A. Old Testament considerations. A careful study of this King will reveal his character as well as his identity and his unique office.
1. Gen.14:18. He is Melchisedek; the meaning of his name is King of Righteousness.
2. The King of Salem or King of Peace.
3. He brought, see Gen.1:12. In creation the Lord brought from the earth seed to which he gave life and the ability to reproduce. Melchilsedek brought forth bread and wine. Jesus said; This bread my body, this cup is my blood. Is there not a parallel?
4. Gen.14:20. He was and is The Priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed Abram, he therefore was greater than Abram. Abram paid his tithes to Mechizedek. Tithing is not under law but rather grace.
5. Psalm 110:4. In what is known as a Messianic Psalm, Christ Jesus is given, by an oath of God, the office of a Priest forever (eternal, without end, everlasting), after the order of Melchizedek. This is so important to God that it is a declared edict without termination.
B. New Testament considerations. The author of the book of Hebrews is very emphatic in stating that Melchisedek is Christ.
1. Heb.6:19-20 His ministry is within the vail, i.e. in the Most Holy Place. Christ going before us has entered on our behalf and is now ministering on our behalf as the High Priest of the order of Melchisdek. It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, WHO ALSO
MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US. Rom.8:34.
2. Heb. 7:1-2 He met Abraham, He blessed Abraham. His name is Melchsidek, King of righteousness, His blood proclaims his righteousness. Rom.3:25-26. He is our righteousness. King of Salem i.e King of Peace. Paul called him the Lord of peace. 2 Thes.3:16 There is no other source of peace.
3. Heb.7:3 We come then to a series of statements that show to us the fact that Melchisedek (Jesus Christ) is eternal and was definitely Deity. For only one who is Deity could be: Fatherless, Motherless, having no genealogy, without a beginning of life and having an endless life like the son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, his is an everlasting priesthood.
4. Heb.7:4 Who is the greatest? Abraham or Jesus? Consider how great Melchisedek was that Abraham ,the recipient of the promises, would give a tithe to him.
5. Heb.7:7 This man was not a Levite (of the priestly line). Levi was not yet born. Without a controversy, without a doubt the man of lesser quality was blessed by the man of nobler quality.
6. Heb.7:8 The Levites (men who die) received tithes of the people. However Abraham paid them to one who had the testimony that he liveth. I AM he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive forever more. Rev.1:18 He is life, he is the source of all life.
7. Heb.7:11 The failure of the law to reach perfection or the performance required of it necessitated one to come with a changed and different priesthood. v.12 A transferred priesthood made it needful to change the law. We know that Christ fulfilled the law. v.16 One like Melchisedek (Christ) patterned not after the law but after the power of an endless life. There is no one to fit the word picture shown here but the Lord Jesus Christ. v.18-19 The futility of the law by disannulling (cancellation, put away) the same. It’s weakness and unprofitableness proclaimed. The law failed to produce perfection (maturity or completion). Through the eternal priesthood a better hope opened up a way to God.
8. Heb.7:20-24 Jesus received his priesthood by the oath of God. Ps.110:4 The Levitical priesthood was not by the oath of God. Therefore his was the better order, the guarantee of a better covenant. The priests could not continue because of death. But Jesus has a permanent priesthood because he is ever
living
9. Heb.7:25 Those who come to him receive a full and complete salvation because he intercedes for them.
10. Heb.7:26 What a tremendous High Priest we have; he is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens.
11. Heb.7:27 He does not need to offer daily sacrifices as the Levitical priest did. But with his once for all sacrifice he assured all men the forgiveness of sin and the assurance of a place in eternity.
12. Heb.7:28 The law chose men who had weaknesses but God appointed his own son, the perfect one, by oath.Melchisedek was Christ and Christ is the only one who is to be found as occupying the office of the true High Priest.