The name Melchisedec is from the Hebrew, and means 'King of Righteousness'. Some have accepted an old Gnostic teaching that tries to say Melchisedec was some flesh man that existed in Abraham's day, when all along, Melchisedec was our Lord Jesus back in the Old Testament Who met Abraham, and offered him bread and wine, and blessed him.
Hebrews 7 reveals this, but it takes patience.
Heb 7:1-16
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Our Lord Jesus is titled The Prince of Peace, and why is that since He is also our KING? It's to show His reign over all nations, reigning literally in our midst, is still expecting today, for that literal reign on earth is about His return, His second coming to rule with the rod of iron of Revelation.
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.
Melchisedec had no geneaological descent, nor start or end of days, "but made like unto the Son of God". Does that mean there can be TWO or more Sons of God? That's what the Gnostics would have us believe, even that we each can raise ourselves into the postion as Christs and become a Son of God like our Lord Jesus. Those in Christ are called "sons of God", not a "Son of God", for that Son of God Title ONLY applies to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some will still try and say Melchisedec was some flesh king that no genealogical record was known of, the idea that a record may have existed somewhere, only that no one knew about it. That's not what Paul is saying here. He means this Melchisedec was literally without beginning of days nor "end of life", and that he abides in the priest office "continually". That's another pointer to Everlasting, which can only point to God.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Paul contrasts the Levitical priesthood to the Priesthood of Melchisedec. The Levite priests took tithes of the people, and they descended from Abraham. But that was much later, even around 430 years when the Levitical priesthood was setup according Old Covenant law.
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
But this Melchisedec wasn't even descended from Abraham, the Old Covenant not offered yet at this point, and yet Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, and even blessed Abraham.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Again, contrast the Levitical priesthood, because when Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, the Levitical priesthood was still in Abraham's loins! It hadn't even been born yet! So how could this Melchisedec bless Abraham, since the law of the Levites blessing the people hasn't even come yet then? The idea is that Melchisedec's Office is pointing to a Higher Priest Office than the later Levitical priesthood, even in that time of Abraham.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Here's the contrast again Paul makes. Levi received tithes, and paid tithes also in the Levitical priest office. Yet Levi, wasn't even born yet when Melchisedec received tithes. So what gives?
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Just as the Promise by Faith was first, before the law was given (for Abraham received the Promise by Faith around 430 years before the law), likewise this Priesthood of Melchisedec is tied with that Promise by Faith. In Gen.14 we even find this Melchisedec offerred Abraham "bread and wine", sacrements of the New Covenant.
So if Salvation (idea of "perfection" there) were by the Levitical priesthood, then why was there a need for another Priest after the order of Melchisidec? That's getting closer to the idea of our Lord Jesus' Ministry in The New Covenant, for He now is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Likewise, because the Levitical priesthood couldn't save, the need for a change of the law came, which is about the offering of Christ's Blood of The New Covenant.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
HERE'S the pivot point that reveals Who this Melchisedec was that met Abraham.
The phrase, "For he of whom these things are spoken" means ALL the things in the previous verses just covered. Paul is saying, now all these things I've been speaking about pertains to one of another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. Paul then says, "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda". That's the "another tribe" Paul was speaking about, which had no attendance at the altar, for only the Levites and sons of Aaron were commanded to attend to the altar.
It is our Lord Jesus of the tribe of Judah which ALL the previous things concerning Melchisedec is being spoken about. Paul is pointing directly to our Lord Jesus as Melchisedec Who met Abraham.
The Jews especially hate this teaching, because at the end of John 8 our Lord Jesus told them that Abraham saw His day, and was glad. And they questioned our Lord and asked Him if He had seen Abraham, seeing that Jesus was not even in old age yet. Our Lord Jesus told them, "...Before Abraham was, I am". The "I AM" is the sacred Name of God which He gave to Moses. Those Jews then tried to stone our Lord Jesus. But with that, our Lord Jesus showed that Abraham saw Christ's day, and was glad. How did Abraham see Christ's day? That's why Melchisedec Who met Abraham in Gen.14 was actually our Lord Jesus Christ in Old Testament times, before He was born through Mary's womb.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(KJV)
That word "similitude" is important, because it means in the 'likeness, resemblance, manner' of something. In this case, it's about Christ Jesus as High Priest after the likeness of Melchisedec. So what does that mean, since Christ's Role of High Priest per The New Covenant is being tied to the "similitude of Melchisedec"? It's like I said before, Melchisedec met Abraham when God's Promise by Faith was being given to Abraham, and that Promise by Faith was about the New Covenant that would come. It was given by Promise 430 years before... the Old Covenant was given through Moses. That Promise is what Melchisedec offering Abraham "bread and wine" represents. And Who else but Christ could offer that "bread and wine" of the New Covenant, even though it was only by Promise in Abraham's day?
