Genesis chapter 14
Melchisedek..."priest of the most high God".
Genesis 14 prefigures Christ as the superior, eternal, and perfect priest for all God's people. The concept of a priest is of one who represents God to men, and introduces men to God. That Melchisedek points to Christ is made clear in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7, again proving the bible is one homogenous whole. The mysterious appearance and disappearance of Melchisedek introduces the most wonderful truth of Divine involvement in priestly terms in the complexities of life. We look at some of the issues from Hebrews chapter 7.
Hebrews 7 can be divided into three parts to expound the implications of the mysterious person called Melchizedek.
V1-10, the historical argument, Melchizedek greater than Aaron.
V11-25, the doctrinal argument, Melchisedek replaces Aaron.
V26-28, the practical argument, Melchizedek a fitting priesthood for Christian worship.
V1-10 Melchizedek greater than Aaron-the
historical argument.
Mentioned only briefly in two portions of O/T scripture,
Genesis 14 and Psalm 110, yet his appearance on the page of holy scripture is
most significant for every believer in the present age. It is important we understand his role as
intended by God. He was no phantom, nor
was he a visiting angel, he was a real man with real parents. He was a real king and operated as priest of
the most high God. He functioned in the land that God had given to Abraham and
his descendants, and was aware of the wars being waged in the land, but was
involved only in blessing the victors. He is a most graphic type of our Lord Jesus
Christ, there being no record of any such order until Christ. In the course of this marvellous historic
account we learn much of how scripture is to be interpreted.
Melchisedek preceded Aaron by almost 500 years-
Genesis 14 and Exodus 28. He was a king
and priest, King of Salem, Priest of the most high God. These two offices could never be combined in
one person in Judaism. He met Abraham returning
from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. This is the narrative of
Genesis 14 which presents the work of the priest as in the story. The land was under attack from the realm of
Shinar- first mentioned in chapter 11 at the rebellion of Babel. God’s heritage had been subdued for 12 years
and war ensued in the 13th year. Melchisedek
was not involved in the battle, save to bring the most high God into it. His intercession was heard and Abraham with a
few hundred men overcame the armies of five nations in a miraculous victory, in
which his nephew Lot was recovered with the souls of Sodom and surrounding
areas. The king of Sodom came with an
offer of reward, but Melchisedek intervened first, reminding Abraham of the God
who was the possessor of heaven and earth. By this, Abraham was saved from possible
future servitude to the king of Sodom, and instead received a blessing from
Melchizedek in the form of bread and wine. Abraham was preserved by the priestly
intervention and as they say “the rest is history”. This event had profound effects on Abraham and
all who follow him in faith; so the work of Melchizedek was vast, even if the
narrative is short. The role of priest
is therefore established as comfort and blessing for the people of God in times
of conflict. This gives us an insight into the present priestly work of Christ
for us all. His name had an important meaning,
first King of Righteousness, after that also King of peace. Names had special significance, but also the order
is recognised-first righteousness, after that peace. This is the very essence of the Christian
gospel foretold in the Old and expounded in the New Testament. There is no peace until righteousness is
established-Isaiah 32v17, “The work of righteousness shall be peace and the
effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever.” Psalm 85v10 “Mercy and truth are met together,
righteousness and peace have kissed.” Hebrews 12v11 speaks of “the peaceable
fruit of righteousness.” This, that is
the basis of the gospel, was first symbolised in Melchizedek.
There is no trace of his genealogy, in a book full of genealogies.
Scripture argues from silence…he had
parents, he had genealogy, he was born a real man, he died, but there's no
record of any of this. He appears on the
page and never leaves until the Son of God comes. Those who object to arguments
from silence take note. The Holy Spirit uses this very literary tool. As such, he is a perfect type of the high
priestly office of Christ. “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.”
His eternal existence is assumed; His secret
preparation for the work unseen by human eyes; His eternal representation of
God to His people are all prefigured in this wonderful historical narrative.
We are asked to “consider how great this man was”
because he received tithes of the spoils of war from Abraham. This was an acknowledgment of his greatness and
the patriarch Abraham (note the high rank) paid homage to his greatness by honouring
him with the tithes-the practise of the days of deference to kings. Verse 7 says “without all contradiction the
lesser is blessed of the better.” In verses 4-10 he is comparing the Aaronic
priesthood with that of Melchisedek from the point of view that Levi, the
priestly tribe, came out of Abraham. Levi received tithes by Divine commandment, Melchisedek
by virtue of the excellence of his person; Levi received tithes but they died,
Melchizedek lives forever, a continual priesthood; Levi who received tithes, first
paid tithes in Abraham for they were “in the loins of Abraham” when he paid the
portion of the spoils of war. Melchisedek
received tithes by virtue of his Divine anointing. This last comparison leads
to the phenomenal truth that is imprinted on the sacred page, and that is
anything given to the Lord will be paid back in abundance. Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedek-effectively
to the Lord, as one payment on one occasion through Levi. Abraham received back tithes for thousands of
priests over hundreds of years! A little
given to the Lord, will be paid back in abundance, for details see Mark10v29-30,
Matthew 19v27- 29, Luke 18v29-30.
Verses 11-25 Melchisedek replaces Aaron- the
doctrinal argument
We can think of this difficult but important section in
three ways. It was necessary to replace the Aaronic priesthood because of:
Verses 11-19
The imperfection of the law
Verses 20-22.
