Jesus and Melchizedek

While the Gospel of Matthew seems to be written with a Jewish audience in mind, connecting to the Old Testament in a deliberate manner, it is not the only book in the New Testament with such a focus. The other is the book of Hebrews (aptly named). While the gospels focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Hebrews has a different point of view. It is written in the form of a letter that explicitly lays out the connections of Jesus to what came before, what came in the Old Testament. It might be better described as a theological treatise.  

In the book of Hebrews, Jesus is explicitly “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” It is not simply a leap from Genesis to Hebrews, but comes to us by way of Psalm 110, where David speaks of ‘the victory of God’s Priest-King’. David himself was ‘just’ a king. There was another serving as the high priest to God in his kingship. These roles were not blended. In fact, it was when King Saul blended these roles, offering the sacrifices to the Lord that were the purview of the priesthood, that he fell afoul of the Lord. 

But in this Psalm, David is looking forward to someone more powerful than himself, someone who will bring these two most powerful roles in the kingdom together, a priest-king in the order of Melchizedek.

In Melchizedek is something greater, more powerful than in David-who was not only king, but the most powerful king of the People of Israel. Jesus is of the line and family of David, he is of the Royal Line, born in the Royal City of Bethlehem, but there is more to who he is in the understanding of the Old Testament. In addition, Jesus is the High Priest, the only one who is able, once a year, to stand in the presence of God in the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. He who has the most power and he who stands closest to God. Such is the Order of Melchizedek, such is our Lord Jesus.  

So, if we were to look to the Mystery Magi, these strange harbingers of God who pop in and out of the life of Jesus as Melchizedek popped in and out of the life of Abraham, could God be providing to us, through Matthew, an even more significant hint at the birth of God’s only Son as to who Jesus is going to be? The Magi have power, consider not only their gifts but their ability to mount an expedition to the east to follow a star. They also have a closeness to God, being able to interpret that the star means something divine. I rather like that idea.

Pastor Peter