"..knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep;
for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Let us
walk decently, as in the day...putting on the Lord Jesus Christ..
...redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Romans 13:11-14~ Ephesians 5:16
-- HEBREWS --
book study
Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-28 )
"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God... first being translated king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, meaning king of peace, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." (vs1-3)
Who, exactly, was Melchizedek? Was he a theophany? (appearance of God in human form?) He was king of Salem; an actual king of an actual city. If a person looks at various maps, Abraham's "Salem" is at the same place as "Jerusalem". Historians agree that they are one and the same place. Jerusalem, the place where God "chose...to put His name there" (1 Kings 14:21)
Jacob calls Bethel the "house of God" (Genesis 28:17) There are some Jews and also Messianic 'Christians' who expound on Jacob's vision of the angels coming and going on the ladder between Heaven and earth. They have created a fanciful supposition that there is a sort of heavenly 'vortex' where Jacob's "ladder" was; that this vortex is the connecting point between Heaven and earth; that all prayers to God pass through this vortex, and that all God's help to man is channeled through the vortex. So they assume that to be physically near this vortex is to be "closest to God" that is possible on this earth. But then, they also speak of this vortex as being focused on the Temple Mount at the spot where they presume the Holy of Holies was, where the Muslim Dome of the Rock now rests. Thing is, Bethel and Jerusalem are separated by some distance. They are not the same place. While we know that Jacob had a vision, and that location became a place they would resort to, to make sacrifice to God (Genesis 35); Jerusalem became the place for God's temple for Israel, after David conquered it (2 Samuel 5), and purchased the Temple Mount area for sacrifice. (2 Samuel 24) Jerusalem is the place over which the nations will grumble and quarrel. (Zechariah 12:2-3) It is the place to which Messiah will come to reign. (Zechariah 14:16) The Temple Mount is also traditionally presumed to be the place where Abraham took Isaac to offer him to God. (Genesis 22) Thus, Jerusalem has a long and special history between God and man.
Even though Melchizedek was likely a man, like any man, his existence in history is a 'type'. It does not say that he -was- the Son of God, but that he was made "like" the Son of God. (vs3) While he probably did have parents, we don't know who they were. Thus, figuratively, historically, it is for this discussion AS IF he didn't have parents. Nothing is recorded as to his birth or death; it's AS IF he was 'eternal'. Scripture records a few selected names here and there, like Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, etc. But between these millennia were many generations of people being born and dying. In Acts we know the names of the apostles, who, it records, went around establishing churches and appointing pastors. What were the names of all those pastors? We don't know. It was not recorded for us. In the same way, before Melchizedek there were likely priests and prophets, not recorded; and also since then. But Melchizedek happens to be recorded for his proximity to Abraham. And due to Abraham's fame, he also provides a 'type' for Jesus, our High Priest. We know nothing about him except his 'name'. We don't know which of the sons of Noah he hails from. Just... there he is... plopped into the middle of history.
On the other hand, the OT Israeli priesthood was very specific. Moses and Aaron were of the tribe of Levi. (vs5) The priesthood was passed down, father-to-son, generation after generation. By Law.
So, what is the relationship between Melchizedek and Levi? Who is better? Who is above the other?
Where did Levi come from? Is he not the seed of Abraham. And according to ancient tradition, the father is greater than those he sires. Thus Abraham is greater than Levi, even though the Levitical priests mediated between God and man.
But Melchizedek was not of Abraham's (Israel) seed. And furthermore, as "priest of the Most High God" (vs1) Abraham gives him a tithe. (Genesis 14) The one receiving the tithe is greater than the one giving it. And also, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. The one giving a blessing is greater than the one receiving. In other words, Melchizedek was 'greater' than Abraham; who in turn was greater than Levi.
Thus, the Melchizedek type was greater than the Levitical priesthood. And being without lineage, was also a picture of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not have an earthly father. Jesus did not come through the seed of the Levitical priesthood. Jesus' mother was of the lineage of Judah; not a priestly line. (vs14)
The order of Melchizedek was -different- from that of Levi. Figuratively it was also -better- than Levi. Both of these, types of the Priesthood that is Jesus Christ.
When Jesus came along, being 'better', the better priesthood replaces the inferior. The Levitical becomes "annulled"; it is wiped out. (vs18 ) It was based on Law, which was imperfect. (vs19)
"Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law is the full true knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
And: "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)The Law could not make anybody righteous. A priesthood was needed that could bring the "power of an endless life" (vs16) The Old Covenant led to death. Infractions resulted in death. A different (better) covenant was needed... and along with it, a better priesthood.
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