By JOHN O’BRIEN

Melchizedek is presented in the Epistle to the Hebrews as a brilliant picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. The many facets of this vague Old Testament character add to the perfect illustration of his typology. The author builds his picture on the basis of his apparently eternal state; his lack of parentage or lineage; no recorded descent and his own personal name and the residence of his office. There remains a strong argument as to whether God sovereignly intended for Melchizedek to foreshadow the coming Messiah or not, but the Biblical record stands: Melchizedek is a clear and beautiful picture of our Lord, Saviour and High Priest Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek is said to be without father, without mother, so what is true of Melchizedek typically only because of silence in the Biblical record is in itself true of Christ. Melchizedek is without parents only in that they are unknown in not being mentioned. It was very important in the estimation of the Jews that the line of their priesthood should be carefully kept (Num. 18); that their genealogies should be accurately marked and preserved (Matt. 1); and that their descent from Aaron should be easily and clearly proven (Ezra 7:1-6). But with Melchizedek, there was no record made of the name either of his father, his mother, or any of his succeeding generations. He stood alone, and likewise the Messiah was to be a priest according to this order (Psa. 110:4) - where there was no line of priests or succession. This stands in striking contrast to that priesthood of the Old Testament, which due to it’s carnal nature was rippled with the impending death of each residing priest and all those who followed him (Heb. 7:23). Clearly the priesthood established by Melchizedek in which Christ rules must be better because it was neither sourced from within the old Levitical system nor in bondage to it’s deficient legacy (Heb. 7:21, 24). Lastly, his being without father or without mother tell us that he did not come to the throne because he had a claim on it through descent; he owed it to appointment (ISBE): what a picture of our Lord whom God the Father appointed Him as our great High Priest and His King to rule in the Millennial Kingdom.

Melchizedek is without descent in that his genealogy has not been preserved. Genealogy was essential to a priest, for under the Levitical system one could not serve if he could not prove his pedigree (Ezra 2:62; Neh. 7:64). Melchizedek had no papers. So, his genealogy not being recorded, while that of every other priest mentioned was so carefully traced and preserved, furnished another striking similarity of type. In this respect, both he and the Son of man stand alone. He was not in a line of priests; he was preceded by no one (where the ancestor is necessarily greater) in the priestly office nor was he followed by any (where there is need of replacement). The Messiah also stands alone in these same aspects. His name does not appear in the line of priests (He is from Judah); and as a priest he has no descendants, and henceforth no followers. He has a lonely conspicuity like that of Melchizedek; a standing unlike that of any other priest. This is from the oath of God in that His office would abide forever (Heb. 7:21).

Further, he is without beginning and ending. This is simply due to the Old Testament never mentioning his birth and death. Melchizedek is not a Theophany but only a type because the author explicitly states his point when he declares that Melchizedek is ‘made like’, or resembles in like fashion, the Son of God. God Himself made the same connection in Psa. 110:4, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." It is asserted from the text that the duration of the priesthood is in view, not his physical existence. There being no record of the death of Melchizedek, it can be assumed that he is still alive (7:8): and is therefore still a high priest, and thus a fitting type of the eternity of being of the Messiah as the High Priest. Melchizedek is also said to ‘remain a priest continually’, or uninterruptedly (Walvoord), in the sense that he belonged to an order in which there was no end to the priesthood of those engaged in it.

Melchizedek was both a priest and a king because he ruled as a Patriarch. In Genesis 14 Abraham rendered tribute to the priest Melchizedek when he paid tithes to him. Then he received a blessing from him. So also will Abraham’s seed (Israel) likewise render due tribute to the King of kings and subsequently be blessed by Him. Because Melchizedek combined in himself the offices of priest and king, he furnishes a beautiful illustration of the offices sustained by the Redeemer, and was in this respect, (perhaps the only one whose history is recorded in the Old Testament), who could furnish such an illustration. As a priest, he first blessed: Abraham on God’s part; next, he blessed God on Abraham’s part: a reciprocal blessing (J-F-B). This was not a mere wish, but an authoritative intercession as a priest. It is on a similar basis in which we as believers can rest in assurance because we too have such an High Priest who continually makes intercession on our behalf.

Melchizedek’s name means ‘king of righteousness’. This name was likely given on account of some quality or characteristic of him, or by his eminent integrity. So also the Lord Jesus Christ (Y’Shua HaMaschiach), whose name divulges His ministry and position: Saviour & Anointed One. The order in which the names are given is also significant in that righteousness must come before peace (Isa. 32:17). Melchizedek was a king of Salem, where the Hebrew word means peace. So the name of the place over which he ruled expressed so strikingly the nature of the kingdom over which the Messiah will be placed. "In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion." He truly is the King of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace.

The unchangeable priesthood of Melchizedek is the finishing type of Christ. He was a priest of the Most High God. No lineage to follow; meaning that there is no one who qualifies to replace the Eternal High Priest. There also was no account of any descendants in his office, and there was no account of the commencement or close of his office as a priest. Therefore the position of Melchizedek is just like Christ’s: unchangeable.

In conclusion, Melchizedek’s name, the place where he reigned, his solitariness, his lone conspicuity in all the past, his dignity, and perhaps the air of mystery thrown over him in the brief history in Genesis, furnishes a beautiful and striking illustration of the solitary grandeur, and the inapproachable eminence of the priesthood of the Son of God. It is fitting that the Lord Jesus Christ should resemble this Melchisedek in these points for these are the points in which He differed from the Levitical priesthood. It is also interesting to note that Melchizedek offered both bread and wine as a method of communion with Abraham, and likewise Christ has offered His Bread and His Wine to make communion with the believer. This may hold the greatest picture: as Melchizedek offered bread and wine, (which are memorials of sacrifice), the Lord’s supper clearly looks to the death and resurrection of Christ and is a perpetual memorial for His Church.