Who is Melchizedek ?

Order of Melchizedek

By Russ Kujawski 1/4/17

What is it about the High priest Melchizedek that is so interesting? Melchizedek is first mention in Gen 14: 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

Gen 14:18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

What’s interesting about this is that the Priestly order didn’t start until Exodus 28:1 “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

The priestly line were Levites, so who was this Melchizedek? Jesus is designated High priest after the order of Melchizedek by God. Not  after Aaaron with whom the Priestly Line seemed to have started. This high priest is mentioned in the ESV  10 time twice in the OT Gen 14:18, Psa 110:4 and 8 times in the NT all in Hebrews between Hebrews 5:6 - Hebrews 7:17  

Before I look at the scriptures about the High Priest Melchizedek I want to see if there where priest prior to the Levitical order of priest that started with Aaron and his sons. What is it that Priest did? They stood as an advocate before the Lord, whether for thanks giving or for sins with sacrifices.

Who set the precedence for animal sacrifices for sins? GOD did. Gen 3:²¹ And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

This was the first sacrifice to atone for sin, to cover sin literally. God set the standard for only by the shedding of blood can sin be forgiven. Adams and Eve’s sin was atoned for, the ransom was paid for by the sacrifice of an animal that God sacrificed. Like our sins today were paid for by the sacrifice of  Christ blood, the sacrificial lamb without blemish or spot. 1Peter 1: ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

I think it’s safe to say that thru Gods example Adam learned about making sacrifices and giving a thanks and praise offerings to the LORD although nothing is recorded about Adam sacrificing to God. He would have passed this practice on down to the children. Little side note scripture only gives us the information needed to understand the redemption message of God’s word. We don’t know how many children Adam and Eve had by this time. Cain got his wife from somewhere, because Eve is called the mother of all living (see Gen3:20) then Cain’s wife must have been his relative. The gene pool wasn’t corrupted as of yet so there wouldn’t be any issues. And laws forbidding it hadn’t come it to play. Done with side note.

Back to priestly type actions. Cain and able brought offerings to the LORD, of course we know the rest of the story, Cain Kills Able. There are a couple of things I noticed here. One thing no alter is mentioned and, two they did their own priestly like duty’s giving a praise or maybe it’s a thanks offering to the LORD. Obviously, the priestly line has not been established yet.

Gen8: ²⁰ Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 

This is the first time an alter is mentioned in scripture. After the animals are let out of the Ark verse 19 Noah built an alter to the Lord and made sacrifices.

The sacrifice more likely symbolized a restoration of harmony between God, creation, and humanity. Noah performed the priestly type duty’s.

Gen 12:  ⁷ Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So, he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. ⁸ From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.

Just a few observations here “the LORD appeared to Abram” The word LORD in Hebrew is Yĕhovah meaning Jehovah = "the existing One" the proper name of the one true God. Is this a Theophany that is this an appearance of God to man? Also in chapter 18. There are a few verses that speak of seeing God or speaking to God face to face.

 Gen 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[fn] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

[FN] Peniel means the face of God

Exo 33:11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

This could just be implying a close personal encounter with God, taking it literally it was a hands-on experience with God especially in Jacobs case.  Of course, this is counter to Ex 33:20 God tells Moses” you can’t see my face and live” that statement is counter to what’s mentioned above. Did God appear to Abram in physical, bodily form. In Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Interesting thing here is that in this verse it say’s “the LORD came in a VISION. If it was actually a vision then it would seem to me that it would be stated as such. So, if you can’t see God’s face and live the only possibility is this was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ [A Christophany]. One last observation this is the first record of Abram calling upon the name of the LORD. All this to say Abram performed the priestly duties.

Jumping forward to Ex 3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

The priestly line still is not established. Jethro is mentioned as the priest of Midian. What is kind of un known is if he was a pagan priest or a priest to the one true LORD. There is some hints as to what type of priest he was in Exodus. So let’s take a Look .

Exodus 18:8-12

⁸ Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. ⁹ And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptian. After Moses tells Jethro [the priest of Midian] about what the LORD done Jethro rejoiced, but then why wouldn’t he. His son in-law’s people are freed. This still doesn’t show what type of priest he is.

10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro acknowledges the Lords ability’s by saying “blessed be the LORD” 

11 Now I [Jethro] know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”

12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. Did Jethro become a priest of the One true God? Scripture really isn’t clear.

There are other priest mentioned also.

Gens 41:45 priest of ON

1 Samuel 5:5 priest of Dagon

What can be taken from all this scripture is the duties of a priest were often done by the head of the household or maybe better stated head of the clan. It would also appear that any priest mentioned in scripture prior to the Aaron/Levitical line of the priest hood, were priest of false gods. Except for Melchizedek.

All this scripture about priest and the priestly type duty performed by others before the official order of the Levitical priest hood thru Aaron. Just so we can speak of Melchizedek. So, what is it about this person mentioned in the bible only twice in the old testament and eight times in the new testament.

What is so unique about this person that God would designate Christ the high priest after the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron who was designated a priest for the people of Israel.  

Break down of the verses about Melchizedek.

Gen 14:18

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

From Strong’s

Melchizedek: H4442 Malkiy-Tsedeq

Pronunciation: mal·kē·tseh'·dek

Part of Speech: proper masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology): From מֶלֶךְ (H4428) and צֶדֶק (H6664)

H4428:

Transliteration: melek

Pronunciation: meh'·lek

Part of Speech: masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology): From מָלַךְ (H4427)

Outline of Biblical Usage: king

מֶלֶךְ melek, meh'-lek; from H4427; a king:—king, royal.

