Melchizedek

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Dr. Irwin "Rocky" Freeman

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We are looking at a comparison of Jesus Christ and the mysterious character revealed in the
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Word of God, a man by the name Melchizedek. We want to look at who he was and what he did and what does it mean for us as we study the
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Word of God. Melchizedek is mentioned in three passages of Scripture.
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The first place we find him mentioned is in Genesis. So would you turn please to the book of Genesis where we find him in chapter 14 beginning with verse 17.
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We read the following. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Keterleoma and of the kings that were with him at the valley of Shavai, which is the king's dale.
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And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine. And he was the priest of the
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Most High God. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abraham of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth.
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And blessed be the Most High God which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
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Then we find him again mentioned in the book of Psalms, Psalm 110. In verse 1 we read,
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The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
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The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion. Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
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Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning.
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Thou hast the due of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent. Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen.
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He shall fill the places with the dead bodies. He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way.
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Therefore shall he lift up the head. Then we come to that magnificent passage of Scripture in the book of Hebrews, chapter 7, where we read the following, beginning with verse 1.
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For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also
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Abraham gave a tenth part of all, which of course was a tithe, first being by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without father, without mother, without descent, or the word here is properly translated without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the
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Son of God abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch
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Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who received the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
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But he whose descent is not known, or but he whose genealogy is not counted from them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
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And without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes, but there he receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
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And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham, for he was yet in the loins of his father, when
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Melchizedek met him. Now Christ's priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, not after the order of Aaron.
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We find that in verse 11 of chapter 7. If therefore perfection were by the
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Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the law, what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
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Now after Melchizedek, who was the priest of God Most High, brought forth bread and wine.
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He blessed Abraham in Genesis 14. It is interesting that God waits 1 ,000 years, and then
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Melchizedek appears again in Psalm 110 verse 4. Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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The whole place that Melchizedek occupies in sacred history is one of the most remarkable proofs of the inspiration and the unity of Holy Scripture, as written under the supernatural guidance of the
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Holy Spirit. In the book of Genesis, all we know of Melchizedek is told in three short, very simple verses.
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A full 1 ,000 years later, we find a psalm with just one single verse, in which
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God himself is introduced, swearing to his son that he is to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
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Another 1 ,000 years pass, and that single verse becomes the seed of the wondrous exposition in this epistle to Hebrews chapter 7, and it concerns the whole redemptive work, or the whole work of redemption, as revealed in Jesus Christ.
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All of its most remarkable characteristics are found enveloped in the wondrous type, this wonderful picture, the whole plan of redemption.
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We see in it the miracle of divine wisdom guiding Melchizedek and Abraham with a view to that which was to take place with the
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Son of God 2 ,000 years later, revealing to the psalmist the same secret purpose of the divine mind in the promise made to the
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Son in heaven, and then by that same Holy Spirit guiding the Bible writer to write this divinely inspired exposition called
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Hebrews. So God had prepared in Melchizedek a wondrous prophecy of his son, whose right to the priesthood lay in no earthly birth, but in his being the
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Son of God from eternity to eternity. In Hebrews the seventh chapter, let's look at a few verses of Scripture.
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Let's look at verse 15, and it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there riseth another priest.
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And then in verse 17, for he testifieth thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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Verse 24, but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
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And then verse 27, who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice for his own sins, and then for the people's.
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For this he did once when he offered up himself. Now when he offered up himself, he was not after the order of Aaron at any time.
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A referral to the Lord Jesus Christ. Melchizedek was not only connected with blessings, but also sacrifice.
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It was Christ after the order of Melchizedek who offered up himself, and therefore he appears in blessing, as did
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Melchizedek to Abram in Genesis chapter 14. This word order, after the order of Melchizedek and the order of Aaron, denotes the character of being an office.
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It denotes the character of the office. It is necessary for us to determine what this order of Melchizedek means, what it prophesies, and what it anticipates.
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First of all, our Lord Jesus exercised priestly functions of care and prayer for his own people during his earthly life.
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Those that followed him, the disciples, the apostles, and others. On the cross, he offered himself a sacrifice.
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Next, he was saluted at the resurrection by God as priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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Hebrews 7 verse 17. Aaron, on the other hand, is connected constantly with sacrifices.
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He travels with them throughout the wilderness until they come to the land of inheritance. He was vitally involved.
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Melchizedek comes along and is revealed in his person and ministry to Abraham, the great -grandfather of Levi, who was
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Aaron's ancestor. The counsels of God revealed in Melchizedek, therefore, are prior to those revealed in Aaron and his ministry.
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The characteristics of the office that God revealed in Melchizedek are older than or began before those that started with Aaron and his ministry.
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Now Abraham is returning from the slaughter of the kings in Hebrews 7 verse 1 as we read.
