just as He says also in another passage,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” (Hebrews 5:6)
God has really been challenging me to stop skipping over the passages in the bible that make my head spin, and instead begin to dig in and seek revelation on the more difficult things of God. The order of Melchizedek has been one of those passages that make my head spin, so I’m going to take a crack at it now.
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure mentioned twice in the Old Testament; once in Genesis 14 and once in Psalm 110. The name “Melchizedek” is literally translated as “King of Righteousness” from the original Hebrew. He is mentioned in Genesis as being both the King of Salem (Peace) and the High Priest.
This is significant because, after the institution of the Aaronic priesthood, it would have been impossible for Jesus (from the tribe of Judah) to have been both a priest and a king. Why is that important?
Kings exercise dominion. Priests facilitate the forgiveness of sins through sacrifice. Clearly, Jesus was called to do both. But, this presented a theological problem for most Hebrew scholars: How could one from the line of Judah have any claim to the position of high priest?
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
This promise from Psalms is a prophetic pointing to the ministry and position of the resurrected Christ. Melchizedek had no record of birth, no record of death, and therefore his priesthood has no end or legitimate successor until Jesus. That Jesus was a priest of the order of Melchizedek means that he belongs to a priestly order that actually predates the Aaronic priesthood and is greater than the Aaronic priesthood. (for supporting evidence, see Hebrews 7).
Jesus, being the rightful successor of Melchizedek, therfore has the legitimate claim to the throne as well as the position of high priest. In addition, the priesthood of Jesus is better than the Aaronic priesthood because; 1) he lives forever, and 2) he need not make sacrifices for his own sin prior to making the sacrifice of atonement on our behalf. In that way, he fulfills the promise from Psalms that says, “You are a priest forever.”
22) so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23) The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24) but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25) Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:22-25)
See, that wasn’t so confusing!
Melchizedek was a high priest from the tribe of Levi as all priest were originally from the tribe of Levi. Moses and his brother Aaron were also from the tribe of Levi. (Exodus 2:1-10) Jesus was from the tribe of Juda and of the lineage of David (on his father’s side) although I believe that Mary, his mother was from the tribe of Levi. If we are to believe that Jesus was actually concieved by the Holy Spirit, then in this case it would be the Mother’s lineage and not the fathers lineage that would qualify him to be a high priest.
I would argue with you on the point that Melchizedek did not have a legitimate successor. The priesthood did carry on after his death, therefore one would reason that someone had to suceed him. He was certainly not immortal and there is no record that he was taken into heaven without death. Jesus is a successor to THE ORDER of Melchizedek because God chose him to be so as is referenced in the previous paragraph (Heb 5:1-4) “for every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God…and no man taketh this honor unto him himsef, but he that is called by God.” God calls him to this order through prophetic scripture. This means that he is placed in the order or the line or lineage of Melchizedek, but not that he necessarily followed in chronological order after the death of Melchizedek.
Your second point, that Jesus need not make sacrafice for his own sin prior to making the sacrafice for atonement on our behalf is a moot point because Jesus was without sin. (1John 3:5) Therefore there would not ever be a need for him to sacrafice for his own sin.
The fact that He was without sin is why he was the ultimate Lamb of God; the final sacrafice for all sin forever.
These are just my thoughts on this you are probably more qualified to make a judgement on this than myself. So long it was nice responding to your comments.
Your assumption that Melchizedek was from the tribe of Levi (because all priests are from the tribe of Levi) is errant because, at the time of Melchizedeks interaction with Abram, there were not any tribes in existance. It wasn’t until two generations later with the birth of Jacob (Israel) and his sons that the tribes of Israel were even named. Levi was the third son of Leah, Jacob’s wife, and Abram’s great grandson.
In fact, one of the most significant aspects of the Order of Melchizedek was that it existed outside of the line of Levi (which came from Abram) and that Abram had tithed (declared his own inferiority) to Melchizedek, as if to say “that which is within you is greater than that which is within my loins.”
The Order of Melchizedek never ended in scripture as his death (and his birth, for that matter) are not recorded. The Levitical order founded with Aaron was not a continuance of the Order of Melchizedek, but rather a substitution for a period of time until one who was worthy to continue the order was found. That would be Jesus (the only one who could satisfy the requirements of having no beginning, no end, a right to the throne, and the ministry of reconciliation). In addition, the ministry of Melchizedek was from the bread and the wine, clearly symbolic of the ministry of Jesus (Luke 22:19-20).
I’m not even going to comment on the lineage of Jesus from the line of David because this is so well founded that you could just read a commentary. Google it.