TYPES OF CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A
Bible Study - Commentary by Jim Melough
Copyright
2000 James Melough
MELCHIZEDEK
GENESIS
CHAPTER 14
14:18.
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the
priest of the most high God.”
Melchizedek, meaning king
of righteousness, is clearly a type of Christ, for relative to Christ it is
written, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek ... called of
God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 5:6-10).
Hebrews chapter seven refers to this meeting between Melchizedek and Abram,
and supplies details not given here in the Genesis record.
Heb 7:3 declares Melchizedek to have been, “without father, without mother,
without descent (ancestry or beginning), having neither beginning of days nor end of
life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
This verse has perplexed
many, unnecessarily. Melchizedek was not
Christ: he was “made like Him.” “...
without father ... mother ... descent” is not declaring him to have been eternally
existing. It is simply that his birth
and lineage have not been recorded, so that he might stand as a type of Him Who is
eternal. “... having neither beginning
of days, nor end of life: abideth a priest continually.”
The omission of the record of his birth and death is designed to focus
attention on the seeming eternal duration of his priesthood.
It wasn’t eternal. Like his life, it did have a beginning and an end, but the unrecorded
terminals of his priesthood make it symbolic of the eternal priesthood of Christ.
Hebrews chapter seven makes it clear that Melchizedek was simply a man, who as
king of Jerusalem (Salem), i.e., king of peace, and priest of the most high God, was
a type of Christ.
For further details on
Melchizedek, please consult the notes on Genesis, chapter 14 in BIBLE STUDIES