In Genesis 14, we read the story of Abraham going to war for the sake of his nephew Lot. After gaining the victory, the King of Salem brought him bread and wine. He was Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. His name means king of righteousness. He blessed Abram who gave him a tithe of all the spoils. We read of him again in Psalm 110 when King David inspired by the Holy Spirit writes, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’” In the Book of Hebrews chapters 8 &9 these passages are tied together. We discover the importance of Melchizedek, the need for change, and the role of Jesus in the New Covenant.
Melchizedek
A mysterious character not only is he the king of righteousness, but also king of Salem, which means king of peace. He has no genealogy nor any record of his life or death. This, according to the writer of Hebrews, made him to be like the Son of God, a priest continually. He must have been a great man, for he received 10% of the spoils and blessed the man to whom God gave the promises.
Need for Change
So, asks the writer to the Hebrews, if perfection was attained through the Levitical priesthood, why was there still a need for a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, and not Aaron? The priesthood needed to change, and so did the law. In addition, the Lord came from the line of Judah, not Levi. His power comes not from fleshly commands but from the power of an endless life. While the law could make nothing perfect, there comes a better hope through which we draw near to God.
Jesus and the New Covenant
Jesus came as a promise. “The Lord has sworn and will not relent. You are a priest forever.” He continues forever. Now He offers ultimate salvation to those who come to God through Him for He continually intercedes for them in heaven. His perfect character: holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, higher than the heavens, prevents the need for daily sacrifices. Once and for all, He sacrificed His own life. Now, He is the mediator of a better covenant built on better promises. The old covenant didn’t work. They didn’t continue in it and God disregarded them. Now God says, “This is the covenant that I will make…I will put My laws in their mind, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
The stories recorded in the Old Testament prepared a foundation through which the Holy Spirit could direct His prophets to understand His unfolding plan of salvation offered to us through His Son. We discover the importance of Melchizedek, the need for change, and the role of Jesus in the New Covenant.