The inviolability of the Divine oath
Verses 23-25.
The mortality of the priests.
Judaism was a preparatory system of worship, but
imperfect. And ultimately had to be replaced with a new order of things and
this has been done in Christ. Therefore,
God has moved away from it to a perfect worship in the form of a greater
priesthood, under a greater covenant, in a greater sanctuary, and based on a
greater sacrifice.
Verses 11 to 19. The imperfection of the law.
That God indicated there would be another order of priesthood-Psalm110,
meant that in His estimate, the existing one must be replaced. The Aaronic priesthood was based on the law
and on obedience to the law on the part of the worshippers. The blood of animals was sacrificed to avoid
the judgment of God on their approach. But
this was only prospective for something better to come. God has now finished with the old priesthood
and if He will change the priesthood, He must also change the law, the basis of
it. The new priest of the order of
Melchizedek did not come from the tribe of Levi-the only ones permitted to
sacrifice at the altar, he came from the tribe of Judah. A new order of priest from a different tribe,
cannot operate under the law. The emphasis in these verses is on one from
another-a different tribe, and to a different priesthood which is not based on
a carnal commandment. The law only
brought death, but the new covenant is according
to the power of an endless (indissoluble) life. So he is developing the weakness of the law as
against the power of the gospel in Jesus Christ. The Divine decree stands forever “Thou art
a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek” He is not going back to the old order, He has
finished with it, He has replaced it, and we should follow. The disannulling of the law was implicit in
the declaration of the permanent priesthood of Messiah and in a graphic way the
weakness and unprofitability of the law is contrasted with the power of an
indissoluble life in Christ. The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in
of a better hope did. God has replaced
the old priesthood with the new order of Melchizedek, which can accomplish what
the old never could. It is now by this
alone, we draw nigh to God… it is a spiritual worship. The external ceremony is gone and we worship
God in the spirit.
The inviolability of the Divine Oath.
The old priests were not required to be sworn into
office. They entered by virtue of natural birth, and functioned from 20 years
old upward. They were only debarred if
certain physical characteristics were deficient. Not so with the priesthood of Christ. He is so
by Divine oath, which under no circumstances can be altered forever. “The Lord swear and will not repent “Thou
art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” God has moved
forward and He will never move back. If
we wish to keep in step with Him we must follow-“By so much has Jesus become
surety of a better testament.” Under the old system, no one could keep the
law, but Jesus fulfilled it and is become surety- guarantor, of a new and
better covenant. The word testament or
covenant occurs 21 times in the letter and is a major topic. It means now that
all the wealth and work of Christ has been passed into law in the sight of God,
and is now indelibly secured in the vaults of heaven. The old is finished, and
the new stands forever.
The mortality of the priests.
They were many priests in the old
economy but they were subject to death as they themselves were sinners. Their
priesthood became transferable to another on death. There is only one high priest today, and
because He lives forever, His office will go on and He possesses an untransferable
priesthood; this is the essence of perfection. By this He is able to save to the uttermost,
to the ultimate end, in whatever situation, all who come unto God by him. This
is because the operation of His priesthood is eternal and powerful and
effective. He lives to make intercession
for us.
Verses 26-28 Melchizedek
a fitting priesthood for spiritual worship.
The theme is stated in verse 26 “For such an high priest became us…”
The people saved by so great salvation, and represented before God by so great
a person, need a great high priest of impeccable character and so He is. Here we have a summary of the impeccable
character of our great high priest. In the
good of all that he is, we can approach God, for He is all that we are not, and
God accepts us in Him. He is holy, Godward,
God-fearing and reverent. He is harmless,
manward, He neither gives offence nor takes offence. The word could mean
innocent, free from guilt. He is
undefiled in Himself, untainted by the sin all around. He is separate from sinners, not a spacial,
but a moral separation, He is a class apart. This means He is sinless. Two
examples in the letter, chapter 4v15 and chapter 9v28-the expression is sin
apart, there was no suggestion of sin either in His person or in His work. His position is supreme, “made higher than
the heavens”, morally, spiritually, and positionally. He is above all, and He is our access to God. Comparisons with Aaron can be made in this
connection. In the execution of his
office, Aaron had to wear garments of beauty and glory, but not in the Holy of
Holies- Leviticus 16v4 . It is reserved
for Jesus, our great high priest who in the very presence of God wears the
beautiful garments. He has taken beauty
and glory to the pinnacle of the throne from which He serves us. Each of the
high priestly garments, the linen Ephod, the Onyx stones on the breastplate, the
robe of blue, and the mitre with its crown of gold, can be linked to the
details of v26. It was such an high
priest that became us, who have been redeemed and cleansed and fitted for God
service. There should be no doubt in our
minds about our acceptance with God. There
should be a cleansing effect every time we approach God as well as a joy in our
hearts. Nothing of the old order can
compare with this. They were sinners and had to offer first sacrifices for
their sins before they could help others. The law, the old order made men high
priests with infirmities. The word of
the oath, the new order, makes the Son who is perfect forever. In approaching God today we come in the name
and in the worth of one who is perfect and who lives to bring us “salvation
to the uttermost.”
"The Lord hath sworn and will not change His mind, "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek"-Psalm 110v4. This is our Great High Priest, precious truth from Genesis 14!
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