from Willmington's Guide to the Bible For Education Purpose

1. MELCHIZEDEK
PRIESTHOODFROM WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE

2. The Supreme Priesthood – Melchizedek
Hebrews 7-10. It has already been stated
that Christ is a priest after the order of
Melchizedek and not after Aaron. This
immediately offers a fourfold advantage.

3. A. If offers a better source (Hebrews
Chapter 7). From Aaron to Melchizedek.
1.Christ was given a royal
priesthood. Melchizedek was a king
and as a Priest.
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought
out bread and wine. He was a priest of God
Most High.” - (Genesis 14:18)

4. 2.Christ was given an authoritative
priesthood. Melchizedek received
the tithes of Abraham.
“And blessed be God Most High, who
delivered your enemies into your hand.”
- (Genesis 14:20)

5. Here in Hebrews 7:4-10 the author points out
that inasmuch as Levi ( Founder of the Levitical
priesthood from which Aaron the first high
priest came) was in the loins of Abraham (he
would become his great grandson) that he (Levi)
in reality tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham.
The conclusion is that under the law the Levitical
priests received tithes from the people, but back
in Genesis 14 the levitical priests paid tithes to
Melchizedek.

6. 3.Christ was given an timeless
priesthood. Melchizedek was “without
descent, having their beginning of
days, nor end of life.” - {Hebrews 7:3}
but Aaron died {Hebrews 7:8; cf. Num.
20:23-29}
Note: This does not necessarily mean that Melchizedek was
actually Christ (although he may have been ) but that
inasmuch as we have no record of his birth or death he
does not become a type of Christ not only in his office, but
also in his origin.

7. 4. Christ was given an independent
priesthood. Melchizedek was ordained
by an oath from God and not from the
tribe of Levi. In the Old Testament no
one can serve as a priest unless he
descended from Aaron.
“And from among the priests, The descendants of Hobaiah,
Hakkoz, and Barzillai, (a man who had married a daughter
of Barzillai the Galeadite and was called by that name).”
These searched for their family records, but they could not
find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as
unclean.” - (Ezra 2:61,62)

8. 5. Christ was given an everlasting
priesthood.
“For it is declared:
You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.”
- (Hebrews 7:17)
“Because of this oath, Jesus has become a guarantee of a
better covenant. Now there have been many of those
priests, since death prevented them from continuing office,
but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent
priesthood.” - (Hebrews 7:22-24)

9. 6. Christ was given an immutable
(changeless) priesthood.
“because Jesus lives forever, he has a
permanent priesthood.”
– (Hebrews 7:22-24)

10. 7. Christ was given an all-inclusive
priesthood. Under this arrangement
Christ was not presented an offering
but actually became one.
“Unlike the other high priests, he does need
not to offer sacrifices day after day, first for
his own sins, and then for the sins of the
people. He sacrificed for their sins once for
all when he offered himself.”-(Hebrews 7:27)

11. Author Ray Siedman writes the following concerning verse 27
“As a priest, Jesus Christ could find no unblemished sacrfice
that He would offer Himself, so He offered Himself as a
sacrifice, there was found no other priest worthy of offering
such a sacrifice so Christ became both Priest and Victim.”
What more can God say p.115
This dual arrangement can be seen by listening to his seven
final sentences while on the cross. The first three demonstrate
the priestly ministry while the final four speak of his sacrificial
role.

12. 8. Christ was given a holy priesthood.
“For such a high priest became us, who
is holy, blameless, undefiled, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens.
– (Hebrews 7:26)
This is in contrast to the Levitical priesthood, whose
representatives often allowed corruption and idolatry to
control their lives. Exo2:12-17, 32:1-6;21-25, 1 Sam 8:1-3

13. 9. Christ was given a perfecting
priesthood.
“Wherefore he is able to save them to
the uttermost that come unto God by
Him, seeing he ever liveth to make a
intercession (intervention) for them.
– (Hebrews 7:25)
This verse usually applied to the salvation of the lost (from the uttermost to the
uttermost, but in its context it refers to the preservation of the saved. Thus,
Christ died down here on Calvary to bring us salvation, and now lives up there
in glory to keep us saved. (see also Rom 3:34, Rev.1:18)