The Priesthood of Melchizedek in the Passage (Hebrews 5, 6 & 7) We Are Studying, Applying Psalm 110 to Jesus
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JESUS GREATER THAN In Hebrews 1 we saw that Jesus is not just a prophet - but greater than the prophets. JESUS GREATER THAN We then saw that Jesus, the Son of God, is not an angel - but greater than the angels. JESUS GREATER THAN In Hebrews 3 we saw that Jesus is greater than Moses, the mediator of the Old Covenant (Testament). JESUS GREATER THAN In Hebrews 4 we saw that Jesus is greater than Joshua, because through him we enter the true rest (from works). JESUS GREATER THAN In Hebrews 5-7 we saw that Jesus is greater than Aaron, because he has a better priesthood. GREATER THAN AARON Jesus is greater than Aaron because: 1) He is sinless 2) He serves in a better tabernacle 3) He officiates for a better covenant 4) He offered a better sacrifice 5) His intercession is superior 6) He has a greater ministry 7) He has a better order of priesthood (the order of Melchizedek) BETTER PRIESTHOOD We noted that the Aaronic priesthood and Old Covenant was flawed and couldn’t bring about our redemption: Heb 7:11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come - one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? … 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? Heb 7:1 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, his name 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, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people - that is, their brothers - even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? Melchizedek is mentioned in three books of the Bible: 1) The first is the account in Genesis 14 about Abram rescuing his nephew Lot from Kedorlaomer where the victorious Abram is blessed by Melchizedek. 2) Next in David’s Messianic Psalm 110, God promises on oath that the Messiah (David’s Son) would have an eternal priesthood like Melchizedek. 3) Then the author of Hebrews writes extensively about the priesthood of Melchizedek in the passage (Hebrews 5, 6 & 7) we are studying, applying Psalm 110 to Jesus. PSALM 110 Psalm 110 is a Messianic psalm of David i.e. it speaks prophetically of the Messiah or future “son of David”: Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”… 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. PSALM 110 Psalm 110 was quoted by Jesus applying it to the Messiah (i.e. himself): Matt 20:41 Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The first ‘LORD’ is Yahweh (i.e. the Father) and the second ‘Lord’ is Adonai (i.e. the Son). Jesus is testing the Pharisees to see if they could explain how the Christ (Messiah) could be both David’s son and David’s Lord. PSALM 110 On the Day of Pentecost, Peter also applied this passage (Psalm 110) to Jesus as Lord and Christ (Messiah): Acts 2:29 “… David … 30 … was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay… 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 36 Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” PSALM 110 In Hebrews 1 and 10, Psalm 110 is again applied to Jesus: Heb 1:13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” ? Heb 10:13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool But in chapters 5 to 7 the writer of Hebrews takes Psalm 110:4 and repeatedly applies it to Jesus, showing the superiority of his priesthood to the Aaronic priesthood: Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? The first mention of Melchizedek in the Bible is in the account of Abram rescuing Lot from Kedorlaomer. Genesis 14:17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. These events are reiterated in Hebrews 7:1-3. WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? So the Bible tells us the following about Melchizedek: 1) He was king of Salem (Gen 14:18). 2) He was priest of God Most High (Gen 14:18). 3) He brought out bread and wine to Abraham (Gen 14:18). 4) He blessed Abram after his victory against Kedorlaomer (Gen 14:19). 5) Abram tithed to him (Gen 14:20). 6) He was “without father or mother, without genealogy” (Heb 7:3). 7) He was “without beginning of days or end of life” (Heb 7:3) and has an eternal priesthood (Ps 110:4). 1) KING OF SALEM Melchizedek is called “king of Salem”, with Salem traditionally taken to be the name for Jerusalem. Ps 76:2 His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. Mount Zion was the area of Jerusalem in which David built his palace. In his rendering of the account of Melchizedek, the first century Jewish historian Josephus says: … Melchisedec, king of the city Salem, received him… however, they afterward called Salem Jerusalem. 1 1 Antiquities of the Jews - Book I Chapter 10 v 2 1) KING OF SALEM A targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible written or compiled from the Second Temple period until the early Middle Ages (late first millennium). The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says this on Gen 14:18 And the righteous king… the king of Jerusalem, came out to meet Abram… Targum Yerushalmi or Codex Neofiti I is an Aramaic version of the Pentateuch in the Vatican library. It says: And Melchisedech, the king of Jerusalem… brought out bread and wine, for he was a priest ministering in the high priesthood before God Most High. 1) KING OF SALEM The early church father Jerome states the Jewish tradition of his own day on the matter in “Hebrew Questions on Genesis” (completed between late 391 and early 393): Next, by “king of Salem” is meant king of Jerusalem, which was formerly called Salem. means “king of ( ַמ ִלְכּי ֶ־צ ֶדק The name ‘Melchizedek’ (Hebrew righteousness”. Heb 7:2b First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 2) PRIEST OF EL ELYON Not only was he a king – Melchizedek was also priest of “El Elyon” or “God Most High”. In this capacity he blessed Abraham after his victory against Kedorlaomer and his allies. This also shows us that there were others besides Abraham who served the one true God in that era.