Melchesidek

Todays blog is actually written by Greg Patkowsky, a friend of mine via Facebook. We got into a discussion on Melchesidek and while I and others were arguing back and forth, Greg went and studied it out. It's VERY Good. Hope and pray you all enjoy this! Greg said I could use it, so here goes!

Melchizedek – 

Genesis 14:18-20, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”

What ministry did Melchizedek have? We do not know, other than the word states “he was the priest of the most high God.” I would like to take special notice to the wording there, not a priest of the most high God, THE priest of the most high God. Why would Moses word it that way? As well, the priesthood had not been established yet, the Levitical priesthood did not descend from Melchizedek and the only one to be in the priestly line of Melchizedek is…Jesus. Why would, out of all the "men" he met in his life, Abram give tithes to this "man". There was no law to tithe, yet. Firstfruits were offered only to God before the law. Melchizedek only has three verses in all of the OT, one refers to Jesus; Psalm 110:4 which states Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. We see Melchizedek being referred to as a priest forever and the King of Salem; most Jewish commentators say yes, it's Jerusalem yet Jerusalem didn't exist at the time Melchizedek was King. What we do know from Scripture and studying the words used, Salem also means peace - King of Peace. We know God is not that author of confusion but of peace; Jesus was called by Isaiah the Prince of Peace. All this starts to come together and unfold as we read the Scriptures. Now we move forward to the writer of Hebrews speaking about Melchisedec (Melchizedek).

Melchisedec is brought up by the author of Hebrews, in Hebrews Chapter 7. In verses 1-2 the author is basically quoting Genesis 14:18-20 and reiterates Salem is peace, as opposed to being an actual location, there is no mention of an actual place which Melchisedec ruled over. Then we have verse 3 where we learn some interesting things about Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:3, “Without father {Strong’s G540 – Apator ; fatherless, i.e. of unrecorded paternity: - without father. Apator signifies in Heb 7:3 with no recorded genealogy}, without mother {Strong’s G282 – ametor; motherless, i.e. of unknown maternity: - without mother } , without descent {Strong’s G35 – unregistered as to birth – without descent. This word is rendered "without genealogy" in Heb 7:3.}, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

From this one verse we learn Melchizedek:

1. Had no father – fatherless
2. Had no mother – motherless
3. Was of no descent – no genealogy
4. Was made "like" unto the Son of God
5. Is a priest forever - Abideth a priest continually – Strong’s 1519/1336 – 1519 – eis; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), or place, time or (fig) purpose (result, etc.)…continual… 1336 – dienekes – perpetually: - + continually + 1519, forever… a priest forever.

Referring back to number 5 above; “made like” - Strong’s G871 – aphomoioo; to assimilate closely: - make like; to cause a model to pass off into an image or shape like it; to express itself in it, to copy; to produce a facsimile; to be made like, render similar. Jesus hadn’t been manifest yet; for this “man” to be made like Jesus, he could not have been a “man”, but like a “man”, yet not any man, Jesus Himself; only God would have knowledge these things.

Now, there is contention because of vs. 4 yes? The author says "…this man…" If you look up "this man" there is no definitive evidence stating Melchizedek was a human being (see Strong's G3778 – houtos). I understand this did not come with the actual wording "God was Melchizedek in the form of a man”… yet all the evidence from Scripture shows Melchizedek to not be “human”. Verse 6 was brought up as well, yet I think there is a misunderstanding of the wording; Heb 7:6, “But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.” I’m not sure the contention here, yet this verse is simply stating Melchizedek, who does not have his descent from them (the Levites) received tithes from Abraham and Melchizedek blessed him (Abraham) who had the promises. Again as we roll out the Scripture and look at it not only from our own point of view, or interpretation but from what is really being said; no man can be on this earth without a mother and father, barring Jesus Himself who had no earthly Father. Jesus had not manifested Himself in the flesh, yet this “man” was made like unto the Son of God…again only God would have knowledge these things. I again can only come to the conclusion; Melchizedek was not a “man”, yet a shadow/type, theophany. I do not nor will I ever claim to know all, if I missed something or if I can be shown otherwise I will take it under consideration. JBU all!!!