according to the order of Melchizedek
The following is not necessarily an alternative view (the title was just to get your attention) as much as it is a broader view of Melchizedek and his Priesthood. I apologize for the length, but I made it as concise as I could. This may not be new to anyone, but I dont really see it coming out in the recent threads on this topic. So, I thought I might as well put it out there for discussion. Enjoy.
First, some scriptures:
- Gen.14:18ff Notice that Melchizedek is both King and Priest. He is a Gentile priest of God Most High and he ministers to Gentiles as both Priest and King. He ministers in Salem (later Jerusalem).
- II Sam.6:10-19 Notice that David (who is not from the priestly line of Aaron) is in charge of the Ark of Yahweh. Notice in v11 that the Ark stayed in the house of Obed-Edom, the Gentile (Gittite = a Philistine from Gath). Notice in vv13-14,18 that David performs priestly acts while wearing priestly garments (ephod) and giving a priestly blessing. David does this in Jerusalem.
- II Sam.8:18 Notice that the sons of David (including Solomon) were Priests of some sort, though they were not Levitical Priests.
- I Kings 8:41ff Notice that when Solomon (the son of David) is presenting his dedication of the Temple, he expresses a concern for Gentiles (foreigners) to come to Yahweh because of the testimony of Israel.
- Ps.110:4 Notice that as David speaks about the new King (his son, Solomon), he reveals in v4 that Yahweh has also declared that Solomon is a Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
- Zech.4:11-14; 6:13-15 Notice in 4:14 that there are two messiahs (anointed ones): Joshua the anointed Priest, and Zerubbabel the anointed Prince (King). Zerubbabel is to take the throne as a descendant of David and Solomon. Notice also in 6:13 that Zerubbabel is to rebuild the Temple, rule on the throne as King, and be a Priest. So, it is shown that there are two Priestly officesJoshua (the Aaronic Priesthood), and Zerubbabel (a different Priesthood)and there is to be peace between the two offices (Priesthoods). Notice further in v15 that there is an emphasis on Gentiles once again who are to come and help rebuild the Temple. All of these things mentioned above are conditional, however, depending upon the obedience of Israel and their leaders.
- Acts 2:36 Notice that Peter concludes (after extensive quoting of the OT, including Ps.110) that Jesus is the Ultimate Lord (Sovereign King) and the Ultimate Messiah (Anointed one).
- Heb.5:5-10 Building on Acts 2, the Hebrew writer declares in v5 that Jesus was a Gods SON (descendant of David who has taken the throne as King), as well as a High Priest (v5). But Jesus was not an Aaronic Priest; he was the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
- Heb.7 (and the following chapters) The Hebrew writer expands on this in ch.7. The first ten verses demonstrate the superiority of the Melchizedek Priesthood to the Levitical (Aaronic) Priesthood. Vv11-13 clearly point out that there were in fact two distinct priesthoodsAaron and Melchizedek. Vv14ff discuss this Priesthood from Judah which Moses did not address, yet it was there. As we read through the next chapters, we see that this Priesthoodof which Jesus is High Priestwas historically pointing (aiming) toward a new covenant with a new Israel (the spiritual Israel, including the Gentiles who are grafted in). [I dont have the time to make this point in detail, but a thorough study of Romans and Hebrews would be of help here].
- I Pet.2:9; Rev.20:4; Eph.2:6 This one might be a stretch, so dont include this in the argument if it doesnt hold true, but there is an element in scripture (these are a few examples) where Christians also are given thrones (Kingship) and a Priesthood.
It is my observation (though it did not originate with me) that the Order of Melchizedek was intended to be a Priestly ministry to the Gentiles in order for all peoplesnot just the Jewsto live under Gods reign, in His Kingdom. It began with Melchizedek (or before?), and was entrusted to the line of David. When you study the life of David, we see that he was not only a Priest and King, but he was dedicated to Gentile ministry. He defeated his Gentile enemies, then embraced them and won them over to Yahweh. Many of his Mighty Men were Gentiles, and they confessed the name of Yahweh. Even in Gen.49, we see a reference to the obedience of the Gentiles coming about through the descendants of Judahdefeating them, then embracing them so as to bring them to Yahweh in submission and obedience.
This Gentile ministry was then given to Solomon when he became king, with the intention that the line of David would continue this Priesthood to the Gentiles. But Solomon, as we know, turned from God and worshipped other gods. It is at this point that there seems to be a silencing of the Priesthood, in light of the general wickedness of the Davidic kings. But, as the Prophets demonstrate, Gods heart was still for the Gentiles. After exile, God intended to reinstitute the Melchizedek Priesthood in Zerubbabel, but this was conditioned upon obedience of the people. Once again, Israel failed by turning inward; the Gentiles were cast out, rather than invited in. Zerubbabel never became the King/Priest that God desired for him to be. And so we have silence again until the time of Jesus.
All of this is reversed by Jesus. He fulfilled the Priesthood of Melchizedek by bringing all Gentiles into the house of God. He is thus the High Priest in this way. This does not discount any other tradition interpretations of Hebrews, etc if anything, it only adds to the depth of who Jesus was and what God did through him on the cross. It is my belief that the whole of scripture speaks to a dual-priesthood: an Aaronic (Levi) Priesthood to the Jews and a Kingly (Judah) Priesthood to the Gentiles.
Finally, all Chirstians are now a part of this Priesthood, this Ministry to the Gentiles, as God has entrusted his church with the ministry. I won't take the time to expand on this.
This short trip through scripture is by no means exhaustive. It would take days to write a post which would fully justify this theme in scripture, but I hope I have given enough to at least introduce the possibility of something deeper in our discussion of Melchizedek and his Priesthood. Please feel free to expand on this, as well as to disagree completely.