So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. ~ Hebrews 5:5

Jesus was chosen by God as High Priest because of his relation to God as his begotten Son. Notice that the author of Hebrews does not simply say that Jesus was sovereignly appointed as High Priest by God, but places the appointment within the framework of “Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.”

This is why Melchizedek was needed in Biblical prophecy. In many ways the Levitical priesthood (the High Priests under the law) foreshadowed Christ in their daily ministrations, and in their ministry during the annual feasts such as the Day of Atonement. The Levitical priesthood foreshadowed the work of Christ offering himself as our representative and mediator, but those priests could not continue forever serving the people because they were all subject to death. Thus another Priest must serve as a model in Biblical prophecy of the eternal, on going, and never ending Priesthood of Jesus. Thus the arrival of Melchizedek in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110.

Some have thought that Melchizedek was a pre-incaration of Jesus, but the scriptures reveal only one incarnation of the Son of God. Melchizedek is a portrait of the eternal essence of Christ’s priesthood by the absence of any of Melchizedek’s pedigree, in contrast to the priests under the law whose priesthood was dependent on their ancestry.

Melchizedek was King and Priest of Salem (most likely ancient Jerusalem) in Abraham’s day. When Abraham met him, Abraham’s name had not yet been changed from Abram to Abraham.

At that time, there was no nation of Israel and Abraham did not yet have a child. Also at that time, God had not yet given Abram the covenant of circumcision. In the purest sense of the word Abram was a Gentile, for he had not yet formally entered into a covenant with God, even though he had obeyed God’s voice to leave his father’s house and go into the land that God would show him. 

It was after Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek that God entered into a covenant with him and changed his name from Abram, to Abraham. Before the priesthood that serves as mediator, representing men in the presence of God (i.e., the Levitical Priesthood), the Priesthood representing the Eternal One came to Abraham when he was yet Abram.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. ~ Genesis 14:18-20

Notice in the text above that Melchizedek, who was both a King and a priest, came to Abram and blessed him. This is a beautiful portrait showing us that Salvation comes from above and not from beneath. Before there could be a Priest among men who could bring us to God, their first had to be a Priest from above who could bring God to us. Jesus fulfills both!

Many years ago I discovered that when God gave to Moses the pattern for the tabernacle, he did not begin in the outer court where man’s approach to God begins, he started with the furniture within Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was to abide in the midst of his people.

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And they shall make an ark… ~ Exodus 25:8-10a

Salvation begins with God’s approach to us and comes from above, not the other way around. Jesus is the King and Priest who first came down from above, who taking on human flesh humbled himself that he might suffer for us, to bring us near to God.

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. ~ John 3:13

When the writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was appointed Priest by “Him who said to him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee,” he isn’t merely connecting thoughts, but rather is telling us something that is deeply profound. We have a High Priest who is the King of glory. He came down from above and is the eternal one himself, yet he humbled himself and suffered for the people so that he could not only be a Priest from God’s perspective, but from man’s.

It is important that we grasp the intersection of these two powerful truths regarding Jesus’s Priesthood. This is key to unlocking the powerful truths hidden in the book of Hebrews. In Jesus, God comes to us, representing God to us. This same Jesus is our representative, our mediator, and our intercessor, in the presence of God. The two priesthoods set before us in the book of Hebrews (Melchizedek and Aaron/Levi) reveal to us the excellency of the Priesthood of Jesus. These two unite in one perfect High Priest, who not only brings us to God, but God to us!

We who enter boldly into the holiest by the blood of Jesus are purified by that same blood as a dwelling place for God. Jesus is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (his priesthood is not based on his human ancestry,) and he fulfills all that was foreshadowed by the priests who offered sacrifices for sin. May God enrich you with his wisdom and grace as you consider on these truths.

Blessing!