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Returning from the slaughter of the kings. Abraham was the depository of the divine promises and he is met by Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.
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Genesis 14 verses 18 and 19. Now Melchizedek, we read in verse 18 of Genesis 14, brought forth bread and wine and he was priest of God Most High.
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Now it's significant that he brought forth bread and wine. In Psalms 104 verse 5 we read, the wine that maketh glad the heart of man and bread which strengthened man's heart.
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In 1st Samuel 17 verse 20 we read how Jesse, the father of David, sent bread and wine to King Saul by David.
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The bread and wine that Melchizedek brought would certainly refresh Abraham and his 318 weary servants.
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Now we make note the name of God used in connection with Melchizedek's priesthood. We read in Genesis 14 verse 19, he blessed him,
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Melchizedek blessed Abraham and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High. This is in the
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Hebrew the words capital EL, it is El Elyon, capital EL, capital
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E -L -Y -O -N, possessor of heaven and earth. The Hebrew word El Elyon means
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Most High God or the highest. The Lord Jehovah is known to a king
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Melchizedek by the name of Most High God. A Gentile is the priest of El Elyon, the
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Most High God, and his most distinctive character as Most High God is possessor of heaven and earth.
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So Melchizedek recognized God as the possessor of heaven and earth. Appropriately adjoined to this
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Gentile knowledge of God by his name Most High, we read that the Most High divided to the nations, that is
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Gentiles, their inheritance when he separated the sons of Adam.
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We find that in Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 8. As possessor of heaven and earth it was the prerogative of the
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Most High to distribute the earth among the nations according to whatever principle he chose. That principle is declared in Deuteronomy 32 verse 8.
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The same concept is the name used in the book of Daniel, the book of Gentile prophecy.
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You will find it mentioned in Daniel 3 verse 26, Daniel 4 verse 17, verse 24, verse 25, verse 32, verse 34, and verse 35.
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Also in chapter 5 verses 18 and 21. Now Melchizedek in relation to Abraham, whose name was
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Abram at the time, acts twofold. He calls the blessing of God Most High upon Abraham and he also blesses or praises
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God Most High. Now this is a picture or a type of the exact two things Christ will do.
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He will obtain blessings from God upon his people and then he will lead their praise of God.
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Psalm 22 verse 22 and we might just look at Hebrews 2 verse 12.
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In Hebrews 2 verse 12 we read saying, I will declare thy name unto my children, to my brethren in the midst of the church will
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I sing praise unto thee. Also Melchizedek represents Christ leading in worship in heaven as well as on the earth.
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We read Ephesians 1 verses 9 and 10 and Colossians 1 verses 19 and 20.
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Now the order of Melchizedek as we find mentioned again and let's read together in the book of Hebrews chapter 5 verses 6 and 10.
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As he saith also in another place thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. In verse 10 called of God and high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
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Then in chapter 6 verse 20 we read the following. Whether the forerunner is for us entered even
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Jesus made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. And in of course in our present chapter chapter 7 of Hebrews verse 17 for he testifieth thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
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Now in chapter 7 verse 2 we read to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all first being by interpretation king of righteousness and after that also king of Salem which is king of peace.
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Now the king of righteousness and then also king of Salem which is king of peace. In verses 17 verse 18 and 27 where Christ is mentioned after the order of Melchizedek he is seen as the high priest offering himself for the sins of the people once and for all.
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On the cross Jesus Christ met all the righteous claims of God against us and the result of his work we read in Romans 5 1 and Colossians 1 20 where he made peace through the blood of the cross.
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Melchizedek was king he was the king of righteousness as to his character that we read that there was no man like him on earth but he was also king of Salem which means king of peace so we have a king of righteousness and the king of peace.
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Melchizedek was the priest of God most high. Now the situation is that the
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Eastern Confederation of Kings under Keter Laomer has been victorious over the cities of the plain where Lot dwells
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Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham and his 318 servants pursues them smites them by night unto complete victory and rescues his brother
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Lot. Then the king of Sodom comes out to meet the victor. The king of Sodom will say give me the persons and take the goods to thyself.
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Now this was a temptation to Abraham. Then comes Melchizedek king of Salem and he was priest of God most high.
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Now Abraham knew God El Shaddai capital E -L capital
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S -H -A -D -D -A -I who is the Almighty Genesis 17 verse 1.
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God took the name Jehovah towards the earthly nation of Israel and the characteristics of Jehovah only relate to the nation of Israel.
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That is not a name it is a characteristic. The varying characteristics of God are listed in the title
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Jehovah. But El Elyon the God most high reaches everywhere and everything in heaven and in earth.
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It is an all -inclusive recognized by the Gentiles. We read and he blessed him and said blessed be
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Abram of God most high possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be God most high who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.
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Now we read this of course in our Genesis passage chapter 14.
