What is the importance of Melchizedek in Genesis and in Hebrews 7?

Answer 1

Paul isolated an outstanding fact respecting Melchizedek, in saying of him: “In being fatherless, motherless, without genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.” (Heb 7:3)

Like other humans, Melchizedek was born and he died. However, the names of his father and mother are not furnished, his ancestry and posterity are not disclosed, and the Scriptures contain no information about the beginning of his days or the end of his life.

Thus, Melchizedek could fittingly foreshadow Jesus Christ, who has an unending priesthood. As Melchizedek had no recorded predecessor or successor in his priesthood, so too Christ was preceded by no high priest similar to himself, and the Bible shows that none will ever succeed him.

Answer 2

salvationhistory.com has a free on line study course, do the first course, in lesson 3 it shows the importance of melchizedek, you don't need to do any of the lessons or pay it is free and you can if you wanted to, study one course or all t he courses at your own pace. you can even just browse through and read the portions you find interesting. " According to a long tradition - Jewish and Christian - the mysterious Melchizedek is actually Shem, the great patriarch, the righteous inheritor of the blessings promised by God after the Flood. If Melchizedek, a name which means "king of righteousness" (see Hebrews 7:2), is really Shem, the great son of Noah, then it means that the blessing God gave to Noah and Noah in turn gave to Shem is now being passed on to Abraham. The blessing of the righteous first-born will pass from Abraham on to Isaac (see Genesis 25:5) and to Jacob (see Genesis 27:27-29).

But with Melchizedek this blessing of the first-born becomes something royal and something priestly. And this becomes something crucial for the plot and meaning of the rest of the Bible.

Melchizedek is a high priest and a king. If he's also the first-born son of Noah, then his blessing upon Abraham is a sort of "ordination," a consecration, by which Abraham too becomes, not only a righteous first-born son, but a priest of God Most High"(from salvationhistory.com course one lesson 3)

Answer 3

The importance in Hebrews is that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. To Jews, a faith required a high priest to forgive sins and connect people to God. By proclaiming that Jesus is the High Priest, the New Testament makes the case that Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy, and that Jews should recognize Christ as their messiah.

Answer 4

The significance of Melchisedek is expounded upon in Hebrews 7. It was prophesied in Psalm 110:4 that Messiah would "be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek." This signifies that Jesus Christ is our high priest, moderating for us in our affairs with God.

I think that the first two verses of chapter seven is really important: "For this Melchisedec, 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..."

This is what I believe, and I have no real foundation from scripture for this at all. But I believe that Melchisedek may have been an early manifestation of the Lord, and I believe that this exchange that took place between the two of them took place at or near Jerusalem (Jeru-Salem). I think that the Lord was receiving his tithe personally. Again, I can't give you chapter and verse about that, but read the description of Melchisedek in Hebrews 7:3-4. Abraham had several instances where he met with the Lord face to face, so it is not hard to imagine that this could be the case yet again.

The true significance of mentioning Melchisedek is to establish the quality of priesthood that the Lord Jesus performs on our behalf. Melchisedek being present to do service before the Lord on the behalf of Abraham prior to the law and the Levitical priesthood establishes the fact that there was always a need for a high priest to represent us before God, and now Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of that promise - that there would be an eternal priesthood established on our behalf - just like the priesthood of Melchisedek.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the King that will reign in the city of peace - Jerusalem. He is our high priest before God. He is the perfect King/Priest.

Answer 5

M. was the first to institute the system of the head of the family being the priest representing his family to God, and vice versa. Later Aaron's descendants were designated priests for the whole Jewish race. These were the Levitical priesthood. Jesus, although regarded as our High Priest, was descended from King David to be King of the Jews.

Answer 6

Melchi = prince, king, ruler
Zedek = righteousness.
Prince of righteousness. Abraham tithed to him. This is unusual. Also, he seems to have no lineage, and he was a ruler of righteousness during/in a pagan place.