Melchizdek--Hebrews 7:3

[roseyelephant]

I’m reading Genesis and I’m quite confused on this priest/king. What does Hebrews 7:3 mean? And Psalm 110:4?

 

[Spyridon]

Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ because his origin is mysterious.

He kind of showed up out of nowhere in Genesis, and so the tradition developed that Melchizedek was a Priest who had no beginning or end.

Some of the Church Fathers thought that the Melchizedek figure in Genesis, was actually the pre-incarnate Christ Himself. They also say that the Angel of the LORD which appeared to Abraham and others in the OT was the pre-incarnate Christ as well.

 

[adf417]

@FrDavid96 does a great job of explaining here in this thread starting at post #192.

The Next Prophet or Spokeman of God Non-Catholic Religions

2 The Old Testament pre-figures the New Testament priesthood. So, in a sense, the Christian priest is the successor to the Old Testament priests and Levites. The Old Testament sacrifices were a “hint” of the New Testament one sacrifice of Christ. The OT priests/Levites had their offices by virtue of family inheritance. The NT priesthood is passed along by each “generation” of bishops instead of by birth.

Peace!!!

 

[jcrichton]

Hi!

There’s so much going on in Genesis 14, which is mirrored in Hebrews:

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. (Hebrews 7)

It is my understanding that Melchizedek is the pre-Incarnate Christ:

1. king of Salem – Salem is said to be Jerusalem (Salem = Jerusalem = city of Peace); Jesus is the only Eternal King of the city of David, Jerusalem; Jerusalem would also not come into existence till hundreds of years after the Exodus from Egypt.
2. Priest of the Most High; the Levi Priesthood would not yet be established; yet, here we have the Priest (high Priest) of the Most High officiating as both king and Priest–we know that there’s only One Who is both King and high Priest, Jesus.
3. Abraham, as Abel, makes an offering to God’s Priest; again the tithing would not take effect till after centuries later–all the offerings are received by the high Priest for Yahweh God.
4. It is Revealed that Melchizedek has no origin (human origin) as Jesus Who became Incarnate by the Power of the Holy Spirit, not conceived through human interaction.
5. Abraham is Blessed by Melchizedek who proceeds to Take Bread and Wine and give it to Abraham; here we see, prefigured the Lord’s Supper, the King of kings and high Priest is seen by Abraham–which brings us to Jesus’ reference to Abraham, ‘he saw My Day and was glad.’

The Revelation in Psalm 110:4 is to let us know that Jesus’ Priesthood would not follow that of the imperfect Priesthood of Levi; but it is traced to a perfect order (king and high Priest) instituted by God Himself for the Word which would be Incarnate.

Maran atha!

Angel