Mel who?

In Hebrews Chapters 5, 6 and especially 7 the book refers to Christ as a High Priest of the order of Melchezidek. Just who is Melchezidek? Well, the Bible itself doesn't offer a lot of help.....or does it? Melchezidek is refered to briefly in the Bible, seemingly only in passing. While we will get into this a lot more as part of our study of Chapter 7, the following article on the Jewish traditions of Melchezidek are instructive:

Melchizedek in Jewish Tradition


The author of Hebrews uses the figure of Melchizedek to clarify the nature of the priesthood of Christ. Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness” (Heb 7:2), appears briefly in Genesis as the king of Salem (Gen. 14:18-20). Despite being mentioned only in Genesis and one psalm (Ps. 110:4), the mystery of Melchizedek’s figure inspired much interpretive activity in Jerusalem during the second temple period.

Such intrigue was not lost on serious interpreters of the Old Testament in antiquity. Melchizedek emerges as the central figure in a fragmentary document found at Qumran. This document, entitled “11QMelchizedek”, consists largely of interpretive comments on Old Testament passages, and presents Melchizedek as an important figure in God’s judgment upon the earth in the end times.

Another fragmentary text, called “Melchizedek,” was Nag Hammadi in Egypt. It seemingly contains much older traditions from a group of Jews who found the origins of their theology in the person of Seth, the son of Adam born after Cain killed Abel (Gen. 4:25). In this tradition Melchizedek,”priest of God Most High,” receives special revelations concerning Jesus from heavenly messengers. In a second group of revelations Melchizedek himself becomes Jesus, and is both crucified and raised as savior! Such ideas make Jesus the new appearance of Melchizedek.

The author of Hebrews reads the Melchizedek tradition in a restrained manner compared to the speculations current at that time. Ultimately, he is not so much interested in Melchizedek, as in Christ who was the High Priest “according to the order Melchizedek” (Heb. 5:8-10). Christ’s heavenly priesthood surpasses an earthly priesthood of the king of Salem (Heb. 7:15-17)