April 23, 2006
A PRIEST FOREVER
Hebrews 5:6

   "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec" is quoted in Hebrews 5:6 & 7:17 from Psalm 110:4. A thousand years prior "this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God...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...also king of Salem, who is King of peace... Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils..." (Heb. 7:1-4).
   This encounter is recorded in Genesis 14:17-21 after which no mention of Melchisedec can be found until a thousand years later when David wrote Psalm 110. A second thousand years of silence followed until the Hebrews epistle devoted several chapters to finally explain this great mystical man. We have Melchisedec in History in Genesis, in prophecy in Psalms, and in fulfilment in Hebrews! What a truly great man he was!
   Melchisedec was priest of Abraham who had gotten the victory over the kings, and had brought back the spoils, and rescued his nephew, Lot. With Melchisedec resided the power to divide the recovered spoils. Yet Abram had sworn to the Lord, "that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich" (Gen. 14:22-23).
   None dare take the honor of priesthood to oneself, "except one... called of God, as was Aaron. So Christ glorified not Himself to be made High Priest, but He Who said to him, 'Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee' ...also said, 'Thou art a High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec '" Priests after the order of Aaron were careful to guard their genealogy to claim their priestly position. Yet of Melchisedec was mentioned no parentage nor offspring, no beginning of days nor end of life.
   The superiority of Melchisedec's priesthood was evidenced by his receiving tithes and bestowing the blessing while the Aaronic priesthood was hidden in the "loins of Abraham." And "it is far more evident: for...after the similitude of Melchisedec another Priest arises, One made, not after the law of a carnal commandment (like Aaron), but after the power of an endless life" (Heb. 7: 15-16). It is evident that only in resurrection does Christ serve as High Priest, "after the power of an endless life"!

Ivan L. Burgener