Thus Melchisedec "King of Salem" was our Lord Jesus BEFORE He came in the flesh to die on the cross.
Hebrews 7 reveals this, but it takes patience.
Heb 7:1-16
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Our Lord Jesus is titled The Prince of Peace, and why is that since He is also our KING? It's to show His reign over all nations, reigning literally in our midst, is still expecting today, for that literal reign on earth is about His return, His second coming to rule with the rod of iron of Revelation.
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.
Melchisedec had no geneaological descent, nor start or end of days, "but made like unto the Son of God". Does that mean there can be TWO or more Sons of God? That's what the Gnostics would have us believe, even that we each can raise ourselves into the postion as Christs and become a Son of God like our Lord Jesus. Those in Christ are called "sons of God", not a "Son of God", for that Son of God Title ONLY applies to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some will still try and say Melchisedec was some flesh king that no genealogical record was known of, the idea that a record may have existed somewhere, only that no one knew about it. That's not what Paul is saying here. He means this Melchisedec was literally without beginning of days nor "end of life", and that he abides in the priest office "continually". That's another pointer to Everlasting, which can only point to God.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Paul contrasts the Levitical priesthood to the Priesthood of Melchisedec. The Levite priests took tithes of the people, and they descended from Abraham. But that was much later, even around 430 years when the Levitical priesthood was setup according Old Covenant law.
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
But this Melchisedec wasn't even descended from Abraham, the Old Covenant not offered yet at this point, and yet Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, and even blessed Abraham.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Again, contrast the Levitical priesthood, because when Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, the Levitical priesthood was still in Abraham's loins! It hadn't even been born yet! So how could this Melchisedec bless Abraham, since the law of the Levites blessing the people hasn't even come yet then? The idea is that Melchisedec's Office is pointing to a Higher Priest Office than the later Levitical priesthood, even in that time of Abraham.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Here's the contrast again Paul makes. Levi received tithes, and paid tithes also in the Levitical priest office. Yet Levi, wasn't even born yet when Melchisedec received tithes. So what gives?
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Just as the Promise by Faith was first, before the law was given (for Abraham received the Promise by Faith around 430 years before the law), likewise this Priesthood of Melchisedec is tied with that Promise by Faith. In Gen.14 we even find this Melchisedec offerred Abraham "bread and wine", sacrements of the New Covenant.
So if Salvation (idea of "perfection" there) were by the Levitical priesthood, then why was there a need for another Priest after the order of Melchisidec? That's getting closer to the idea of our Lord Jesus' Ministry in The New Covenant, for He now is our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Likewise, because the Levitical priesthood couldn't save, the need for a change of the law came, which is about the offering of Christ's Blood of The New Covenant.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
HERE'S the pivot point that reveals Who this Melchisedec was that met Abraham.
The phrase, "For he of whom these things are spoken" means ALL the things in the previous verses just covered. Paul is saying, now all these things I've been speaking about pertains to one of another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. Paul then says, "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda". That's the "another tribe" Paul was speaking about, which had no attendance at the altar, for only the Levites and sons of Aaron were commanded to attend to the altar.
It is our Lord Jesus of the tribe of Judah which ALL the previous things concerning Melchisedec is being spoken about. Paul is pointing directly to our Lord Jesus as Melchisedec Who met Abraham.
The Jews especially hate this teaching, because at the end of John 8 our Lord Jesus told them that Abraham saw His day, and was glad. And they questioned our Lord and asked Him if He had seen Abraham, seeing that Jesus was not even in old age yet. Our Lord Jesus told them, "...Before Abraham was, I am". The "I AM" is the sacred Name of God which He gave to Moses. Those Jews then tried to stone our Lord Jesus. But with that, our Lord Jesus showed that Abraham saw Christ's day, and was glad. How did Abraham see Christ's day? That's why Melchisedec Who met Abraham in Gen.14 was actually our Lord Jesus Christ in Old Testament times, before He was born through Mary's womb.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
(KJV)
That word "similitude" is important, because it means in the 'likeness, resemblance, manner' of something. In this case, it's about Christ Jesus as High Priest after the likeness of Melchisedec. So what does that mean, since Christ's Role of High Priest per The New Covenant is being tied to the "similitude of Melchisedec"? It's like I said before, Melchisedec met Abraham when God's Promise by Faith was being given to Abraham, and that Promise by Faith was about the New Covenant that would come. It was given by Promise 430 years before... the Old Covenant was given through Moses. That Promise is what Melchisedec offering Abraham "bread and wine" represents. And Who else but Christ could offer that "bread and wine" of the New Covenant, even though it was only by Promise in Abraham's day?
Thus Melchisedec "King of Salem" was our Lord Jesus BEFORE He came in the flesh to die on the cross.
