WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK? by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 40.

WHO WAS MELCHIZEDEK?

By M. C. W.

WE have received a number of inquiries as to who was Melchizedek as mentioned in Genesis 14. The same individual is also mentioned in Ps. 110:4 and in Hebrews, chapters 5, 6, and 7. He is mentioned nowhere else in the Scriptures.

Some have thought that Melchizedek was Shem, and some have said that he was our Saviour. Who was he? The Scripture record is brief. In Genesis 14 it is said that he was king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God. He placed before Abraham bread and wine, he blessed Abraham, and received of Abraham tithes. The author of Hebrews says of him: "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 by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is, king of peace. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."

Now what conclusions can we draw from the above and other scriptures which mention Melchizedek?

The words, "without father, without mother," are explained by the words, "without descent," or, as the margin reads, "without pedigree;" that is, there is no recorded pedigree. It is not recorded as to where he was born, where he died, who was his father, or who his mother, or how long his priesthood continued. Dr. Owen, quoted by Adam Clarke, says:—

"It is said of Melchizedek, in the first place, that he was apator, auntor, without father and without mother, whereon part of the latter clause, namely, 'without beginning of days,' doth depend. The next word declares he was genealogotos, 'without descent,' say we. But genealogia is a generation, a descent, a pedigree, not absolutely, but rehearsed, described, recorded. Genealogotos is he whose stock and descent is entered on record. And so, on the contrary, genealogotos is not he who has no descent (ancestry), no genealogy, but he whose descent and pedigree is nowhere entered or reckoned up. Thus the apostle himself plainly expresses this word, verse 6; ho de mē genealogoumenos ex autōn, 'whose descent is not counted,' that is, reckoned up in record. Thus was Melchizedek without father or mother in that the Spirit of God, who so strictly and exactly recorded the genealogies of other patriarchs and types of Christ, and that for no less an end than to manifest the truth and faithfulness of God in his promises, speaks nothing to this purpose concerning him. . . . On the same account is he [Melchizedek] said to be mēte archōn hēmerōn mēte zōēs telos echōn, not having beginning of days or end of life. And yet he was assuredly born, and did no less certainly die than other men. . . . There is no mention therein of the beginning of his days or the end of his life. Whatever therefore he might have in himself, he had none to us. Consider all the other patriarchs mentioned in the writings of Moses, and you shall find their descent recorded, who was their father, and so up to the first man; and not only so, but the time of their birth, the beginning of their days, and the end of their life, are exactly recorded. But concerning Melchizedek none of these things are spoken. No mention is made of father or mother; no genealogy is recorded of what stock or progeny he was; nor is there any account of his birth or death. So that all these things are wanting to him in his historical narration, wherein our faith and knowledge are alone concerned."

It is thus that these words applied to Melchizedek were used by the ancients. See also Professor Stuart, Bible Commentary, Dr. Barnes, and others.

He was king of Salem, which is king of peace. Salem means peace. Melchizedek comes from two words, Melchi, king, and Zedek, justice, or righteousness, meaning, "king of righteousness."

Now, having explained these peculiar expressions, what do we learn from this narrative?

1. Melchizedek was not Shem, for of Shem's father and birth we have a record.

2. He was not our Lord; for it is said: "He was made like unto the Son of God." It would be absurd to say that he was made like himself. Again, Christ is not a priest after the order of himself. "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 5:6; Ps. 110:4.

Once more it is said that our Lord as priest is "after the similitude of Melchizedek." Heb. 7:15. That Melchizedek was not Christ is proved by the following: "For if he [Christ] were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law." Heb. 8:4. And again: "The Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holies of all [Gr. "holy places," that is, of the heavenly sanctuary where Christ ministered] was not made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." Heb. 9:8. That is, Christ had not yet entered upon his priesthood. But it may be said that this referred to the Jewish dispensation. True, but if Christ was a priest before, and was not a priest during the dispensation, and then became a priest again, he was not after the order of Melchizedek, his priesthood was not "unchangeable." But Paul says that it was, or, as the margin reads, "which passeth not from one to another." He did not minister as priest till he offered the sacrifice. Everything in our mind is against Melchizedek's being Christ.

3. Melchizedek was a perfect type of Christ. He was both king and priest. So was Christ; but this was not true of Aaron. The priesthood of Aaron, therefore, is but a partial type of Christ. Christ sits upon his Father's throne, the throne of grace, where man can alone find peace. See Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1; Zech. 6:13. Christ is therefore also King of peace. The name of Melchizedek means "king of righteousness," and Christ is also King of righteousness. As his is the only name through which man can be justified and find peace with God (Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:1), so he is the only one through whom the righteousness of God can be imputed to man (Rom. 3:24; 4:5-7); for peace with God comes by man being made righteous before God. Isa. 32:17. Christ is King of peace and King of righteousness.

There was no record of the ancestry of Melchizedek as regards the priesthood, neither was there of our Saviour. Of the tribe from which he sprang, "Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Heb. 7:14. Just when he began we know not; we know not when he will close. He was preceded by no priest in the same line, he will be followed by none. He "abideth a priest continually," that is, his priesthood does not pass to another. Verse 24, see margin. Thus in all particulars Melchizedek's priesthood was a type of our Saviour's priesthood, in his name, in office, in position, in the fact that it was preceded or succeeded by no other in the same line.

The greatness of Melchizedek mentioned in Heb. 7:4 did not exist in personal character, but in his exalted office of king and priest.

Then who was Melchizedek? He was an individual who lived in the time of Abraham, king of Salem, and priest of the Most High God, afterward used by Inspiration as a perfect type of the priesthood of our Lord.

Why not leave it here? Why speculate as to whether he was this one or that one? Why not leave it where God's word leaves it? How much thought and study are placed on such questions as the above, and, Who was Cain's wife? etc. The knowledge and profit which would accrue if the same amount of thought and study were placed on what God has revealed, is above estimate. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Brethren, study the things that are revealed.