Melchizedek in the Bible

Meaning: king of justice

Exact Match

[Now] we have many things to say about Melchizedek, but because of your slowness to grasp things, they are hard to explain.

Verse ConceptsScripture, UnderstandingDullnessRefusing To HearBeing Without UnderstandingHard TasksWorking Hard And Not Being Lazyconnectedness

For certainly enough time has elapsed so that [by now] you ought to be teachers, [but instead] you are in need of having someone teach you again the basic principles of God's message. You have become people who need "milk" and not "solid food." [Note: The fundamental truths of Christianity are here figuratively spoken of as "milk," while the more advanced teaching, such as Christ's priesthood being like Melchizedek's, is called "solid food"].

Verse ConceptsNeedElementsChildishnessSpiritual VitalityTeachersTeachingSpiritual ImmaturityTeaching In The ChurchBeginning To TeachStaying Strong And Not Giving UpEating MeatMaturity

Abraham measured out one tenth of everything he had [taken in battle] and gave it to Melchizedek. (Now "Melchizedek" means, first of all, "King of Righteousness," and then [since he was] King of Salem, it also means "King of Peace").

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Characteristics OfInterpreting LanguageChrist Our RighteousnessTithing For PeopleMen Of PeaceTithes And Offering

with no father or mother, and no record of ancestry: having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made a type of the Son of God--this man Melchizedek remains a priest for ever.

Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfGenealogiesBeginningPreexistence Of ChristBeginning And EndChrist Like Peoplemomsa new beginningMothers And SonsDeath Of A MotherEnd Of Dayspriests

Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the Patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils.

Verse ConceptsAbraham, Characteristics OfPatriarchsGreat Individuals

But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.

Verse ConceptsGod's Promise To AbrahamTithing For PeoplePeople Who Blessed Others

Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually].

Verse ConceptsHow Death Is InevitableChrist's LifeTithing For PeopleTithes And OfferingWitnessing

Thematic Bible







(6:19) where Jesus has blazed the way for us and became a High Priest with the rank of Melchizedek.

as also in another passage He says: "You are a priest forever, belonging to the rank of Melchizedek."

since He had received from God the title of a High Priest with the rank of Melchizedek.

For this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was coming back from the defeat of the kings, and put his blessing on him, to whom Abraham contributed a tenth of all his spoils, who first of all, in accordance with the meaning of his name, is king of righteousness, and then king of Salem, which means king of peace; with no father, no mother, no ancestry; no beginning to his days, no end to his life, but, like the Son of God, as priest continues on and on with no successor. read more.
Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils. And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham. But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God. Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior. In the one case, mortal men collect the tenth, in the other, one who, as the witness states, lives on. And I might almost say, Levi too, who now collects the tenth, through Abraham paid the tenth, for he was a vital part of his forefather though yet unborn, when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron? For when a change in the priesthood takes place, a change in its law necessarily takes place. For He of whom this is said became a member of a different tribe no member of which ever officiated at the altar. For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests. And it is still more overwhelmingly clear, since a different priest in the likeness of Melchizedek is appointed, who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end. For the Scripture bears witness: "You are a priest forever, with the rank of Melchizedek." Indeed, the rescinding of a previous regulation takes place, because it was weak and ineffective -- for the law had never made anything perfect -- and so a better hope is brought to us, through which we have approach to God. And by so much as He was not appointed without God's taking an oath -- for the Levitical priests were appointed without His taking an oath, but He with His oath, when He said to Him: "The Lord took oath and will not change, You are a priest forever" --





(6:19) where Jesus has blazed the way for us and became a High Priest with the rank of Melchizedek.


as also in another passage He says: "You are a priest forever, belonging to the rank of Melchizedek."

For this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was coming back from the defeat of the kings, and put his blessing on him, to whom Abraham contributed a tenth of all his spoils, who first of all, in accordance with the meaning of his name, is king of righteousness, and then king of Salem, which means king of peace; with no father, no mother, no ancestry; no beginning to his days, no end to his life, but, like the Son of God, as priest continues on and on with no successor. read more.
Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils. And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham. But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God. Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior. In the one case, mortal men collect the tenth, in the other, one who, as the witness states, lives on. And I might almost say, Levi too, who now collects the tenth, through Abraham paid the tenth, for he was a vital part of his forefather though yet unborn, when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron? For when a change in the priesthood takes place, a change in its law necessarily takes place. For He of whom this is said became a member of a different tribe no member of which ever officiated at the altar. For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests. And it is still more overwhelmingly clear, since a different priest in the likeness of Melchizedek is appointed, who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end. For the Scripture bears witness: "You are a priest forever, with the rank of Melchizedek." Indeed, the rescinding of a previous regulation takes place, because it was weak and ineffective -- for the law had never made anything perfect -- and so a better hope is brought to us, through which we have approach to God. And by so much as He was not appointed without God's taking an oath -- for the Levitical priests were appointed without His taking an oath, but He with His oath, when He said to Him: "The Lord took oath and will not change, You are a priest forever" --

since He had received from God the title of a High Priest with the rank of Melchizedek. I have much to say to you about Him, but it is difficult to make it clear to you, since you have become so dull in your spiritual senses.




For this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was coming back from the defeat of the kings, and put his blessing on him, to whom Abraham contributed a tenth of all his spoils, who first of all, in accordance with the meaning of his name, is king of righteousness, and then king of Salem, which means king of peace; with no father, no mother, no ancestry; no beginning to his days, no end to his life, but, like the Son of God, as priest continues on and on with no successor. read more.
Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils. And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham. But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God. Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior. In the one case, mortal men collect the tenth, in the other, one who, as the witness states, lives on. And I might almost say, Levi too, who now collects the tenth, through Abraham paid the tenth, for he was a vital part of his forefather though yet unborn, when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron? For when a change in the priesthood takes place, a change in its law necessarily takes place. For He of whom this is said became a member of a different tribe no member of which ever officiated at the altar. For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests. And it is still more overwhelmingly clear, since a different priest in the likeness of Melchizedek is appointed, who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end. For the Scripture bears witness: "You are a priest forever, with the rank of Melchizedek."



For this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was coming back from the defeat of the kings, and put his blessing on him, to whom Abraham contributed a tenth of all his spoils, who first of all, in accordance with the meaning of his name, is king of righteousness, and then king of Salem, which means king of peace; with no father, no mother, no ancestry; no beginning to his days, no end to his life, but, like the Son of God, as priest continues on and on with no successor. read more.
Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils. And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham. But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God. Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior. In the one case, mortal men collect the tenth, in the other, one who, as the witness states, lives on. And I might almost say, Levi too, who now collects the tenth, through Abraham paid the tenth, for he was a vital part of his forefather though yet unborn, when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron? For when a change in the priesthood takes place, a change in its law necessarily takes place. For He of whom this is said became a member of a different tribe no member of which ever officiated at the altar. For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests. And it is still more overwhelmingly clear, since a different priest in the likeness of Melchizedek is appointed, who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end. For the Scripture bears witness: "You are a priest forever, with the rank of Melchizedek."


References

Hastings

Easton

American

Fausets

Smith

Watsons