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Now Abraham entered readily into this new revelation of his God so that his answer to the king of Sodom was
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I have lifted up my hand unto Jehovah God most high possessor of heaven and earth that I will not take a thread not a shoelatch it nor aught that is thine lest thou shouldest say
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I have made Abram rich. Let there be nothing for me only that which the young men have eaten and the portion of men that went with me.
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And that's in our Genesis 14 passage verses 22 to 24. What a deliverance for Abraham.
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David cried out basically the same thing in Psalm 57 verse 2. As Moses also said in Deuteronomy 32 verses 8 and 9.
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Here God is acting as the most high God over all earthly affairs. All the nations and men must acknowledge him as God most high.
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This is first we see in the fourth of the remarkable prophecies of Balaam.
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He saith who hear the words of God who seeth the vision of the Almighty. Numbers 24 verse 4.
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Here we have God as God as the most high God. He's above all and over all. He oversees all and as the
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Almighty El Shaddai. His name is revealed to the patriarchs. You might read
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Exodus chapter 6 verses 2 and 3. But let's look for a moment at Daniel chapter 4 verses 32 to 35.
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The first great king of the Gentiles his name Nebuchadnezzar is brought through seven years of humbling till he knew and we read that the most high
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Elillion ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Then he testified the most high doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.
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So we have a recognition that Elillion most high God is a recognition that God is over all and supreme over all.
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When Gabriel the messenger that the angelic creature that whose mission to Mary was to announce the birth of Christ.
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When he came to Mary concerning that birth of the Lord Jesus we read that he said he shall be called the son of the most high and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee.
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The Lord Jesus later on promised to us he shall be sons of the most high. Christ is not to us the priest of Jehovah to Christians but is like Melchizedek priest of the most high
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God Elillion possessor of heaven and earth. Now in chapter 7 verse 3 we read without father without mother without genealogy having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the
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Son of God abideth a priest continually. Now without father without mother without a genealogy if you contrast this with the records of the other kings of Judah and Israel we find something different.
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We find that their genealogy is certainly given to us. Notice what it says having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the
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Son of Man or the Son of God. Note that it is not said that he is like the
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Son of Man or the Son of David but made like unto the Son of God. Melchizedek then stands before us as one whom
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God made like unto his son. No earthly things to hinder him no royal heritage of the earth no record of his parentage of his birth or his death just made like unto the
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Son of God. Now the word made m -a -d -e is highly significant not made like the
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Son of God in essence but made like him in description and consequent typical or prophetic significance.
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Also the reference is to Christ a deity as the second person rather than his person as God man.
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In Hebrews the words made like unto the Son of God they are preceded by the words having neither beginning of days nor end of life in the passage we just read.
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The latter four words do not characterize the Melchizedek priesthood as consummated or closed off or brought to close at Calvary.
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In chapter 2 verses 7 to 9 of Hebrews we read that God crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of his hands
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God's hands and left nothing that is not subject to him yet now we see not yet all things subjected to him yet we come to Hebrews 10 verses 12 to 13 we read he when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down on the right hand of God henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet.
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Now back to the last clause in verse 3 of chapter 7 in Hebrews this Melchizedek abideth a priest continually there is no mention of the beginning of his priesthood nor of its ending he comes on the scene as a continual priest without earthly or human connection.
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The chief emphasis is in our Lord's Melchizedek priesthood we find that it is it endureth forever in chapter 5 verse 6 we read a priest forever in chapter 6 verse 20 of Hebrews we read a high priest forever and then we come to verse 3 of chapter 7 abideth a priest continually verse 24 of chapter 7
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Hebrews we read a priesthood unchangeable verse 25 ever liveth and in chapter 7 verse 4 we'll notice it says now consider how great this man was unto whom even the patriarch
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Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils now to a few human beings has God applied the word great he applies it to Abraham in Genesis 12 to he applied it to David in 2nd
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Samuel chapter 7 verse 9 he applies it to the Shunammite woman he calls her a great woman in 2nd
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Kings 4 8 and then to John the Baptist in Luke 1 verse 15 now
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Melchizedek strange creature that we have before us but a human being we find that he is mentioned once in history
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Genesis 14 he's mentioned once in prophecy Psalm 110 verse 4 and then finally in the
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New Testament scripture in Hebrews his name appears eight times in chapters 5 through 7 8 being the number of new beginning in scripture it is
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God who says Melchizedek was greater than even Abraham it is God who declares that his son is a priest after the order of Melchizedek not after the
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Aaronic order or after Aaron which was the Israeli or the Israelite or the people of Israel's priestly order it is evident that royalty is connected with priesthood
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David made a sacrifice when they were at Moriah David was from the tribe of Judah he was not from the tribe of Levi he acted as a king priest in a king priest function thereafter the priest was subject to the
