Hebrews 7:1-28

In this chapter we read about Melchizedek again. In these opening verses of this chapter, there is some clarification, I think, as to whether Melchizedek is an allegorical incarnation of Christ.

Aside from being the King of Salem (verse 2), and actually meeting Abraham (who gave him a tithe from the plunder that Abraham had gathered up when he beat the socks off the kings during that mighty war), Melchizedek, in verse 3, is described as: 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, I don't claim to be an expert Bible scholar. Rather, I believe that God speaks through the Bible and he says what he means to say, so when verse 3 tells me that Melchizedek is "made like unto the Son of God," I don't infer from that passage that Melchizedek was a predecessor incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek was a most high priest. He wasn't even a Levitical priest and yet he got Abraham's tithe. Bible scholars go back and forth on what to make of Melchizedek's genealogy not being mentioned in the Bible.

Some say his not having a mother or father makes him pretty special. Then others say that he was a man, so he must have had a mother and a father. I mean, he didn't just spring up out of nowhere.

Besides the Bible didn't record the family tree of every single person who walked the earth at this time in Bible history. At some point, the family tree of mankind (that started with Adam and Eve at its base) branched off to the point where every little twig of a family failed to get recorded.

Nowhere is it written or suggested that the Bible is a complete written history of the entire world.

However, it is a complete history of the line of Adam and Eve all the way to Jesus Christ. I mean, there's no reference in the Bible about London being incorporated as a city in 43 A.D.

There's no reference about the first wrestling match in Japan in 23 B.C.

And I can't find any reference to the Romans first use of soap which they learned about from the Gauls in 50 A.D.

Plutarch isn't mentioned in the Bible and yet he was supposed to be one of the best historians that the Greeks had to offer. He was born in 47 A.D.

The first date in Mayan chronology is -3372. The Mayans aren't mentioned in the Bible at all.

But much is made of the fact that Melchizedek's parentage is not recorded. It would have been recorded if God had wanted it recorded. He didn't so it wasn't.

But it is important that Melchizedek received Abraham's tithe. Abraham was supposed to give a tithe to the high priest at the temple. The fact that he gave the tithe to Melchizedek says what? That Melchizedek was a higher priest than a Levitical priest? That's what Biblical references to Melchizedek say when he is referred to as the "priest of the most high God."

Maybe this will help explain. "Once a year, on the Great Day of Atonement, the earthly high priest of the Jews was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of animals in order to make propitiation for sins. The author of Hebrews discovers a parallel between this high-priestly figure and the Lord Jesus, who by his death on the cross as a lamb of sacrifice has shed his blood once for all, and with that blood has passed into the heavenly sanctuary."

A further parallel is drawn between Jesus and Moses. Just as Moses brought the Jewish people through the wilderness to the threshold of the promised land on earth, so Jesus brings men to the promised land of heaven..." (van Unnik, W.C., The New Testament In History and Message," Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1962., p. 150)

Keep in mind that in this letter to the Hebrews, no claim is being made that Melchizedek is an immortal being. To the contrary, in verse 13 we read this: For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

So Melchizedek had his lineage in another tribe, not the tribe of Levi. And Jesus' lineage is from the tribe of Judah.

And why is all this talk about the rules of priesthood going on? Well, we get a good clue as to the reasoning in verse 19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw nigh unto God.

And in verse 24: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Jesus, you see, because he is a man, becomes a priest. He becomes a priest because he is appointed to be a priest. And because he is God, his priesthood lasts forever. Now Jesus can say that people can come to God through him -- forever!

Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices like other priests were doing in the temple. The temple priests could only offer animals. Quite differently, Jesus became the sacrifice. He died in our place. Translation: King James Version

Historical references are from "The Timetables of History"

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