JESUS Christ’s High Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7:1-10, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN Aaron’S PRIESTHOOD, 11-28.
“In Heb. 2:17, The Lord Jesus is “a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God”, while in Heb 3:1 he calls on those who are partakers of the heavenly calling to “Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession”. Heb. chap. 3 and 4 shows the superiority of Christianity’s Apostle over Judaism’s, viz. Moses, whose work was completed by Joshua, Paul then declared that “We have a great High Priest, that is passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God”, an High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, seeing that He also was tempted in all points like us (in His spirit, His soul, and His body), sin excepted; for which reason we are bidden to “Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:14–16). Heb. 5 we are shown how Christ fulfilled the Aaronic type, and how that He possessed every necessary perfection to qualify Him for filling the sacerdotal office. Christ provided the substance of what was foreshadowed by the Levitical priests and excelled them at every point. The Lord Jesus was, “Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek” (v. 10). Heb. 5:11 “Of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing”. To say that Christ was a High Priest “after the order of Melchizedek” was tantamount to affirming that the Aaronic order was Divinely set aside, and with it, all the ordinances and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. At the close of chapter 6 the Holy Spirit directs our gaze into the Holiest, whither for us the Forerunner hath entered, even Jesus our great High Priest.” Pink Arthur W. Who was this Melchisedec? All the account is in Gen. 14:18, etc., and in Ps. 110:4. The scripture only leave us with what is here said of him by the apostle, and how Christ is represented thereby, v. 1–3. Melchisedec was a “king of Salem”: in the light of Psalm 76:2 there can be no doubt but what this was the earlier or original name for Jerusalem: “In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling-place in Zion”. Further, Melchizedek was “priest of the most high God”, and this in the days of Abraham! “Thus, Jerusalem had a king many centuries before David, and God had a priest which He owned long ere Aaron was called. Now in Gal. 4:26, we are told that, “Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all”. Melchizedek was connected with Jerusalem before the Law was first given, and it was a type of Heaven: Hebrews 11:10, Who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him” (v. 1). Gen. 14:18, 19. The “blessing” Abraham received, “Blessed be Abraham of the most high God, Possessor of heaven and earth”. Absolutely, only God can either bless or curse, He is sovereign. Gen. 12:3. God also allows men to invoke blessings on others. Parents blessing their children (Gen. 9:26, 27:27, 48:20. etc.), and the priests blessing the people Num. 6:24–26. Christ was typically in view in all.” Pink Arthur W. “In the blessing of Abraham by Melchizedek, all believers are virtually blessed by Jesus Christ. A blessing is in it conveyed unto all believers in the way of an ordinance forever” (John Owen). It deserves to be noticed that the final act of Christ ere leaving this earth was that “He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them” (Luke 24:50).
