Who was Melchizedek?

Melchizedek is not so much a name as it is a title or designation of honor. It is a position or office that has to be filled by a worthy candidate. The term is a transliteration of two Hebrew words, melek and tsedeq. The Hebrew melek means king and tsedeq means righteousness. The entire term therefore means literally, "king of righteousness." Because a king is always preeminent in his jurisdiction, whoever he was, he had to be preeminent in righteousness. He had to be the "king" of righteousness.

Old Testament References

In the New King James Version Bible there are two direct references to Melchizedek. The first reference occurs after Abraham went to war against a confederation of kings who had taken his nephew Lot as prisoner:

"And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar. . .

"Then they (Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him) took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. THEY ALSO TOOK LOT, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

"Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan . . . So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

"And the king of Sodom went out to meet him (Abraham) at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

"Then MELCHIZEDEK king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And he (Abraham) gave him a tithe of all. " (Genesis 14:8, 11-12, 14, 16-19, NKJV throughout)

"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'

"The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, you have the dew of Your youth.

"The Lord has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of MELCHIZEDEK.' " (Psalm 110:1-4)

What is Righteousness?

In Psalm 119:172, David equates the keeping of God's commandments with righteousness. On the other hand, the apostle John relates unrighteousness to sin (1John 5:17). Therefore, since sin and righteousness are opposites, complying with God's commandments defines righteousness and violating His commandments defines sin.

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." (1John 3:4)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1John 1:9-10)

Paul said that it is not possible for the carnal [the natural] mind to be subject to God's law (Romans 8:7). Because the law cannot produce righteousness in us, in that it is weak through the flesh, God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, to condemn sin in the flesh so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4).

Did Jesus say He was NOT inherently GOOD?

Jesus said no one, including Himself, is inherently good [righteous]:

"Now behold, one came and said to Him (Jesus), 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?' So He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? NO ONE IS GOOD BUT ONE, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.'" (Matthew 19:16-17, See also Luke 18:19)

Paul explained that it was only through the power of the indwelling presence of God's Spirit that Jesus was able to offer Himself to God without spot (Hebrews 9:14). In other words, God's Spirit was the source of Jesus' righteousness.

Since "Melchizedek" was the epitome of righteousness, and no human including Noah, Daniel, and Job is inherently righteous, it is evident that the King of Righteousness could not have been human. Had He been human, Melchizedek would have been the same as Aaron or anyone else, i.e. a sinner. As the King of Righteousness, he was the image of God's Spirit (see Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3).

How could someone be WITHOUT Father or Mother?

Malachi said that the Sun of Righteousness would arise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). Malachi was precluded from using the word "son" because that would have implied that the One who became Jesus was someone other than Melchizedek. The term "Son" would have suggested that Jesus was in some way a son or a descendant of this priest of God. Actually, the prophetic Sun of Righteousness and the King of Righteousness is the same person, Jesus Christ. Malachi said the Sun of Righteous would arise, and he meant that in a literal sense. Christ will descend from the sky, but before He descends, He will have to ascend (see Psalm 82:8).

In Hebrews 7:3, Paul says that Melchizedec was without father or mother (He had no parents):

"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated 'king of righteousness,' and then also king of Salem, meaning 'king of peace,' WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER, WITHOUT GENEALOGY, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:1-3)

Paul's statement should be taken literally because he was, in fact, emphasizing the deity of Melchizedek.

Every human, including Adam, has had a father (Luke 3:38). All the angels have the same father as Adam, and they are referred to many times in Scripture as sons of God. The One who became Jesus Christ is the father of all life except for one human life, His own. The Most High God is the Father of Jesus (Luke 1:32). But, God WAS NOT the father of Melchizedek. Paul is clearly saying that he, like the Most High God, was without parents. Neither of them had beginning of days nor end of life. The two of them had always lived and there had never been a time that each of them had not lived. Melchizedek had always possessed life inherent. Life was not given to Him, He was not anyone's son.

Micah said,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2, NKJV).

However, he was willing to relinquish His immortality (John 10:18) so that He could become not only the King of Righteousness, but also the Lamb of God. Jesus succinctly put it this way,

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.' ” (John 8:58).

How was Jesus begotten?

Gabriel appeared to Mary in the sixth month of the Hebrew year to inform her that she had been chosen by God to bear a son. She was told that she should name her son, Jesus (Luke 1:26-31). Mary consented (Luke 1:38). Jesus was conceived on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri 1. This date corresponds to late September of our calendar.

Jesus' human conception was the fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 2:7, Hebrews 1:5). Because the Son promoted God's righteousness and hated iniquity, God said to Him,

"'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter (symbol) of Your kingdom.' " (Hebrews 1:8-9).

Melchizedek, who had been the King of Righteousness, became the Son of God and the fulfillment of the scepter promise of Genesis 49:10.

Was he Anointed?

Every priest taken from among men is ordained to serve on behalf of men in things pertaining to God so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. No one takes this honor to himself, he must be called of God, as Aaron was (Hebrews 5:1, 4). So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to be made a high priest, but He who said to Him,

“'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.' As He also says in another place: 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek . . . ' " (Hebrews 5:5-6)

Melchizedek served as the Priest of the Most High God. Because He had loved righteousness and hated iniquity, God made Him a Son and anointed Him with the oil of gladness above His brethren (Hebrews 1:9). The word translated "anointed" is the Greek χρίω or chrio (Strong's Concordance Number #G5548) which refers to contact between the one being anointed and the one doing the anointing. The Greek word Christos, translated "Christ" is derived from chrio.

Was Jesus made a priest by an OATH?

The contact (anointing) is described in Luke 3:22 as the Holy Spirit (the One who fathered Jesus, Luke 1:35) descending upon Him in a bodily shape like a dove. The Son was anointed to become the author of salvation to all who obey Him, being called of God as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:9-10). Jesus Christ became God's High Priest because perfection and salvation were not attainable through the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:11).

Christ was made a Priest forever by an oath of the Most High God (Hebrews 7:20-21). It is His righteousness which is manifested in God's saints (Romans 8:4). The church shares in the priesthood of Christ and the resurrected saints will, like Him, forever be kings and priests after the order of Melchizedek (Revelation 5:10).

Does He live TODAY?

Jesus Christ is the Sun and the King of Righteousness, HE IS THE MELCHIZEDEK, the one and only King of Righteousness.

"Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.  And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises." (Hebrews 7:4-7)