In The Beginning. Day 62, Who Was Melchizedek? Part Three

This morning we conclude our look at the mysterious king and priest known as Melchizedek.

We've looked at the reasons for and against believing he might have been Noah's son Seth, from whose family line the Messiah would come. We've looked at the reasons for and against believing the appearance of this man in Genesis was an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. Now we look at the third most popular theory, which is that he was a literal human being whose tribe was unknown to Abram but who lived on the earth at the same time as Abram---a man who (like Abram) answered the call of the one true God.

If you hold to one of the other theories you are in good company, for a number of well-respected scholars believe in one or the other of them. Quite a few well-respected and reputable scholars of our day believe Melchizedek was a man who was the leader of his clan (a "king") and a man who was devoted to the Lord and served his clan as high priest in the days before a priesthood was established under the law of Moses. I have come to believe in this theory myself after much study and after consulting commentaries that discuss the passages regarding Melchizedek in the original Hebrew and Greek. This man is only mentioned in Genesis, Psalms, and Hebrews, and when studying the passages of Psalms and Hebrews that reference Melchizedek's priesthood in Genesis, we find in the original text that his priesthood was said to be "like" that of the Lord Jesus. For example, in the original Hebrew, King David prophetically wrote that the priesthood of the Messiah would be "similar to" that of Melchizedek. We find in the original Greek, for example, that the Apostle Paul says that Christ's priesthood is "made like" Melchizedek's, not that they are one and the same. Paul also plainly states that Melchizedek was a "man". (Hebrews 7:4)

As we discussed yesterday, the similarity between Melchizedek and Christ is primarily the similarity between their priesthood. In both cases, the Lord chose as high priest someone who was not of a particular tribe. In both cases, the Lord chose as high priest someone who is also a king. Paul's specific purpose in writing the book of Hebrews was to demonstrate to his own people that Jesus of Nazareth could be their high priest even though He wasn't of the tribe of Levi, and Paul was using Melchizedek to back up his point. Ultimately, God has the right to choose the man who stands before Him as high priest. The fact that God chose Melchizedek, a man who lived before the priestly tribe of Israel ever existed, set a precedent for choosing another man at a later date who was also not of the priestly tribe of Israel. Paul was saying, "Why can't God anoint someone to be our high priest who is not of the tribe of Levi? He's done it before!" In comparing the priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ, Paul is not saying that Melchizedek is Christ, but that both of them were chosen by the sovereign Lord according to His own will because they were the ones He wanted to serve Him. They were the ones He wanted to stand before Him on behalf of those who believe in Him. They were the ones He wanted to come into His presence and intercede for people for the forgiveness of sins. God has the final word on everything, and He is not bound by the laws of this earth, but is free to choose whom He will.

Prior to the giving of the law, the head of a family clan could be both king and priest over his clan. This is most likely what Melchizedek was: a king and priest over his own clan. Later, under the law of Moses, only men of the tribe of Levi could be priests and only men of the tribe of Judah could be kings. But Christ fulfilled the law and put us under grace, so that the law does not apply to Him regarding whether He can be both a king and a priest. Christ, as the head of the family of God, can be both our king and our priest. He holds both these offices because it is the will of God the Father for Him to hold both offices. Under the law, a man could not be both king and priest because of the enormous amount of power it would give him. It would have allowed a mere man to be in charge of the entire nation both politically and spiritually. Israel had a number of wicked kings and so did her sister-state Judah after the kingdom split in two. Imagine if those wicked kings had also been head of the church! As it is, they still managed to do a lot of spiritual damage to their nations. But we won't have to worry about that with the Lord Jesus Christ who will be both king and priest forever. He is perfectly righteous in every way. He cannot corrupt the government. He cannot corrupt the church. Imagine how peaceful the world will be when the government is under His control! Imagine what harmony and unity there will be among all believers when He is the head of the church! The prophet Isaiah foresaw this day and said of it: "The government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)