From MP’s Epistle reading:
Hebrews 7:1 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, 2 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. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
Genesis 14:17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”He gave him a tenth of all.
Psalm 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek, as we read, was a priest of the Most High God long before the time of the priesthood of the law, and he offered bread and wine to the Lord. Our Redeemer is said to be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" because he put aside the sacrificial victims stipulated by the law and instituted the same type of sacrifice to be offered in the new covenant in the mystery of his own body and blood.
The Venerable Bede [672-735 AD], Homilies on the Gospels 2.19
Thus, Melchizedek's priesthood continues for ever, not in Melchizedek himself but in the Lord of Melchizedek. St. Ephraim, Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews
Also in the priest Melchizedek we see the Sacrament of the Sacrifice of the Lord prefigured, in accord with that to which the Divine Scriptures testify, where it says: ‘And Melchizedek, the King of Salem, brought out bread and wine, for he was a priest of the Most High God; and he blessed Abraham.’ That Melchizedek is in fact a type of Christ is declared in the psalms by the Holy Spirit, saying to the Son, as it were from the Father: ‘Before the daystar I begot You. You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ The order certainly is that which comes from his sacrifice and which comes down from it: because Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God; because he offered bread; and because he blessed Abraham. And who is more a priest of the Most High God than our Lord Jesus Christ, who, when He offered sacrifice to God the Father, offered the very same which Melchizedek had offered, namely bread and wine, which is in fact His Body and Blood.” St. Cyprian of Carthage in his Letter to Cecil.
The inspired author of Hebrews summons the faithful to hold fast their confidence in the person and work of Jesus Christ: Jesus is a greater Revealer of God than the prophets and angels, a greater Mediator than Moses, a greater Rest-Provider than Joshua. Hebrews continues this theme in 4:14-10:18 … Jesus is a greater High Priest than Aaron. In what way is Jesus a greater High Priest than Aaron?
Jesus’ High Priestly order is greater, an eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek
Jesus is the High Priest of a better, more perfect tabernacle, in Heaven
Jesus as High Priest offers a better sacrifice than Aaron, that of His own flesh and blood
Jesus is a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Jesus’ priesthood is unique and all-sufficient. Our Christian hope is bound up with Jesus’ High Priestly work. Aaron and the high priests that followed him did not open the way for the people to follow them into the Holy of Holies. The people were excluded from drawing near. What the Aaronic priesthood could not do, Jesus, our great High Priest has … Jesus has opened the way into God’s presence. Jesus’ priesthood is greater than that of Aaron for He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. There is an aura of mystery surrounding Melchizedek who is mentioned but twice in the OT, in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. Yet Melchizedek is named as being of an eternal order of priesthood.
Melchizedek has no genealogy, his ancestry and descendants receive no mention. Melchizedek’s priesthood, unlike the Aaronic priesthood where the line of descent is essential, is not based on heredity. Jesus, like Melchizedek, is a priest by divine appointment … His priesthood does not depend upon hereditary ties.
Abraham recognized the priest-king Melchizedek by receiving his blessing and offering him tithes. Abraham was the patriarch of the faithful. And yet Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek and gave Melchizedek the tithe. Melchizedek is preferred to Abraham and to the Levitical priesthood. The Levitical Priesthood would be replaced by the greater, perfect, and royal priesthood of Christ.
Melchizedek’s provision bread and wine in thanksgiving to God, foreshadows our Lord’s offering of His Body and Blood at the Last Supper.
Melchizedek was a “member of the nations.” Christ came to save not just the House of Israel, but the people of all nations. Moreover, Melchizedek’s very name and title “King of Righteousness, King of Peace” foreshadows Jesus’ coming into the world as the Lord our Righteousness and the King of Peace.
Jesus is said to be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" because he put aside the sacrificial victims stipulated by the law and instituted the same type of sacrifice to be offered in the new covenant in the mystery of his own body and blood.
If perfection had been attained through the Levitical priesthood there would have no need for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus fulfills the priesthood of the order of Melchizedek, a full and abiding priesthood forever. More to come …
JSH+