Hebrews 5:10

Hebrews 5:10

The mystery of Melchizedek

Melchizedek! We have already encountered this mysterious figure from Israel’s past, for he is mentioned in verse 6 of this chapter. As we have noted, a whole chapter of this Epistle to the Hebrews will be devoted to this enigmatic man, so it is time to become better acquainted! As we have seen, he was King of Salem (Jerusalem) and also priest of the Lord God Almighty. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” and he met up with Abraham after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his allies. (See Genesis 14:18-20) You will remember that the two men shared bread and wine together as a symbol of friendship. Melchizedek revealed his credentials when he gave a blessing to Abraham in the name of God Most High (El Elyon). This prompted Abraham to give the Priest one tenth of his war spoils thus showing that he respected him and recognised his Godly office. 

Psalm 110 is a Messianic Psalm that speaks of the roles of the King/Priest who is to come and is perceived to be a Coronation Psalm, in verse 4 the Lord swears an oath establishing His “Anointed One” as a king and Priest in Zion who is assured victory over all the rulers and powers that oppose Him. “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”” 

It’s very interesting to note that in Hebrews 6:20 we read that Yeshua has become a “High Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” This phrase suggests that there had been a succession of such High Priests of whom the Lord was the ultimate fulfilment, although there is no Biblical record of these men. This adds fuel to the argument that Melchizedek and Christ are one and the same! The mystery deepens in Hebrews 7: where we read Melchizedek was “without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” Wow! Is that not enough to establish the origins and nature of the One who blessed Abraham? Surely the old patriarch, as most commentators suggest, had the joy of eating and drinking and communing with the Lord Himself? The only doubt is that as Jesus was a priest “In the order of Melchizedek”, He might not have been Melchizedek!

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