Genesis 14:18-20. 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
One day, Abraham will be the father of both a kings and priests. From out of Abraham will come a royal tribe, Judah, the lion, the scepter holder. Also, out of Abraham, will come a priestly tribe, Levi, the servants and keepers of the Temple. The Old Testament law made it very clear that these were to be two distinct tribes. Kings were not to be priests, and priests were not to be kings – a sort of ancient checks and balances if you will.
But long before the law there was Melchizedek. This mysterious king-priest that appears out of nowhere in Genesis 14. A man that even Abraham, the recent conqueror of kings, will receive blessing from and pay tribute to. Melchizedek is Abraham’s king and his priest. In a story where Abraham’s greatness is on display, there is one even greater than Abraham. The King of Peace and Righteousness. The priest of El Elyon, God Most High.
Melchizedek is what theologians call a type of Christ. He is a picture of Christ in the Old Testament, before the incarnation of Jesus. Melchizedek is a preview of Jesus our priest-king and of all who are a royal priest in Christ.
Hebrews 6:19-20. 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
The order of Melchizedek? This is a quote from Psalm 110 where David prophecies that one day a Messiah will come as the king who is also a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” This is meant as a contrast to the “order of Levi.”
The question the first century Hebrews had was how could Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, be our great high priest if he is not from the order of Levi (a Levite)? Wouldn’t it be illegal for Jesus to be both king and priest? Think of King Saul who lost his kingdom when he offered sacrifices to God without the High Priest Samuel.
The answer is that Jesus’ priesthood is not after the order of Levi. It is from the order of Melchizedek, the one who is greater than Abraham and thus greater than his “son” Levi. Levi’s was a temporary priesthood which ended when the Old Covenant ended at the cross. But Melchizedek is a “priest forever.” With the New Covenant, Christ our sacrifice became Christ our high priest. Our Melchizedekian, royal, high priest. Our forever High Priest of Heaven. Hallelujah! The author of Hebrews explains the glorious implications of Christ’s eternal priesthood for our eternal salvation:
Hebrews 7:20-28. 20For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Jesus Christ is not just the son of Abraham; he is the Son of God – a Son who has been made perfect forever. Therefore, he is a perfect priest for all in desperate need of salvation from sin. He is the holy, innocent, unstained, and sanctified intercessor for mankind. Our salvation is now as secure as Christ’s own life. His eternal life purchased by his once for all sacrifice of himself.
Sadly, too many Christians are still trying to offer daily sacrifices for their sins. Penance. Petitions. Promises. Pleading for God’s forgiveness. Re-dedications. Re-commitments. Good works done to appease the disappointment of Christ. But what these beloved saints fail to realize is that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” So, are we asking Christ to shed his blood all over again? Or worse yet, are we requiring one another to shed our own “blood” for the remission of sin?
Christian, in Christ, you are a royal-priest after the order of Melchizedek. Unlike the Levitical priests, you do NOT have to offer sacrifices daily, first for you own sins, then for the people. In Christ, there is NO sacrifice for sins, only the living sacrifice of a life of love that flows from the blessing of the better Melchizedek. The bread and wine of his once for all time sacrifice on the cross.
You: What do you usually try to do to cover up your sins?
You in Christ: In Christ you are sustained by the eternal intercession of Jesus. How can this truth allow you to trust the love of God more and more?
Christ in you: What would it look like for you to love as a royal-priest today?
Prayer: Father, I know that you have received me through Christ the Son. That I am perfected in him and now stand before you as a king-priest. Help me to use this position for your glory and for the good of the people around me as I declare the worthiness of your gospel. Amen.
To Live is Christ 