MELCHIZEDEK

[Alex2165]

Hebrews 7.1.3

"Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of the Most High GOD," Quite amazing things have been written about this man.

In verse 3 Paul stated, "Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of GOD, he (Melchizedek's) abides a priest perpetually."

About whom Paul talking here? About ordinary mortal man, or about Someone who is not mortal man? About angel, or about Son of GOD Jesus Christ? If we assume that Melchizedek was a mortal man, this profile certainly does not fit to him. If Melchizedek is not mortal man but the angel of GOD, this would quite fit to description of him by Paul.

But here again, we have some words that required explanation. "made like the Son of GOD." (3). "Made like." Is this means he is next to the Son of GOD Jesus Christ, or it written in the figure of speech to describe his high status next to the Son of GOD? In the Scripture GOD also called Solomon as His son (2Samuel 7.12-14) (1Chronicles 17.11-15) (1Chronicles 22.8-10) (Acts 2.30). And we can find some other similar statements in the Bible in which other people called in the same way.

~ *The sons of GOD, The sons of Most High, The children of GOD: (Deuteronomy 14.1) (Psalm of Asaph 82.1.6-7) (Luke 20.36) (Romans 8.14-17.19-23, 9.4.25-26) (2Corinthians 6.18) (Galatians 4.5-7) (Ephesians 1.5).

So, he is not Son of GOD himself, but made and appointed on duty similar to the Son of GOD. So, according to this description Melchizedek is the angel of GOD. But at the end of the verse 3 Paul wrote about him, "abides a priest perpetually." See also verse 8. Jesus Christ is also perpetual Priest.

If Melchizedek is a mortal man, how he can "abides a priest perpetually"? Only GOD Father and His Son Jesus Christ abide perpetually. If They give life to other creatures to abide perpetually, they will also abide perpetually. So, in this case, the Melchizedek, if he is a physical man or even an angel, in both cases he will have Eternal Life (abide perpetually) on Earth and in Heaven., if he appointed by GOD as perpetual priest.

Paul also talk about Melchizedek as a king of Salem and a priest but not calling him as a High Priest. Jesus on the other hand also the King, but He is not just a priest but the High Priest, means that Jesus is much higher in status than Melchizedek.

Now in verse 13 Paul wrote, "The one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe." So far, up to this point, Paul only spoke about Melchizedek and Abraham, and stated that Melchizedek, "made like the Son of GOD." But in verse 13, Paul certainly talks about Jesus Christ, because Melchizedek does not belong to any of the tribes of Israel, because at the time of Abraham they do not exist yet.

At the beginning of this chapter it looks like that Melchizedek could be the Jesus Christ, but other verses proved that while the Melchizedek is also immortal and "made like the Son of GOD" (3), he is not Jesus Christ.


Concerning place called Salem (1), certain comments have been made about this city, and most scholars agreed that it was the city of future Jerusalem.

~ 1. *Salem. (Hebrew. Shalem. peace). The name of the city of which Melchizedek was king (Genesis 14.18) (Hebrews 7.1-2). Josephus says that Jewish writers generally regarded it as a synonym of Jerusalem. It is apparently so regarded in Psalm 76.2.

The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney.

~ 1. *Salem. An earlier, or poetic, designation for Jerusalem.

The Pentateuch and Haftorahs. Edited by Dr. J. H. Hertz, C.H.

~ 1. *Salem. Named after the Canaanite god Shalem, it is identified along with Zion (Psalm 76.2) as the location of the Temple.

Etz Hayim. Torah and Commentary.

~ 1. *Salem is usually identified with ancient Jerusalem, or Jebus, the Jebusite city captured by David and turned into capital city of the nation of Judah (1Chronicles 11.4-9).

Nelson's Compact Bible Dictionary. Ronald F. Youngblood, F.F. Bruce, R.K. Harrison.

 

[rockytopva]

Neat little study... Much to meditate on here. Thanks!

