So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ~ Hebrews 5:5-6

There are two truths that the writer of Hebrews underscores when speaking of Jesus’s calling as our Great High Priest. First, he is God’s Son.

Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.

This quote comes from Psalm 2, and refers to Jesus being declared to be God’s Son in resurrection power. In Romans 1, Paul declares that he is a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. ~ Romans 1:1-4

The second truth which the writer of Hebrews underscores is Jesus’s Priesthood after the order of Melchisedek. It is important that we rightly understand the significance of Melchisedek in contrast to the priests who ministered under the law.

The priests who served under the law were all from the tribe of Levi and their priesthood was predicated on their physical lineage. Melchizedek, on the other hand, appears on the scene in three short verses in Genesis, where he and Abraham pay homage to one another.

Roughly a thousand years after Abraham, the Psalmist speaking by the Spirit of prophecy declared God’s oath to Jesus,  The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~ Psalm 110:4

Jesus is not the historical Melchisedek who met Abraham, and Melchisedek was not Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says of Melchisedek, “he was made like unto the Son of God.”

It is important to notice that the author of Hebrews does not say the Son of God was made like unto Melchizedek, but rather, Melchizedek was made like unto the Son of God.

…made like unto… similar to, or a resemblance of…

Jesus’ priesthood is predicated in his being the Son of God, not the son of Joseph. Notice the following scriptures.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ~ Hebrews 4:14

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

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.  ~ Hebrews 7:3

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. ~ Hebrews 7:28

Melchisedek’s priesthood resembled the Priesthood of Jesus because there is no genealogical record given in scripture of Melchisdek’s ancestry. Neither is there any record of his birth or death. He simply is there at the appointed time to bless Abraham, to whom the covenant promises were made.   

In like manner, Jesus serves as Priest, not based on human ancestry, but in the power of an endless life. It is to the One who is the Son, that God made the oath, thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek!

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ~ Hebrews 7:14-17