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Judaic royalty our Lord is a king priest but he is king first as what
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David but he did perform a priestly function so does the Lord Jesus now
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Abraham by giving a tenth of all all ties belong to the Lord we're told in scripture subjected himself and also
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Levi to the Melchizedek priesthood in verse 7 of chapter 7 Hebrews we read the less is blessed of the better Melchizedek is greater than Aaron as Melchizedek represented
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God Most High not God as Jehovah God Most High is God to all whereas God Jehovah was
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God only to the people of Israel in verse 8 we read that the Levites are dying men we read and hear men that die receiveth tithes they are dying men who pass away and are succeeded by others
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Melchizedek does not appear in scripture as one who dies in verses 12 through 14 we read for the priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also the law for he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe of which no man gave attendance at the altar for it is evident that our
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Lord sprang out of Judah of which tribe Moses but nothing concerning priesthood so we see that the priesthood being changed is withdrawn in verse 14 our
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Lord has sprung out of Judah of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood this indicates that the
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Aaronic order the order of Aaron giving way to the Melchizedek order Levi the tribe of Levi giving way to the tribe of Judah which was the royal tribe out of whom by divine selection and election our
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Lord Jesus Christ has sprung and verses 15 and 16 we read and it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life now after the power of an endless life the proper
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Greek word here rather than endless is actually indissoluble it is the Greek akitaluthos unable to be dissolved not subject to destruction in verse 17 we find for he testifies thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek we compare the
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Levitical priesthood the priesthood of Aaron's order there were many priests involved in the Levitical priesthood but our great high priest there is one after the order of Melchizedek the
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Levitical priest they were continually offering yearly offerings they had often repeated sacrifices day in and day out but Jesus Christ one sacrifice on the cross and he accomplished eternal redemption by that one sacrifice the human priest they sinned they had problems they fail their difficulties and finally death came but Christ was sinless perfected forever more those priests they were after the order of Aaron Christ is after the order of Melchizedek in verse 18 we will find for there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof those priests were under the
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Mosaic law Christ disannulling the law and bringing in grace by fulfilling the law those priests had no power in themselves the great high priest has all authority those priests had delegated authority
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Christ is authority himself those priests not the Kings the Christ was born a king those priests were not kings they were just priests but Christ was born
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King of righteousness and of peace the propitiation has been made so Christ then sat down our sins have been put away we are now to come to God because our sins are taken care of in Christ now in conclusion let's look at who this man
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Melchizedek was what he was and what he did first of all what he was first he was a man
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Hebrew 7 verse 4 he was not Shem as some people have contended for the record of Shem's beginning of days and end of life is given to us second
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Melchizedek is mentioned eight times in the book of Hebrews also in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 verse 4 superseding and preceding
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Aaron and all the Levitical economy his place is exceeding high thirdly he was in verse 1
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King of Salem priest of God most high we find in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 1 priest of God most high a dignity high above that of Abraham the patriarch fourthly his name means king of righteousness that we have a picture of Calvary his position and then also he was the king of Salem which means king of peace
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Melchizedek was King priest King before he was priest fifthly his father's name is not given his nor his mother's name though he had both a father and mother being a man sixthly the record is not that he was like the
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Son of God but that according to verse 3 he was made like unto the
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Son of Man that is in having no earthly origin given he was made like in his record in his the record we have of him like to the
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Son of God evidently as to the facts of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 1 through 3 of which the note the last he abideth a priest continually now verse 7 our seventhly excuse me without father without mother that is revealed to us without a genealogy revealed to us it is not revealed to us the expression simply means that his genealogy is just not given from verse 7 it is evident that he had genealogy for we read whose genealogy is not counted from them that is from the sons of Levi Jesus as Son of Man had a genealogy an official genealogy of the house of David in Matthew the first chapter and a maternal genealogy in Luke 3 but as the
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Son of God when you study the Gospel of John which he does picture John writes as him as divine deity and Son of God he has no genealogy eighthly having neither beginning of days nor end of life in verse 3 that is revealed to us no recorded time of birth death or age you find that in the
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Gospel of John Jesus Christ no recorded birth death or age because he's speaking of divinity deity
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I believe it is wrong to conclude that Melchizedek was never born nor that he has not died this is to misread
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Melchizedek as a type or a picture it is a descriptive clause as is without genealogy ninthly no kingly line named no successor not as with the kings of Israel and Judah who had successors he has a life with a recorded beginnings in each of the kings of Israel and Judah but Melchizedek no now what did he do first he blessed
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Abraham who had the promises verses 1 and 6 so is greater or better than Abraham secondly he blessed
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God Most High on the occasion of Abraham's triumph over the Kings verse 1 and his rescue of Lot thirdly he received tithes of Abraham unto whom
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Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the chief spoils in verse 4 thus by giving tithes