I. INTRODUCTION

A. The records of Melchizedek in the Old Testament are so brief that he would almost be forgettable if we knew nothing else of him.

B. However, the book of Hebrews identifies Melchizedek as one of the key figures concerning our Lord Jesus, for Christ's priesthood is established according to the order of Melchizedek.

C. Presently, let us consider Melchizedek as a foreshadow of Christ.

1. Notice that Melchizedek was king of Salem, which was the city to be known later as Jerusalem. The word Salem (Heb. Shalem) means "peace," so in this way Melchizedek was the king of peace.

2. Also, notice that the name Melchizedek means "king of righteousness."

3. Just from these facts, we can see that Melchizedek was quite significant as a figure of Christ.

II. MELCHIZEDEK BLESSED ABRAM

A. Melchizedek appears in the context of the Scriptures after Abram rescued his nephew Lot and the people of the Salt Sea valley. Let us recall this event.

1. When the flocks and herds of Abram and Lot became too large to dwell in the same land, Lot chose to settle in the cities of the Salt Sea valley at Sodom, and Abram settled in Canaan (Gen. 13:1-12).

2. When the kings of the valley rebelled against their oppressor, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, he led three other kings to fight against them (Gen. 14:1-9).

3. The kings of the valley were defeated, and the goods and food supply of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken. Lot and his possessions were also taken captive (Gen. 14:10-12).

4. When Abram was told of Lot's captivity, he assembled his men, defeated the forces of Chedorlaomer, and returned Lot and all that had been taken (Gen. 14:13-16).

B. When Abram returned victorious, Melchizedek blessed him and received a tenth of the goods.

1. Notice that Melchizedek was not one of the kings who had fought Chedorlaomer, for Salem was not one of the cities in the Salt Sea valley. He did not come to Abram in a show of gratitude as the other kings did, but rather he came on a mission as a priest of God.

2. Consider Genesis 14:18-20:

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all.

3. Melchizedek's sole purpose for coming to Abram was to declare a blessing upon him and God.

4. Notice that Melchizedek received a tenth of the goods that Abram had retrieved.

a. These things had not been taken from Melchizedek, and he did not participate in their recovery. The tenth given to him was strictly an offering for God given to God's priest.

b. Abram's offering was typical for offerings made unto God, and this pattern would later be given to the Jews under the Law of Moses.

c. Consider also that Abram did not keep any of these things for himself (Gen. 14:21-24).

III. A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

A. In Psalm 110:4, a prophecy was given concerning Melchizedek and the Christ.

1. This verse says, "The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'"

2. The whole context of this psalm is a prophecy of the Christ, who would be a king and a priest. Melchizedek fits this description as a foreshadow of the Christ.

B. In the book of Hebrews, the prophecy of Psalm 110:4 is explained.

1. Much of the book of Hebrews is devoted to explaining Christ's role as high priest under His new covenant. In fact, this is declared to be the "main point" of the book (Heb. 8:1-2).

2. The subject of Christ's priesthood is introduced in Hebrews 2:17-3:1:

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

3. This theme resumes in Hebrews 4:14-15:

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

4. The prophecy of Psalm 110:4 is first quoted in Hebrews 5:6 to explain that Jesus did not assume the position of high priest on His own, but He was appointed by the Father (see Heb. 5:1-10).

a. It was for this purpose that God sent His Son to become a man, for it is necessary for a high priest to be sympathetic to those whom he represents. He is "taken from among men" and "appointed on behalf of men" (v. 1).

b. The honor of being high priest was bestowed on Jesus by His Father just as it was for Aaron (v. 4). The Father made this appointment in the prophecy of Psalm 110:4.

c. Christ's experience of obedience and suffering as a man perfected Him for the work of the high priest (vv. 7-9), and He was "designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek" (v. 10).

5. The prophecy of Psalm 110:4 is quoted two more times in Hebrews 7 (vv. 17, 21) to explain that Christ's priesthood is according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the order of Aaron.

a. Verses 1-2 recall the events of Genesis 14:18-20, and then verse 3 says of Melchizedek, "Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually."

i. This is not to say that Melchizedek was a supernatural being, but rather it means that there is no record of his days or genealogy in the Scriptures.

ii. The point is he had an unlimited priesthood unlike that of Aaron.

b. Verses 4-10 prove that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and therefore greater than Levi and the priesthood that descended from him.

i. The fact that Melchizedek blessed Abraham and received a tithe from him shows that he was greater than Abraham.

ii. If Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, then he was also greater than Levi, Aaron, and all people who descended from them.

iii. Likewise, Christ's priesthood is greater than the priesthood of Aaron's lineage.

c. Verses 11-28 show the order of the priesthood had to be changed from that of Aaron to that of Melchizedek in order to bring salvation to man.

i. Because the Aaronic priesthood was insufficient to bring salvation, there had to be a change of priesthood and therefore a change of law (vv. 11-12). Hence, the Law of Moses does not govern Christ's priesthood and has been set aside.

ii. Under the Law of Moses, Jesus could not be a priest, for He was of the tribe of Judah and not Levi (vv. 13-14). However, Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, just as Psalm 110:4 declared (vv. 15-22).

iii. Because Christ is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, His priesthood abides forever, and "He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (v. 25). None of the priests of Aaron's order could do this.

IV. CONCLUSION

A. Melchizedek is a fascinating character because he represents the amazing and mysterious power of God.

1. Melchizedek appears and disappears from the pages of the Old Testament with no explanation, and yet his priesthood, not Aaron's, is the model for that of our Lord Jesus. It is according to the order of Melchizedek's priesthood that Christ brings us salvation by God's power.

2. Melchizedek shows that God was always at work in the world even outside of the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel.

B. Melchizedek is especially significant to us because he is a foreshadow of our Lord, the eternal King of Peace and King of Righteousness.