Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:1 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, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "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, remains a priest continually. (NKJV)
The early church claimed that the Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews. Clement of Alexandria claimed that Luke translated the book into Greek.
Luke was Paul’s amanuensis in Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11) and is believed to be his amanuensis for this writing. This letter is believed to be Paul’s last, written late A.D. 67-early A.D. 68.
The book of Hebrews has two main subjects: the superiority of Christ; and exhortations to obedient living. It is also interspersed with five warnings to the Hebrew Christians.
In previous commentaries I wrote of the superiority of Christ to the prophets, the angels, Moses and Joshua. The section 4:14-7:28 concerns the superiority of Christ to the priesthood.
Paul detoured from this subject to issue a warning in the section 5:11-6:20. With this passage he returns to the subject of the superiority of Christ to the priesthood from where he left off in 5:10.
In this passage, Paul introduces the great high priest Melchizedek. Paul begins this passage by writing “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem” (v. 1a).
Scripture tells us that Salem was the place where God lived in the tabernacle. “In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion” (Ps. 76:1-2). Salem is another name for Jerusalem.
The tabernacle, or tent, was where the Ark of the Covenant resided just prior to the temple being built. The Ark of the Covenant was the abode of God.
Paul continues with “who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings” (v. 1b). In Genesis 14:17 we saw that Melchizedek met Abraham in the Valley of Shaveh upon Abraham’s return from defeating foreign kings.
Paul continues by writing “and blessed him” (v. 1c). In his return, Melchizedek brought Abraham bread and wine and blessed him (Gen. 14:18-19).
Next, Paul writes “to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all” (v. 2a). Melchizedek also received tithes from Abraham (Gen.14:20). In giving the tithe Abraham recognized him as a representative of God.
Paul continues with “first being translated ‘king of righteousness’ "(v. 2b). The name Melchizedek, translated, means “king of righteousness”.
Paul completes this verse with “and then also king of Salem, meaning ‘king of peace’ "(v. 2c). The word “salem” means “peace”. So far, all of these kingly attributes also apply to Jesus Christ.
Next, Paul writes “without father, without mother, without genealogy” (v. 3a). Because his father and mother were unknown, Melchizedek has no “genealogy”.
Paul continues with “or having neither beginning of days nor end of life” (v. 3b). Also, because his mother and father are unknown, there is no record of his birth or death.
Paul continues by writing “but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” (v. 3c). So, Melchizedek was made a priest forever, like Jesus.
Melchizedek was only mentioned two places in the Bible prior to being mentioned here, in the book of Hebrews. In addition to Genesis 14, He was also mentioned in Psalm 110:4.
There, David proclaimed that the Lord was “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” So, Melchizedek and Jesus were alike. They both were appointed high priest forever.
Melchizedek also had the kingly attributes of Christ, mentioned previously. In these ways he could have been the pre-incarnate Christ.
Many Christians believe this. However, Melchizedek was identified as “the priest of the most high God” (Gen. 14:18), not God, Himself, as was Jesus. Also, the Bible refers to the birth of Jesus as His first coming, not His second.
So, if Melchizedek is not the pre-incarnate Christ, who is this Melchizedek? The blessing given by Melchizedek to Abraham (Ge. 14:19-20) is similar to the blessing that Noah gave to Shem (Ge. 9:26).
For this reason, Jewish tradition claimed that Melchizedek was Shem, passing on the blessing he had received from his father, Noah. However, we know the father, mother, and genealogy of Shem.
The third claim to the identity of Melchizedek was that he was a Canaanite priest-king. This would make sense in that the priest-king met and blessed Abraham after his triumph of foreign kings. However, due to the degrading nature of Canaanite religious practices it would not be likely that a Canaanite priest-king would worship the God of the Bible. So, the mystery remains.
It would seem that Melchizedek was just that, Melchizedek. He was a great man of God, chosen by God, prior to the existence of the Levitical priesthood, to be a high priest forever.
Since he was a man of God he will reside with God in Heaven forever. This is not a very glamorous conclusion, but it seems to be the correct one.
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