For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.’ – Hebrews 7:17
You meet Melchizedek in Genesis 14 when he appears, seemingly out of nowhere, to Abram. He is the king of Salem, which some theologians argue is the location that ultimately is known as Jerusalem. He is also a high priest. Many will say he was an actual man who had heard that Abram had defeated five kings and came to bless him. Others say his appearance on the scene was a Christophany, a pre-incarnate presence of the Son of God, Jesus. Melchizedek offered Abram bread and wine, and he blessed Abram, whereupon Abram offered him a tenth of everything.
All through the book of Hebrews, you see Jesus as greater than something or someone else. Today’s verse places Jesus in a greater priesthood than that of Aaron. The Levitical priesthood made once-a-year atonement for sins; Jesus made a once-for-all sacrifice at the cross. Like priests, Jesus mediates, intercedes, and prays for His people. And His kingly and priestly reigns will last forever, His blessings will be eternal.
Have you had an encounter with this Great High Priest, this King of Heaven? As political transitions are being made, pray for those in authority to recognize their need for a Savior, and then to meet Him face-to-face for the blessing of eternal life.
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 7:17
For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:1-3, 11-16
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
