We’re introduced to this mystery guy in Genesis 14:18-20
and then we don’t hear about him again until Hebrews 7. Who was he anyway?
Here’s what we know:
- He’s the king of Salem (peace). (Hebrews 7:1-2)
- He’s the priest of the most high God. (Heb. 7:1)
- He blessed Abraham. (Genesis 14:19-20; Heb. 7:1, 6)
- Abraham gave tithes to him. (Gen. 14:20; Heb. 7:2, 4, 6)
- He’s called the king of righteousness. (Heb. 7:2)
- He doesn’t have a father. (Heb. 7:3)
- He doesn’t have a mother, either. (Heb. 7:3)
- He doesn’t have any ancestors. (Heb. 7:3, 6)
- He doesn’t have a beginning of days nor end of his life. (Heb. 7:3)
- He is like the Son of God. (Heb. 7:3)
- He is a priest forever. (Heb. 7:3)
Was he some kind of a spooky fellow . . . I mean, no father,
no mother, no birthday, no death certificate? What is this? Poof! and here’s
Melchisedek! Another poof, and he’s gone!
Really, there are two possibilities. (The commentators see
it this way, too.) Either Melchisedek was a real, historical person or he was a
theophany (or Cristophany)—an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. It’s
impossible to say with any real assurance which one. Surely, there are good
arguments both ways.
I think he was a
real man in history. And, here are my reasons:
1. Jesus was
called “like Melchisedek” and “after the order of Melchisedek.”
(Hebrews 7:15, 17, 21) To me, if Jesus had been the same as Melchisedek,
Scripture would be clear about that.
2. The Bible
says that Jesus was a better high priest than Melchisedek. (Hebrews 7:28 and
following in chapter 8)
3. This guy
was the king of peace. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
4. When
Abraham gave him tithes, Abraham was recognizing Melchisedek’s superiority to
him, his kingship, and his priesthood. I believe Abraham thought he was a man.
5. When
Abraham actually did see Christ (with
two angels) in Genesis 18, he recognized him as “my Lord.” He didn’t do that
with Melchisedek.
6. I think
there was merely no written record of his parentage, ancestors, or parents. He
may well have been an orphan. I think the same thing happened with his birthday
and his day of death. (This happens all the time! We have a lady in our church
right now, 2012, who has no idea how old she is. She’s obviously younger than I
am, but in her country, if a child is born at home, there’s no official record.
I knew another lady some years back whose records had been lost for a long
time. When she found them, she found out she was five years older than she thought
she was!) I think Melchisedek merely didn’t have a record of his family or
birth, due to the times in which he lived.
God revealed to us as much as He wanted to reveal to us.
What I think doesn’t matter, and if you differ, it’s okay with me.
These things are important:
- Somehow, even before the Old Testament Law was given, Abraham knew to tithe.
- God holds up Melchisedek as a righteous king and priest.
- Jesus Christ was greater. He is our Prophet, Priest and King. All glory goes to Him!