What is the meaning, or significance, of the "Order of Melchizedek"?

Question

I have heard various interpretaions of the Biblical significance, and read some new age stuff proclaiming that there was a much deeper meaning and significance to the order (and the man) than most people realize. Who was Melchizedek really (no father, no mother, no beginning of life, nor end of days), and what is the real origin of the order that bears his name?

Oh yeah - no Mormon interpretations, please. Nothing against Mormons - it's just that I have already heard that one...

Answer 1

The Man Melchizedek

To the man Melchizedek goes the honor of having his name used to identify the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God, thus enabling men to avoid the too frequent repetition of the name of Deity.

Alma, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, said that of all God’s ancient high priests “none were greater.”

So exalted and high was the position of Melchizedek in the eyes of the Lord and of his people that he stood as a prototype of the Son of God himself, the Son who was to arise “after the similitude of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 7:15).

Both bore the titles, Prince of Peace and King of Heaven--meaning King of Peace and both were joint-heirs of the Father’s kingdom. “For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God, which order was “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.” (D. & C. 84:14.)

The Apostle Paul knew much more about Melchizedek than he happened to record in his epistles. (See Heb. 11:33-34.)

There is an unsupported tradition to the effect that Melchizedek was the same person as Shem the son of Noah. That this could hardly have been the case is seen from the revelation which says: “Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah.”

In other words, there seem to have been at least two generations between Melchizedek and Shem.

For such an elevated prophet of God, biblical mentions of Melchizedek are too few to fully understand him and his holy calling. It was not he that was “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; . . .” but it was the holy priesthood after the Order of the Son of God that is eternal.

(Source: Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie)

Answer 2

Manthra Pushpam It is customary to recite Manthra Pushpam, or a short version of it, at the conclusion of all major prayer rituals in the Temples and at home pooja functions. Often we offer flowers to the Deities at this time making some people to think that this is something to do with the flowers [pushpam]. The verses of Manthra pushpam is given in Yajurveda. It is actually a recitation about the origin and evolution of the natural forces like water, air, fire, earth, Sun and the stars and not just praising God. Yopãm Pushpam Vedha - Pushpavãn Prajaavãn Pasumãn B'havathi Chandramãpã vã Apãm Pusham - Pushpavãn Prajaavãn Pasumãn B'havathi Ya Ye'vam Vedha - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan Bhavathi 1 Agnirvaa Aapaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yo Aghneraam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Agner-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Yevam Veda - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 2 Vaayorvaa Apaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yo Vaayor-aayathanam vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Vaayor-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 3 Asovvaitha pannapaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yo Mushyathapa -thaayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Amushyathapa -thaayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 4 Chandramaavaa Apaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yach Chandramasa Aayathanam vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Chandramasa Aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopaamaayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 5 Nakshathraanivaa Apaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yo Nakshathraanaa Apaam-aayathanam - Vedha Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Nakshathraanaa Aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 6 Parjanyovaa Apaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yaf: Parjanyasy-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Parjanyasy-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopaam-aayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi 7 Samvathsarovaa Apaam-aayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Yas Samvathsars Yaayathanam Vedha - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Aapovai Samvathsars Yaayathanam - Aayatha-navaan B'havathi Ya Evam Vedha - Yopsu Naavam Prati Thishti tham Vedha - Prathyathi thishtathi 8 The meaning of the verse is as follows: The world is all made of water and is the basic of everything and is worthy of our prayers. As water is cool so also the moon is cool like a flower of the water. He who understands this gets all prosperity [with progeny and cattle]. Fire is also a producer of this water and the air is a producer of the fire. As the sea water raises as vapor to the clouds and falls as rain to give us the warmth and prosperity, the Sun is related to the water. As we see the star [through astrological position] which determines the rain and prosperity, we see the relation of stars for all this prosperity through water. Each year, as we get the rainy season to get our rains, the year around seasons get importance. On this water the world revolves around like a boat sailing in the ocean and he who understands this gets all the prosperity.

Answer 3

a). Foreshadowing of the Eucharistic Sacrifice
Gen. 14:18 - this is the first time that the word "priest" is used in Old Testament. Melchizedek is both a priest and a king and he offers a bread and wine sacrifice to God.

Psalm 76:2 - Melchizedek is the king of Salem. Salem is the future Jeru-salem where Jesus, the eternal priest and king, established his new Kingdom and the Eucharistic sacrifice which He offered under the appearance of bread and wine.

Psalm 110:4 - this is the prophecy that Jesus will be the eternal priest and king in the same manner as this mysterious priest Melchizedek. This prophecy requires us to look for an eternal bread and wine sacrifice in the future. This prophecy is fulfilled only by the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Catholic Church.