 

[rockytopva]

Jewish tradition suggests that Melchizedek, King of Salem, is actually Shem, the son of Noah. As the oldest living patriarch in Abraham’s time, Shem (2448–1846 B.C.) outlived his descendants, qualifying him as a high priest who could pass the priesthood to Abraham. Noah also blessed Shem...

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. - Genesis 9

I would believe, if Melchizedek, or the actual Shem.... Came to depart this world was in the need of passing the blessing down, in which happened on Abraham...

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: - Genesis 14

 

[rockytopva]

But... Was Melchizedek even human? Was he an actual Angel?

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;
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. - Hebrews 7

 

[rockytopva]

And seeing Melchizedek has an order... Makes me believe more the blessing came down through Shem.

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. - Psalm 110:4

 

[rockytopva]

Did the blessing pass from Shem to Melchizedek? Why is Melchizedek a big deal? Because he inherited a blessing that Abraham himself was interested in receiving. And Melchizedek also stirred up a great deal of interest in the Book of Hebrews...

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. - Hebrews 6:20

 

[Ben1445]

Why is Melchizedek a big deal?

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

[Alex2165]

Did the blessing pass from Shem to Melchizedek? Why is Melchizedek a big deal? Because he inherited a blessing that Abraham himself was interested in receiving. And Melchizedek also stirred up a great deal of interest in the Book of Hebrews...

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. - Hebrews 6:20

I like that you wrote, and it seems every thought about Melchizedek has its probability. For the first time the tithe was mentioned in transaction between king of Salem and Abraham. I am sure that antient kings of Abraham's time and before him also collect some form of tax, and it usually done it by force.
Here Abraham voluntarily gave tithe to Melchizedek from everything he has, but his descendants paid their tithes directly GOD, to GOD'S priests. This may be explained the physical human nature of Melchizedek and also his mysterious physical kingdom of Salem that perhaps flourished and prospered under his rule for some time, but remnants of which unfortunately never been found.

 

[rockytopva]

I like that you wrote, and it seems every thought about Melchizedek has its probability. For the first time the tithe was mentioned in transaction between king of Salem and Abraham. I am sure that antient kings of Abraham's time and before him also collect some form of tax, and it usually done it by force.
Here Abraham voluntarily gave tithe to Melchizedek from everything he has, but his descendants paid their tithes directly GOD, to GOD'S priests. This may be explained the physical human nature of Melchizedek and also his mysterious physical kingdom of Salem that perhaps flourished and prospered under his rule for some time, but remnants of which unfortunately never been found.

Melchizedek... An important figure.... So little on the guy!

 

[kyredneck]

But here again, we have some words that required explanation. "made like the Son of GOD."

Excerpts from A.W. Pink:

Hebrews 7:15 Melchizedek is there as a type of Christ, king of Salem, i.e., Prince of Peace.

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. Gen 14

15 And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, Heb 7

" “But made like unto the Son of God”, or, more literally “but assimilated to the Son of God”. It is very striking to note that it is not the Son of God who was “assimilated to Melchizedek”, but vice versa. In the order of time Christ subsisted before Melchizedek; in the order of nature, Melchizedek was a priest before Christ was. The priesthood of the Son of God, ordained and appointed by the Eternal Three, was the original, and Melchizedek’s priesthood furnished the copy, and a copy given in advance is the same thing as the type. Melchizedek was “assimilated to the Son of God” as a type.

First , as priest of the most high God.

Second , as being a royal priest, possessing personal majesty and authority.

Third , as being the king of righteousness.

Fourth , as king of peace.

Fifth , as the one who “blessed Abraham”.

Sixth , as the one who received the grateful gifts of God’s people represented by Abraham.

Seventh, as not owing his priesthood to natural genealogy.

Eighth, as abiding a priest beyond the bounds of the Levitical limitations. “Abideth a priest continually” (verse 3).

Note carefully it is not that the natural life of Melchizedek had no 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, which shows he had no vicar or successor, deriving a priesthood from his. “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” (A. Barnes)."

CHAPTER - MELCHIZEDEK (godrules.net)