Christ a Priest

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; 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; 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. without descent...: Gr. without pedigree Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. descent...: Or, pedigree And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 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? - Hebrews 7:1-11

    After The Order of Melchizedek

    In the last verse of chapter six, the Holy Spirit declares that our Lord Jesus Christ has been “made an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Here he proceeds to show us the beauty and greatness of Christ as our Great High Priest, as he was typified in this man, Melchizedek.

    We first meet with this great man, Melchizedek, in Genesis 14:18-20. When Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings of the plain, after delivering Lot from his captors, Melchizedek met him with bread and wine, received tithes from the patriarch, and blessed him.

    After he left Abraham, we have no mention of his name again, until we get to Psalm 110. There, David gave a prophetic psalm of praise to the Lord Jesus Christ as the exalted Mediator and King, Savior and Great High Priest of God’s elect. In verse 4, he tells us that our Lord Jesus, in his exaltation glory, is “a priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

    No other mention is made of this great man until we get to the Book of Hebrews. He is mentioned frequently in this Book. In fact, Psalm 110:4 is quoted twice in chapter 5 (vv. 6 and 10), and again in chapter 6 (v. 20). Then, this entire seventh chapter is taken up with this eminent type of Christ. Here, the Holy Spirit calls for us to pause and “consider how great this man was.” The Spirit’s point in calling our attention to the greatness of Melchizedek is that we might be made to see the infinitely superior greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he was “made an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

    Verse 1 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him."

    We are not told who Melchizedek was. Some think he was one of Shem’s sons. Others suppose that he was a descendent of Ham, a Canaanite Priest and King. There are some who think that he was an angel who appeared in the form of a man. Many teach that he was Christ himself, appearing to Abraham in a preincarnate human body.

    In verse 15, we are told that our Savior is a Priest after the similitude of Melchizedek. It is evident, therefore, that he was a man, a priest, and a king; but one whose place, ancestry, life, and death have been purposefully hidden from us, so that he might be a great type and picture of Christ.

    Verse 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."

    Unlike any other man, this man pictured our Savior in that he was both a king and a priest, a priest upon a throne (Zech. 6:13).

    Verse 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."

    Like Melchizedek, he was without father as a man, without mother as God, without beginning of days, without end of life, and a continual, abiding Priest.

    Verses 4–5 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” 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.

    If Abraham honored Melchizedek with tithes, how much more we ought to honor God our Savior with our substance, consecrating all to him who loved us and gave himself for us.

    Verse 6 "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.”

    As Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek, God’s elect are blessed in and by Christ (Rom. 4:13; Gal. 3:16; Eph. 1:3).

    Verse 7 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."

    As Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, greater than Levi, greater than all the great ones who came from the loins of Abraham, so the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely greater than all. In his deity, in his humanity, in his offices, in his work, in his accomplishments, and in his intercession, Christ excels all.

    Verse 8 "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.”

    All other priests died. Their priesthood ceased. Christ lives forever. His priesthood will never cease (Heb. 5:6; 6:20)."

    Verse 9-11 "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 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 Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

    The reason why the priests, sacrifices, ceremonies, and ordinances of the law have all ceased is simple. They could not save. Christ can! Christ does! Christ has! Therefore, he continues forever (Gal. 2:21; Heb. 7:18-19; 8:7).