Melchizedek and the Son of God

LESSON 9

MELCHIZEDEK AND THE SON OF GOD: AN EXPOSITION ON PAUL'S WORDS IN HEBREWS 7:1-3

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Godhead. The topic for this study is: Melchizedek and the Son of God: An exposition on Paul's words in Hebrews 7:1-3. In this study, we will consider in detail what the Bible says in relation to Melchizedek. The study is structured in four sub-sections as follows:

1) MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES ABRAM

There are three areas in Scripture where we come across Melchizedek. The first place we encounter this figure is in the book of Genesis. Here, Melchizedek meets Abram after his slaughter of the kings. We read the account in Genesis 14:18-20 as follows: "14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.

14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all."

(Genesis 14:18-20) From this passage we learn the following about Melchizedek:

a) He is the King of Salem. Salem is the ancient name of the city of Jerusalem (see Psalm 76:2).

b) He is the priest of the Most High God.

c) In his office as priest, he pronounces blessings upon Abraham. Abraham in return gives him tithes of all.

Key Fact: This passage helps us to realise that Melchizedek was a real historical figure who lived during the time of Abraham.

2) THE PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAH'S ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD

The second place where we encounter Melchizedek in Scripture is in the book of Psalms. We read the account from Psalm 110:1-4 as follows: "110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

(Psalm 110:1-4) Key Fact: In Psalm 110, the eternal priesthood of Christ is compared to the order of Melchizedek's priesthood.

3) MELCHIZEDEK: MADE LIKE UNTO THE SON OF GOD

The last place we encounter Melchizedek in Scripture is in the book of Hebrews. In Hebrews 7, we read the following from the apostle Paul in regard to Melchizedek:

7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Key Explanation: In this verse, Abraham clearly identifies Melchizedek as a man who serves as priest of the Most High God. Besides his priestly work, he is also the king of Salem, which is actually the ancient name of the city of Jerusalem (review Psalm 76:2).

7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Key Explanation: The verse makes it clear that Abraham gave tithes of all he had to Melchizedek. This action by the patriarch shows that he might have known the King of Salem as the priest of the Most High God. For Abraham gave the tithes to Melchizedek not of compulsion but out of his own free will.

7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Key Explanation: The expressions outlined in this verse may seem to suggest that Melchizedek is not a normal human being. But if we compare the phrases in the verse with the usual language which was used by the Hebrews in biblical times, we see that the verse is consistent with the earlier verses in relation to the nature of Melchizedek as a man. For instance, the terms without father or mother, and without descent, were common expressions that were used by the Hebrews to describe orphans, illegitimate children or persons whose genealogical records could not be traced.

It is interesting to note that while describing Melchizedek, the author of Genesis left out all key genealogical records. No mention is made of his mother or father or line of genealogy. It is in this respect that the apostle Paul described the King of Salem as without father, mother or descent. Moreover, the phrase "having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" does not suggest that Melchizedek was divine. The phrase only comes to support the absence of his data in Scripture, in this case relating to the time of his birth and death. It is the absence of these key genealogical information about Melchizedek in Scripture which was utilised by the apostle Paul to liken him unto the Son of God, who actually is eternal in nature (review Hebrews 7:3).

In the remaining verses of Hebrews 7, Paul tried to relate the priesthood of Christ to that of Melchizedek. Reasoning from Psalm 110:4, the apostle Paul emphasised that just like Melchizedek, Christ, whose genealogical records could not be traced to Aaron (as He was not from the tribe of Levi; see Hebrews 7:13-14), had a better priesthood than those who served under the Aaronic priesthood. The apostle explained that those who served as priests under the Aaronic priesthood served according to the law of a carnal commandment, but Christ whose descent was not from Aaron serves as a priest in the heavenly sanctuary under the unchanging order of Melchizedek (see Hebrews 7:15-28; Hebrews 8:1-2).

4) From the scriptural passages we have reviewed so far, it is clear that Melchizedek was not Christ but a holy man who served as priest of the Most High God. In respect to the absence of his genealogical records in Scripture, this man was made like unto the Son of God, who actually has "NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS, NOR END OF LIFE" (Hebrews 7:3; Capital Emphasis Added). It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament, Christ is also described by the prophet Micah with the following eternal expression; "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). In the book of Revelation, our Saviour speaks of Himself as the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending … which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8; see also Revelation 1:11; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:13).

Beloved, the Scripture is clear. Christ has "neither beginning of days, nor end of life" (Hebrews 7:3). It is sad that despite these clear words of Scripture, some in Christendom continue to misinterpret various portions of Scripture (such as John 3:16; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) to teach that Christ was brought forth at a point in time by the Father through creation. Following a similar path, others also grossly misinterpret texts such as Proverbs 8:22-36 and John 1:18 to teach that the Son of God was literally taken out from the Father’s bosom at a point in time. Logically, either of these two positions expresses the idea that Christ had a beginning. But this teaching that Christ had a beginning, and as a result cannot be divine just as the Father, is contrary to the numerous biblical evidences (see Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 43:11; Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:6-8; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:8) which clearly set forth the eternal divine nature of Christ, and hence must be false. Friends, besides key lessons such as our obligation to pay faithful tithes as was exemplified by Abraham, the story of Melchizedek also comes to strengthen the fact of the eternal divine nature of Christ.

Exhortation: From the pen of inspiration, we read the following in relation to the story of Melchizedek:

i) "It was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father. And all through the generations of the past, Christ has spoken; Christ has led his people, and has been the light of the world. When God chose Abraham as a representative of his truth, he took him out of his country, and away from his kindred, and set him apart." - RH, February 18, 1890 par. 10.

ii) "Many persons will meet all inferior demands and dues, and leave to God only the last gleanings, if there be any. If not, his cause must wait till a more convenient season. Such was not the course pursued by Abraham. Upon his return from a successful military expedition, he was met by Melchizedek, "king of Salem, and priest of the most high God." This holy man blessed Abraham, in the name of the Lord, and the patriarch gave him tithes of all the spoils as a tribute of gratitude to the Ruler of nations." - RH, May 16, 1882 par. 24.

Selected References:

1. Hebrews 7:3 by Ángel Manuel Rodríguez

2. Was Melchizedek the Holy Spirit? by Demario Carter

In our next study, we will consider the topic: Who is Michael the Archangel? The Bible Study references for this study are Isaiah 14:12-14, Revelation 12:7-10, Jude 1:9, Daniel 10:12-14, John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2, Daniel 8:25, Joshua 5:13-15, Exodus 3:1-6, Revelation 22:8-9, Daniel 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and John 5:25. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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