Monday, April 17, 2017
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Servant of Jesus Christ
The Meaning of a Priest
The word “priest” in the New Testament carries the meaning of a king's son or a servant. According to the Scriptures, all priests are required to have an altar and to offer sacrifices. No one in the Scriptures had the authority to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people before God except the appointed priests.
What is the Difference Between a Prophet and a Priest?
The role of prophets is to serve God on behalf of the people. In contrast, the role of a priest is to serve the people before God.
Who is Melchizedek?
The name Melchizedek appears in the Bible ten times (Genesis 14:18, Psalm 110:4, and in the Book of Hebrews — 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, 7:1, 7:10, 7:11, 7:15, 7:17). Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6–11, 6:20–7:28). His sudden appearance and disappearance in the Book of Genesis is rather mysterious.
Melchizedek first met Abraham after Abraham had defeated Kedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men as a sign of friendship. He blessed Abraham in the name of El Elyon (God Most High) and praised God for granting Abraham victory in battle (Genesis 14:18–20).
We observe two titles associated with Melchizedek — first, as a king, and second, as a priest of the Most High God. Salem was the region over which this king reigned, according to this passage. The word Salem means peace. Therefore, Melchizedek was the ruler of a place whose name signifies peace. As a priest, he blessed Abraham and received tithes from him (verses 19–20).
The Priesthood of Jesus
We do not read about the priesthood of Jesus until the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Here, the author exalts Him as the unique and eternal High Priest. He alone is our High Priest; there is no other. He has already shed His blood on our behalf, and His blood remains effective for eternity.
Hebrews 6:20 declares,
"Where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
The phrase “in the order of” typically signifies a hereditary priestly office. However, no successors were ever mentioned from the time of Melchizedek to Christ — a consideration that logically leads to the conclusion that Melchizedek and Christ may indeed be one and the same person. Thus, “in the order of” is uniquely and perpetually entrusted to Him alone.
Hebrews 7:3 and its Implications
Hebrews 7:3 states:
"Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever."
The question arises whether the writer of Hebrews meant this literally or figuratively.
If the descriptions in Hebrews are literal, it is difficult to see how they could apply completely to anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. No earthly king could “remain a priest forever,” and no ordinary human being is “without father or mother.”
If Genesis 14 describes a divine manifestation of God’s presence, then it implies that God the Son appeared to bless Abraham (Genesis 14:17–19), manifesting as the King of Righteousness (Revelation 19:11,16), the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Abraham offered Melchizedek a tithe (a tenth) of all the possessions he had recovered. Through this act, Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek as a priest whose spiritual authority was greater than his own.
Melchizedek in Psalm 110 and Hebrews
In Psalm 110 — a Messianic psalm composed by David (see Matthew 22:43) — Melchizedek is presented as a type of Christ. This theme is reiterated in the Book of Hebrews, where both Melchizedek and Christ are described as kings of righteousness and peace.
By highlighting Melchizedek’s unique priesthood as a typology, the author of Hebrews demonstrates that Christ’s new priesthood surpasses the old Levitical order and the priesthood of Aaron (Hebrews 7:1–10).
The Theory of Christophany
Some scholars propose that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ — a Christophany. This is a plausible interpretation, considering that Abraham had previously received similar visitations. For instance, in Genesis 17, Abraham encountered and conversed with the Lord (El Shaddai) in human form.
Melchizedek as a Type
If the descriptions of Melchizedek are to be understood as typological, then the references to having no genealogy, no beginning or end, and an eternal ministry serve to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the individual who met Abraham. In this case, the deliberate silence in the Genesis narrative regarding Melchizedek’s genealogy and lifespan serves a theological purpose — to connect Melchizedek to Christ as a type.
Shalom,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Servant of Jesus Christ
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