I like detective stories. I take pleasure in the way that Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, or some other sleuth notices small clues that reveal whodunit - usually clues that almost everyone saw, but only the detective really noticed. The Melchizedek story and its New Testament explanation comes across to me like that. Genesis relates the original story in just 56 words. Hebrews takes 948 words to expound the significance the story. That's a big message from a small incident, but that original small gem of evidence opens up vital truths that we might fail to appreciate, but for the writings of this mysterious author
Author
The author of the book of Hebrews doesn't
identify himself. The letter used to be attributed to St Paul, but the writing style in Hebrews is markedly
different from that of the apostle, and the style of reasoning is more refined. However, the doctrine is close
enough to suggest that the author was an associate of Paul. I'm inclined to the view of the 19th century cleric
and theologian, Frederick W Farrah, that the mysterious author was Apollos - so I will refer to him as "A".
Cameo
Melchizedek makes just a cameo appearance
in Abraham's life story, but that's not unusual in the Bible. The Old Testament drama employs many bit part actors,
but this tale differs in an important characteristic. Most of those cameo appearances provide key narrative links
in the chain of events. For instance, the part played by Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, shows how an arrogant,
adopted son of a Palace became "more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth NOTE 1 . Rahab's brief entry
into the Bible story explains how Joshua's spies escaped from Jericho NOTE 2 and, not insignificantly, provides a
link in the ancestral line of the Messiah NOTE 3. Abigail, whose wise intervention in the life of David saved him
from committing a massacre NOTE 4, helps us understand how that rough shepherd became a great King. Those three
cameos form necessary parts of the Bible narrative - but, if we took the Melchizedek story out of Genesis,
no-one would notice the hole.
Precedent
The story of Melchizedek might
have remained an obscure footnote to the history of the Hebrew nation, but for a throwaway line in Psalm 110 -
"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek'".
Psalm 110 was long regarded as a messianic prophecy, so "A" had precedent for quoting the Melchizedek story.
This brief episode in the life of Abraham is a vital clue leading to the clearest New Testament explanation
of the priestly role of Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness
One of the ways in which Jesus
offended the Pharisees was his claim to be able to forgive sins. There was an established procedure for obtaining forgiveness -
and it was the exclusive preserve of the Jerusalem priests. By claiming to be able to forgive sins, Jesus was competing with a core rite of Judaism. What authority did he have for that? Simply, that he belonged to the priestly Order of Melchizedek.
Let's look at the points Hebrews makes:
- Jesus was not self-appointed. He was called to his priestly role, as confirmed by divine oath NOTE 5.
- Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest in Jerusalem passed through the curtain that barred entrance to the Holy of Holies. This key ceremony in the Jewish calendar had to be repeated each year. When Jesus died, the curtain was torn from top to bottom signifying that his sacrifice opened to way for everyone - permanently, and not to be repeated. His superior priesthood provides a complete, secure, and everlasting way of salvation NOTE 6.
- Melchizedek was both a priest and a king, which gave him a superior authority, exceeding that of the Levitical priesthood NOTE 7.
- Melchizedek's priesthood was confirmed by Abraham's submission, and the fact that he paid him a tithe. Melchizedek's titles 'king of righteousness' and 'king of peace', are also given to Jesus NOTE 8.
- The priests who received the tithe in Jerusalem were descendants of Levi, Abraham's great grandson. More specifically, they descended from Aaron, who came three further generations later. So, the Order of Melchizedek was much older than the Levitical priesthood NOTE 9.
- The Levitical priesthood was tainted by the imperfections of the priests. As ordinary humans, they needed forgiveness for themselves before they could dispense forgiveness to others NOTE 10.
- The New Covenant (or New Testament) is a better covenant (or promise). It was Jesus's last Will and Testament', which, like any 'last Will' is sealed by the death of the one who made the promise NOTE 11.
- The appointment of Jesus to this unique priestly Order is permanent, that is, everlasting NOTE 12.
Overturned
There's a lot to take in here, and you may ask,
"Why does this even matter?" This New Covenant overturned centuries of established practise, but the Melchizedek story
shows that the "New" actually came first. From the beginning of time, the plan of salvation was that forgiveness would
be won by the Father's grace expressed in the sacrifice of his Son. Where do we see that story prefigured? We see it
in the story of Abraham. The man who bowed down to Melchizedek was the same man who went into the desert in obedience
to God's command to offer his son - but God provided an animal for the offering NOTE 13.