Who Is This Melchisedec?

For this Melchisedec, 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 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; without father, without

mother, without descent, having

neither beginning of days, nor end

of life, but made like unto the Son

of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:1-3 

      Over the years there has been many different interpretation as to who Melchisedec was and some even went so far as to establish that all Christians were to give at least a 10th, a tithe to the Church. Some have speculated that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ, a theophany, or Christophany and several doctrines were developed by those speculations and interpretations. So then, we must take time to ferret out the truth according to Scripture and not mere speculations, or presuppositions. 

     In Hebrews chapter five the nature of the priesthood of Jesus Christ was treated of and in this chapter (7) it is treated in a larger manner. For the Hebrews genealogy was most important and kept for all to read and see, to handle disputes over land, etc...., and the Hebrew writer writes of the genealogy of Melchisedec, for him to be without genealogy. Why? The name of Melchisedec was not to be found in the public genealogical records, his father and mother were unknown. There is no record of his birth or death, it is as if he had always been and will always be, no record exists. Also, Abraham gave to Melchisedec a tenth, a tithe to Melchisedec so we must then examine this action. In the world from those heathen writers they tell of the customary giving of a tenth of spoils to religious leaders, therefore it was not uncommon for this to be done and Abraham followed this custom. Remember, Abraham came from the area around Babylon, a people that did not believe in Jehovah, and they gave tithes from victors to religious leaders. It was part of their worship. There were followers of Jehovah in the land of the Babylonians and Abraham was one of those followers but he also was influenced by the customs of the land. Therefore it is a bit of a stretch to use this tithing of Abraham as a rule for Christians who are under a New Covenant. This rule of giving of a tithe became a requirement under the Old Covenant of the Hebrews. Yes, we are required as Christian to give money, time, and support as God places this upon the heart, but not to give before covering all bills for to not do so is to demonstrate a poor witness. 

     As I wrote there are and have been many opinions about Melchisedec, some that he was an angel, some state that he was an emanation of God, or actually the Son of God, but all these opinions cannot stand the test for what we know from Scripture is that Melchisedec was a righteous and peaceful king, a worshiper and priest of the Most High God, living in the land of Canaan, a friend of Abraham and had a rank above Abraham. If we hold to the opinion that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ, then we would be forced to adopt the interpretation, that Christ is like unto Himself. Was not that which the writer of Hebrews wrote? Yes! Melchisedec was "made like," and to be made like is not to make him to be anything else, a representation, and that representation was of Jesus Christ.  

     For Abraham to be deemed, by his posterity, to be the patriarch and head of all of his descendants, to hold pre-eminence in rank, then by his action towards Melchisedec by paying him dues acknowledges his inferiority to Melchisedec, therefore the descendants of Abraham are also inferior to Melchisedec. Let us look at that statement: it is built upon the oriental method to estimate descent and rank, and would follow as seen in the Jewish manner of reasoning, that the priesthood of Melchisedec was a rank higher or superior than that of Levi. Many of the things needed by the Jewish people due to their condition and times, urged upon them, are less applicable to us, merely because our circumstances differ so much from them. 

     This Hebrew writer is giving to us the excellency of Jesus Christ and does so by comparison with Melchisedec and later we will find that this true also of the Levites. This writer is proving upon principles received by themselves, the faith, and principles of the ancient people of Israel.      

     I will after Thanksgiving, as I will take that day off, to give more information that is to be found in Scripture and show the intent and revelation why this writer was inspired to write what he wrote and make application to our time. 

Have a great thanksgiving, eat much, sleep much, and do not forget to give thanks for our freedoms, for our nation, and most of all: the greatest blessing to us from God: Jesus Christ!

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:

     be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice

    with trembling.

                  Psalm 1:10-11

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Richard L. Crumb