The Order Of Melchizedek

Hebrews 6:19-20 - 7:1-21

The inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a High Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek.

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything (Genesis 14:18-20). First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of Peace." Without father or mother (recorded anywhere), without genealogy (recorded anywhere), without beginning of days or end of life (recorded anywhere), like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the Law was given to the people), why was there still need for another Priest to come--One in the Order of Melchizedek, not in the Order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the Law. He of Whom these things are said [Jesus] belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord [physically] descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 

And what we have said is even more clear if another Priest like Melchizedek appears, One Who has become a Priest not on the basis of a regulation as to His ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is said:

"You are a Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4).

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the Law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

So Jesus is our High Priest, not from the Old Testament Law, but in a completely different way. This man Melchizedek was the king of Salem (Jerusalem), and he was also priest of the Most High God. There is nowhere recorded anything else about this man, no birth or death records, no parental or genealogical records at all. So he is presented as having an eternal throne and priesthood, as no one is ever recorded anywhere who succeeded him in either of these offices.

That is why Jesus is said to be our Priest in the Order of Melchizedek, having no successor, but holding the offices of Priest and King forever.

The Levitical priesthood had to be handed over from father to son, every generation, so it was weak in that the sacrifices had to all be made over and over again, nothing was ever final.

But as Jesus has entered "beyond the veil" in the Heavenly Temple on our behalf with His own Blood as the Sacrifice, He is our High Priest, the only one ever permitted in the Holiest of Holies, and only once each year. Jesus only needed to enter once for all, for all people and for all time. This is how He saves us "completely" or "forever," because He will live forever to make intercession for us (v. 25). 

Whenever I do something wrong, Satan confronts God and says, "She deserves to die!" Then Jesus steps up, and says, "Yes, she does. I took her death and paid her debt in full." And God says,"Yes, the debt is paid, she's free."

So the Old Covenant has become obsolete, because the New Covenant has taken its place. The Law is no longer on tablets or parchments, it is written in our hearts, as we understand the principle of Love that the Law was based on. When we love God, and we love our neighbor, then we will not transgress any of the laws that had been laid down before, and we will go further into putting God absolutely First, and will harbor no ill will toward our fellow man to even think any thoughts against them. 

We will not only not commit adultery, but we will insure that our thoughts are pure. We will not only not commit murder, but we will permit no thoughts of competition with or envy of our neighbor. We will not only not covet what belongs to another, but will be glad that they can have such fine things. And so for all the laws. We won't steal or slander, we won't argue and fight, we won't even think any destructive thought against anyone else, but only want the best for each of all of us, no matter what it costs us. This is Love, and this is the Law of Love that God has written on our hearts. This is the New Covenant.

Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament sacrifices with His Sacrifice as the Lamb of God, and He has also fulfilled all the letter of all the other laws in that system. So He has not destroyed them, but fulfilled them, as He said in Matthew 5:17.

Even so, come Lord Jesus!