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QUESTION 17
Who was Melchizedek?

ANSWER:
Some commentators suggest that he might be the Son of God in his manifestation once in the Old Testament. His name is mentioned three places in the Bible. Here are two verses: Genesis 14:18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. Psalms 110:4. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. He is mentioned nine times in the Book of Hebrews, mostly quotes from Psalms 110:4.

There were two orders of priests in the Old Testament. The Aaronic priesthood and that of Melchizedek. The first one had a beginning and an end. It began when established in Exodus and ended in the cross work of Christ. It was associated with the nation of Israel.

The later was a more mysterious one. To look at him literally, prophetically and typically we have only three verses to work with. Literally: he was the King of Salem (Jerusalem), Genesis 14:18. Prophetically: a reference to the The Son of God, Psalms 110:4. Typically: he was a type of the person of Christ and His priesthood. Christ was to be a priest after his order. For this reason it seems that he was a real person and king, but God blotted out his posterity, so he could fitly be a picture of the Son of God. Hebrews 7:3 is a key verse, 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.

He was not the Son of God, but like Him. No father, mother, no genealogy, no beginning and end. This made him like the Son of God. The purpose of all this was to show that the eternal Son of God was to be a priest continually. He is presently engaged in that priesthood. Hebrews 10:21. And having an high priest over the house of God; He is mine is He yours?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen