The Order of Melchizedek

 

The Order of Melchizedek


All of the male descendants of Levi were by birth dedicated to the priesthood, but Aaron was the initial High Priest in the priestly order of Levi. Only the high priests were permitted into the Holy of Holies. The priests offered animal sacrifices for the expiation of the sins of the nation.

In the Book of Hebrews, Paul points out that Jesus also played a priestly role, but not like that of the Levites. He devotes the end of chapter 6, and the entire 7th chapter to convincing his readers that Jesus was a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

First, Paul references Gen. 14:18. “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.' “

Then, Paul references Psalm 110:4. “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' “

Then Paul devotes the entire 7th chapter to comparing the Order of Melchizedek with the Order of Levi. One example is Heb. 7:23.24: “Now there have been many of those priests (Levites), since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Are there others, in addition to Jesus and Melchizedek, in this order? Smith's Bible Dictionary, suggests that Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak, may have been one: “The two prophecies concerning him in Zechariah 3:1 ... and Zech. 6:9-15 point him out as an eminent type of Christ”.

Finally, how do we apply these biblical examples to ourselves, and specifically to our function as servant to God and man? We can learn from Paul's words at the end of Heb. Ch. 6: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The curtain is the barrier that separates our two worlds: the world of our body and the world of the true spiritual being that our Father created. Whenever we can think of ourselves as that spiritual being, and leave all thoughts of this world behind, then we can fulfill the role of a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, and intercede for our brothers.

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