H6664:

Transliteration: tsedeq

Pronunciation: tseh'·dek (Key)

Part of Speech: masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology): From צָדַק (H6663)

Outline of Biblical Usage

·         justice, rightness, righteousness,peace

  

Breaking down Melchizedek name it works out to be King of righteousness ,King of Peace. In verse 18 of Gen 14 there is a redundancy here that should grab our attention. Melchizedek is identified as the King of Salem, Salem means peace . His name means King of Peace. When things are repeated pay attention its important. According to Strong’s Definition the word for Salem [H8003] was the early name for Jerusalem. Using verses in Psalms 76:1-2God is known in Judah;
His name is great in Israel. His [fn]tabernacle is in Salem;
His dwelling place also is in Zion. [fn] Literally: shelter. Zion, in the Old Testament, the easternmost of the two hills of ancient Jerusalem. I thinks is tangible to say that Melchizedek was king Jerusalem

As I study Gods word I like to breakdown words or phrases to see if there is a deeper meaning to them besides what we see with a casual reading of scripture, The Phrase “now he was a priest ” in Gen 14:18(NASB) is one of those phrases.  In Strong’s {H3548} the  Hebrew word is kohen it has several meanings but there is one that is interesting . it say’s “priest-king” then in parenthesis it give 2 examples of a priest-king ”Melchizedek, Messiah “ of course we all know that the Messiah is Jesus the Christ (Messiah) interesting comparison.

As I continue to study who Melchizedek is I’m trying not to form an opinion as of yet. What do other verses say about Melchizedek?

Psalms 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

A little context here verse 1 tells us who is speaking and to whom verse 4 is referencing.

A Psalm of David.
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

This is God speaking of Jesus ,Jesus is the one who will sit at the right hand of God.

Mark 16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

There are several verses in the New Testament that speak of Jesus the Christ sitting at the right hand of God.

Psalms 110:4second half says” “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

This is repeated in Hebrews 5:6 and Hebrews 7:17 This is of some importance that Jesus high priest hood is forever and that its after the order of Melchizedek.

Looking at Hebrews 7:22-24 may give some reason why Jesus is designated high Priest after the order of Melchizedek in stead of after Aaron.

Hebrews 7:22-24 ²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. ²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

The priest prior to Jesus couldn’t lead forever because death would end their time of service, Jesus who concurred death can and does live forever.  Was Jesus designated High priest forever in the order of Melchizedek because Aaron was limited by death and Melchizedek didn’t see death Just like Enoch God took him(Enoch) he didn’t see death{ Gen 5:24} . Just a thought no need to say this is blasphemy. There is more scripture about Melchizedek to look at. Hebrews 7:3 gives some interesting details about Melchizedek  

Hebrews 7:3

³ He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

The ‘he’ here is Melchizedek we can see this in Hebrews 7:1 states that  “For this Melchizedek” verse 3 is without father or mother or genealogy. Some will say it means there is no recorded genealogy. That may be possible or that he has no mother or father as it reads ,but read further “having neither beginning of days nor end of life,”  This can mean 2 things either there is no recorded history of his birth or his death Or this means that he has no beginning nor end if that’s the case then he would be eternal, if that’s the case is he a Christophany?  An appearance of Christ prior to him coming to redeem mankind. This also sounds a lot like Rev 22:13

This is Christ speaking” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”. In other word’s I’m the eternal one. What else does verse 3 say about  Melchizedek ? “but resembling the Son of God” Looking at different translations this phrase is translated :resembling the son of God and made like the son of God  in most cases may be you could say” in the image of the son of God” This kind of language has been used before in scripture here are a few examples.

Genesis 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Romans8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

God created mankind in his own image, in his own likeness a resemblance of God. Those who come to Christ are being conformed to the image of the son or maybe a word I like better is transformed by the knowledge of the creator. For Melchizedek to be in the image of the Son of God or likeness or resemblance isn’t hard to believe. The terminology is used thru out scripture. So is Melchizedek a type of Christ. There is something about this Priest of the God most high. Even in this phrase “priest of the God most high”{Genesis 14:18}  That term in my mind elevates Melchizedek higher than other priest. The term is used twice Gen14:18, Heb7:1 when referring to a priest both times it refers to Melchizedek. There are similarities of this verbiage when talking about Jesus.

Mark 5:7  And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”

It’s hard to deny the close similarities between Jesus and Melchizedek

My final thought:

Melchizedek is Identified as the priest of the God most high a designation given only to him not Aaron or any other priest, His priesthood will last forever, he resembles the Son of God, he has no genealogy. This is somewhat important Ezra 2:62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. Interesting here is that if you don’t have a genealogy then you can’t serve as a priest you are considered unclean. I will acknowledge this is stated after the priestly line was started with Aaron so this verse may not apply. He has no beginning no end make him sound eternal preexistent. We know from Scripture that only God the Father ,God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are the only ones who are preexistent. Then Melchizedek should be one of the part of the Trinity. Because he is Identified as the priest of the most high God he can’t be God, But he resembles the Son or is the image of the Son. I think Melchizedek is most likely the pre incarnate Christ. I won’t go to the grave for this thought but the similarities between Christ and Melchizedek are undeniable.