Ep. 344. Hebrews 7 | A New High Priest

EPISODE 344

A NEW HIGH PRIEST: HEBREWS 7

Melchizedek is barely a blip on the radar in the Old Testament. He is mentioned by name in a single verse of Genesis and then used as a prophecy of the Messiah in the Psalms. It would be entirely possible to read through the Old Testament and forget all about Melchizedek by the end of your study. He isn't featured in any way, shape, or form to hold our attention. However, of great importance is the fact that Melchizedek is called the "priest of God." He is, for our purposes in understanding the Scriptures, the first-ever priest of God in heaven. Furthermore, he predates the Levitical priesthood by about 600 years. In addition to that really amazing fact, he is also the king of Salem, later called Jerusalem. His name means "King of Righteousness," and he was by vocation "King of Peace." (Since "Salem" means "peace") Why does all that matter?

The Jews all historically accepted Melchizedek as a priest of God, a King, and a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. In the Jewish culture, there was not a single king who served as a priest; there was no priest who served as a king. (Though that would be prophesied in the book of Zechariah) The reason this all matters is simple. If Melchizedek had not existed and had not been so revered by the Jews, then there would be no precedent to accept a Messiah as both priest AND king. The Jews would be able to accept the premise of a king arising from a tribe other than Levi because Melchizedek himself was a priest who did not come from the tribe of Levi. The Jews would be able to accept Jesus as both a priest AND king because the Messiah was "like" Melchizedek. If that is not cool enough, we gain insight into the person and character of Jesus when we compare him to the name and purpose of Melchizedek because Jesus is also, by nature, King of Righteousness, and he also became (for us) King of Peace. Melchizedek then sets the stage for the Messiah to be unique. Christ would come to be both priest and king. 

Don't miss the significance of, "If perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For where there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well." The Aaronic priesthood was set in place according to the law of Moses, but the priesthood of Jesus is established by better blood, on better promises, for a better covenant, namely grace. We have to quit teaching Christians that the Law of Moses is the metric of righteousness and begin proclaiming the righteousness that only comes by faith. 

ADDITIONAL READING: Genesis 14: 17-20; Psalm 110