Malachi 1:11 - this is a prophecy of a pure offering that will be offered in every place from the rising of the sun to its setting. Thus, there will be only one sacrifice, but it will be offered in many places around the world. This prophecy is fulfilled only by the Catholic Church in the Masses around the world, where the sacrifice of Christ which transcends time and space is offered for our salvation. If this prophecy is not fulfilled by the Catholic Church, then Malachi is a false prophet.

Exodus 12:14,17,24; cf. 24:8 - we see that the feast of the paschal lamb is a perpetual ordinance. It lasts forever. But it had not yet been fulfilled.

Exodus 29:38-39 – God commands the Israelites to “offer” (poieseis) the lambs upon the altar. The word “offer” is the same verb Jesus would use to institute the Eucharistic offering of Himself.

Answer 4

Melchizedek (sometimes spelled Melchisedek), whose name means “king of righteousness” was a king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6-11; 6:20-7:28). Melchizedek's sudden appearance and disappearance in the Book of Genesis are somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abram's defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon ("God Most High"), and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (Genesis 14:18-20).

Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tithe (a tenth) of all the items he had gathered. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek as a fellow-worshiper of the one true God as well as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than himself. Melchizedek's existence shows that there were people other than Abraham and his family who served the true God.

In Psalm 110, a messianic psalm written by David (Matthew 22:43), Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ. This theme is repeated in the Book of Hebrews, where both Melchizedek and Christ are considered kings of righteousness and peace. By citing Melchizedek and his unique priesthood as a type, the writer shows that Christ's new priesthood is superior to the old Levitical order and the priesthood of Aaron (Hebrews 7:1-10).

Some propose that Melchizedek was actually a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. While possible, I find this view unlikely. Melchizedek was the king of Salem. Would Jesus Christ have come to earth and ruled as an earthly king over a city? I seriously doubt it. Melchizedek is similar to Christ in that they are both priests and kings - but they are not the same person

Answer 5

There probably is more to the man than most people realize. After all, Abraham paid tithes to him. If Abraham (one of the noble and great ones of the Bible) paid tithes to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek must have been something quite special. Jesus is identified as being of "the order of Melchizedek" in the book of Hebrews.

In the Latter-day church of Jesus Christ, Melchizedek is the name given to the high priesthood of God. Not much is taught about him, other than what I have mentioned above. But I wonder just what sort of man he was and what his relationship to the hierarchy of prophets was.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't see your disclaimer till after I posted...

Answer 6

Melchizedek was the first priest mentioned in the Bible. (Genesis 14:18-20) Melchizedek pre-dates the Levite priesthood---Levi wasn't even born yet. Melchizedek is a mysterious dude who shows up and gives communion/mass to Abraham. Bread and wine. He's the first one to make the use of bread and wine sacred. He is mentioned as having no parents, no origins, he just came out of nowhere. Melchi-tsedek means King of Right-ness, and Genesis says his other title was King of Peace, as in the father of the Prince of Peace.

We also find mention of Melchizedek in Psalms:"Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps. 110:3-4)

Melchizedek is mentioned again in the New Testament book of Hebrews as the oldest priest of a higher order, more ancient and direct from God, than the Children of Israel (Levite) priesthood. In the Book of Hebrews, Jesus is repeatedly referred to as a High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek. So there was a pre-historic priestly order, founded by this mysterious pre-Israelite Jerusalem King. (I say pre-Israelite because he was long before Moses, Solomon, the Temple, etc. He existed in Father Abraham's time, showing up as mentioned in Genesis, then disappearing again.)

The Gnostic scriptures refer to him as Melchizedek the Supreme Paralemptor, which means Light-Bringer or Light-Maker. The Gnostic library on line has some texts that mention him, one is even named Melchizedek.

Edgar Cayce believed and taught that Melchizedek was one of the Lives of the Master and explains his theory in a book of that title. Cayce believed Melchizedek was an earlier incarnation of Jesus who came to introduce the Eucharist of bread and wine.

On the other hand, mythology and the religions of the world teach that God and Goddess often like to be born among us, so if anyone could have previous life-times, if anyone could be a "victim" of re-incarnation, it would be them. Maybe Melchizedek was indeed Jesus making an advanced appearance---or maybe he was God-the-Father.

In the Hebrew Bible Melchizedek is called the High Priest of El Elyon, YHVH, the Most High One.

Answer 7

Well, all the names and personages in the Bible, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, etc: including Melchizedek are types of Christ

Answer 8

It simply means he was a high priest without lineage. He was before the tribe of Levi who were ordered by God to be the priesthood for Israel. Jesus, as Melchizedek, was also not of the tribe of Levi and so became our high priest without the lineage.

Answer 9

He was king of Salem, which was foreign territory before the time of David. He simply suffered from an insufficiently filled in biography.

Answer 10

Meichisadek was God the Father.

Order of M; like God the Father (during this life and beyond).