Melchizedek – Priest of God – He remains mysterious

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The priest Melchizedek only has a seemingly tiny supporting role in the Bible. He met Abraham once and then disappeared again. He is remembered in the letter to the Hebrews. The weight of the “King of Salem” is enormous. But an open question cannot be answered.

Melchizedek “just shows up”

Melchizedek is undoubtedly one of the mysterious characters in the Bible. He is only mentioned in two places in the entire Bible, Genesis 14 and and Hebrews 7. Supposedly, Melchizedek was a relatively unimportant figure. His origins are unknown and there is no family tree. “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;“, so in Hebrews 7:3. Just as he suddenly appeared in the biblical account, he disappeared again just as quickly.

Abraham and Melchizedek meet

Melchizedek lived during the time of Abraham. Both met at a time when Abraham was still called Abram. Abram fought a battle against Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies. After a victory, Abram returned to the royal valley of Shaweh. This is where Melchizedek appears for the first time. He is described as the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Melchizedek came to meet Abram and brought him bread and wine. Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of his spoil.

At this point we can see that the rules, statutes and laws of God had already existed for a long time before the legislation was given to the people of Israel in Moses’ time. In Moses’ time, the laws were written as a “refresher” after centuries of slavery and forgetting in Egypt. This was also linked to God’s covenant with the people of Israel (Info).

The king of Sodom, who was present, asked Abram to “give him the souls”. In return he is allowed to keep his belongings. However, Abram declined because he did not want to dispute God’s share of His property (the tithe). Abram didn’t want to keep anything for himself. Only part of the loot should be distributed to his comrades-in-arms.
With that, Melchizedek has “disappeared from the scene” again.

Melchizedek in the New Testament

Only the author (presumably Paul, but this is controversial) of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament remembers Melchizedek again. Hebrews 7 highlights that Melchizedek, king of Salem (“peace”), is also called “king of righteousness.” Without a father, without a mother and without a genealogy, he has “neither beginning of the day nor end of life” (Hebrews 7:2). Abraham was very wealthy, but was still subordinate to Melchizedek, because only the more senior can give blessing to another.

Hebrews explains high priesthood

The Epistle to the Hebrews explains that the laws (ceremonial laws) given to the people of Israel for sacrifices and festivals were a shadow of those that represented Jesus Christ’s arrival and work of salvation. The festivals concerned the exodus from Egypt up to the impending judgment (Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles – Info).

The priesthood and the associated work of salvation were represented by the tabernacle or the temple built later (Info). This earthly priesthood, administered by the tribe of Levi, represented the heavenly sanctuary on earth (Info). With the realization through Jesus Christ, these ceremonial commandments have been abolished. They were fulfilled by Jesus Christ and therefore superfluous. Since His ascension, Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God and is our advocate, our high priest.

Characteristics of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ

Melchizedek symbolized Jesus Christ

It is clear that in Abraham’s time, Melchizedek symbolized none other than Jesus Christ. With the replacement of earthly ceremonies, sacrifices and festivals, the imperfect priesthood of men was also abolished. The original priest of the people of Israel is Aaron, the brother of Moses, both of whom are from the tribe of Levi. But Aaron and his successors were also all sinful people and needed an atonement for themselves first.

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is the perfect High Priest. Himself completely without sin and therefore not dependent on forgiveness through a sacrifice. He himself was the completely innocent victim. Jesus Christ has been our high priest and therefore also our advocate for almost 2,000 years. This also means that the Levitical priesthood and its associated laws have been suspended for just as long. Any further sacrificial works like those in ancient Israel would deny Jesus Christ. In a certain form, the “Eucharist” cultivated by the Roman Catholic Church is also included (Info).

Was Melchizedek without sin?

As clear as Melchizedek is the symbol of Jesus Christ, the actual nature of the King of Salem remains unclear. All of His characteristics described in the Bible also apply to our Savior. But for the “perfect” symbol of a “perfect” high priest, which is Jesus Christ without a doubt, there would still be the open point of sin or sinlessness. Jesus Christ is the priest after the manner of Melchizedek, as inHebrews 7:15:
“And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,“

Jesus Christ was or is absolutely without sin. As a “perfect symbol,” shouldn’t Melchizedek also have been sinless? Has there ever been a sinless person? Paul had the answer,Romans 3:12:
“They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.“

One question still remains unanswered

Not a single person ever remained without sin. Either Melchizedek was “imperfect” in terms of sinlessness at this point, or his nature is as mysterious as his origins and his disappearance.

An important extra-biblical source is Josephus Flavius. A historian and Jewish scribe of the 1st century, a contemporary of the apostles, he describes Melchizedek not only as a king, but also as the builder of the city of Salem, the previous name for Jerusalem.

A definitive answer cannot be found in the Bible, and the question of Melchizedek’s nature must therefore remain open. However, those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for themselves will surely one day receive an answer to this still-open question.

Something points to Melchizedek’s “normal” nature.

However, there are strong indications that Melchizedek was an “ordinary” human being. To understand this, one need only consider whether there are examples in the Old Testament that represent Jesus Christ, that is, a type. And there are. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was a prophet. He proclaimed the pure word of God, the true path to salvation, in stark contrast to the erroneous nonsense of the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus warned and admonished, leading the crowds as a prophet. His type in the Old Testament is found in Moses.

After completing His earthly ministry (after the Ascension), Jesus Christ entered the priesthood. He has been our High Priest ever since. The same type of figure found in Melchizedek also exists for this.

Jesus Christ’s ministry culminates, when His priesthood is complete, in what was long foretold. Jesus leaves His throne of grace and ascends to the throne of glory. He assumes kingship, not temporarily, but for eternity. The archetype in the Old Testament for this kingship is King David.

Moses was an ordinary man, David was an ordinary man, so it is quite plausible that Melchizedek, too, was no more than a mortal man. From the finite ministries of the prophet and the high priest follows the infinity of the kingship of Jesus.

Revelation 22:14-15:

Bible verses from King James Version

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