expression ‘abideth a priest continually’, therefore, is the equivalent to saying that he had a perpetual priesthood in contradistinction from those whose office terminated at a definite period, or whose office passed over into the hands of others.”
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