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The Priesthood of Christ: Part 8 - The Melchizedekian Order, Genealogy and Timeless

2/3/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Priesthood Of Christ: Part 8 - The Melchizedekian Order, Genealogy And Timeless
In Hebrews 7:1-3, Paul reveals five comparisons between Melchizedek and Christ to enable his readers to understand Christ’s priestly office.  First, like Melchizedek, Christ is a king and priest who will reign with righteousness and peace.  Second, like Melchizedek, Christ blesses individuals.  Third, like Melchizedek, Christ’s priesthood is more significant than the Levitical priesthood.
  • For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (aphomoióō) the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. - Hebrews 7:1-3

Fourth, Melchizedek acted independently from other priests.  There is no mention of other priests in his order.  The lack of fellow priests is further supported by the lack of genealogical record — without father, without mother, without genealogy.  The lack of genealogy is not to say that he lacked parents but that his priesthood was not dependent upon ancestry, unlike the Levitical Priesthood (cf. Numbers 16-17).  While Christ’s kingship is based upon a genealogical record, His priesthood is not dependent upon such a record.

Fifth, Melchizedek’s priesthood was timeless — he remains a priest perpetually.  The term perpetually (eis to diēnekes) occurs only in Hebrews (7:3, 10:12, 14) and means uninterrupted.  Levitical priests could only serve from age twenty-five till age fifty.
  • This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting.  But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more. - Numbers 8:24-25  

Christ’s priesthood is forever without end (cf. Hebrew 7:21).
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The Priesthood of Christ: Part 7 - The Melchizedekian Order, Blessings and Tithes

2/3/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Priesthood Of Christ: Part 7 - The Melchizedian Order, Blessings And Tithes
Christ’s priesthood is part of the Melchizedekian order. 
  • The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. - Psalm 110:4
  • being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 5:10

Hebrews 7:1-3 reveals five comparisons between Melchizedek and Christ.
  • For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (aphomoióō) the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. - Hebrews 7:1-3

First, like Melchizedek, Christ is a king and priest who will reign with righteousness and peace.  

Second, Melchizedek blessed Abraham.  Christ, as High Priest blesses those who draw near to God through Him by saving them forever and making intercession for them.  
  • Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25  

Third, Melchizedek received a tithe (a tenth part) from Abraham.  Abraham’s giving of the tithe, demonstrated Melchizedek’s greatness over Abraham and thus the Levitical priesthood.  
  • Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. [...] But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.  [...] And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. - Hebrews 7:4-10

Christ, as a Melchizedekian priest, is more significant than other priesthood, including the Levitical.
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The Priesthood of Christ: Part 6 - The Melchizedekian Order, Priest and King

1/30/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Priesthood Of Christ: Part 6 - The Melchizedekian Order, Priest And King
In Hebrews 7:1-3, Paul reveals five comparisons between Melchizedek and Christ to enable his readers to understand Christ’s priestly office.
  • For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (aphomoióō) the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. - Hebrews 7:1-3

First, Melchizedek was both a king and a priest.  He was the king of Salem, later known as Jerusalem.
  • His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion. - Psalm 76:2

The term Salem (šā·lēm) means peace.  Melchi (malkî), the first part of Melchizedek, comes from the Hebrew term mālak, meaning king.  Zedek (tṣedeq), the second part of his name, is a Jebusite dynastic title.
  • Now it came about when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai, and had utterly destroyed it… - Joshua 10:1
 
Zedek (tṣedeq) means right or righteousness.  Hence his name means king of righteousness.  He was also a priest of the Most High God.  As a king-priest, Melchizedek ruled in righteousness (tṣedeq) and peace (šā·lēm).  Christ is also a king and priest who will reign with righteousness and peace.
  • For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. - Isaiah 9:6-7  
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The Priesthood of Christ: Part 5 - Melchizedek, A Type Not A Theophany

1/30/2021

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TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Priesthood Of Christ: Part 5 - Melchizedek, A Type Not A Theophany
Christ’s priesthood is part of the Melchizedekian order. 
  • The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. - Psalm 110:4
  • being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 5:10

The phrase made like the Son of God in Hebrews 7:3 implies that Melchizedek was a type of Christ.  To be clear, Melchizedek is not a theophany or Old Testament appearance of Christ.  The idea that Melchizedek is a theophany of Christ comes from a Second Century AD Gnostic text.

There are three significant reasons why Melchizedek is not a theophany.  First, the participle made like (aphomoióō) in Hebrews 7:3, is used to describe Melchizedek’s likeness to Christ.  The use of the participle indicates that Melchizedek was comparable to Christ only in the likeness or type.  If Melchizedek were a theophany, an adjective would have been used to describe that Melchizedek was Christ.

Second, one of the prerequisites for any priesthood is that the priest had to be human (cf. Hebrews 5:1).  Christ did not take on humanity until the Incarnation.  Before the Incarnation, Christ appeared in the form of a man, but not an actual man.  

Third, theophanies were temporary and held no office.  Melchizedek held the office of priest perpetually.  Additionally, he held the office of a king, which required a permanent residency in Salem. 

Therefore, Melchizedek is not Christ.  He was a Canaanite, priest and king of the Most High God. 
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    WHY TWO MINUTES?

    The Two-Minute Rule states “When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.”   The idea behind the rule is to make a habit easy to start.
    One of the goals for 2-Minute Theology is to help believers develop a theological habit.
    Another goal is to provide believers with a resource they can use to 'test the spirits' to see if they are from God.

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