Who is Melchizedek? This Biblical figure appears in three passages of the Bible: in the Old Testament (Gen 14: 14, 16-18 & Ps 110: 1-4) and in the New Testament (Heb 5-7). Literally Melchizedek means ‘my king is righteousness’. He is introduced as the king of Salem [i.e., Jerusalem, cf. Ps 76:2], and a ‘priest of God Most High’. We have also some information in the Qumran Scrolls (11Q13) according to which Melchizedek is a divine being and he will proclaim the ‘Day of atonement’ and he will atone for the people who are predestined to him. Melchizedek is one of the most enigmatic figures in the Biblical History particularly because of the profound statements found in the letter to the Hebrews. When Abraham returned from rescuing his nephew Lot from four kings who had carried him off, Melchizedek offered Abraham a meal of bread and wine while Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoil (tithe). What we notice in this episode is that Melchizedek a non-Hebrew priest occupies a greater role than Abraham, a Hebrew and the ancestor of the levitical priests occupies a lower place. Ps 110 portrays the Israelite king as carrying on the role of the illustrious Melchizedek as we read in the Psalm, Yahweh has sworn to his anointed, “You are a priest for ever like Melchizedek”. This expression indeed is hyperbolic with regard to the Israelite kings, but it becomes true of the Messiah for whom the people were waiting after the exile. According to the author of the letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is the perfect priest and his priesthood is not connected with the priesthood of Levi but fulfils the royal priesthood of the Davidic Messiah, the successor of Melchizedek (cf. Ps 110). Moreover, the character, name and titles of Melchizedek, in some way foreshadow the characteristics of Jesus and fulfil all the messianic themes of the Old Testament. Christ is like Melchizedek in having no human father, for no genealogy is given of Melchizedek. Basing on this external similarity, the letter to the Hebrews while pointing out the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood over the levitical priesthood (Heb 7: 10), emphasizes that Christ, unlike priests of the line of Aaron, is priest by divine appointment and not by descent. Answered by: Rev. (Dr) Pius James D’Souza OCD
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:02:07 +0000
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