The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a priest for
ever, after the order of Melchizedek.--Psalm cx. 4.
In the Old Testament, we find but little recorded of Melchizedek,
that venerable priest of the most High God, who met and blessed
the patriarch Abraham as he returned victorious from the slaughter
of Chedorlaomer and the confederate kings. But from that little, we
are led to regard him as a person of distinction. To him, the great
father of the faithful and friend of God presented the tithes or
tenths of the spoil. It is from the prophetical word of the royal
Psalmist, "the Lord hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a
Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek," that we are taught
to view this ancient priest of God as a type: and of whom, if not
of Christ? Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews,[114] speaks largely
on the subject; he proves the fulfilment of the prophecy, and
declares, that Christ's priestly office was prefigured in the person
of Melchizedek, to Abraham the father of the Israelitish race. In
the same epistle, we find blended the priesthood of Aaron, in order
to show the vast superiority of that of Christ over the other two,
though both instituted by God himself. But as we find no prophecy
respecting the Aaronic priesthood, we make no further reference to
that subject, in order to attend more immediately to the words, "The
Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever,
after the order of Melchizedek." Was this priest of the most High
God honoured with the title of King of Salem--by interpretation,
King of Righteousness, and King of Peace? Is not Jesus proclaimed
King of Zion; the Lord our Righteousness, and the Prince of Peace?
Nor are these mere empty titles, but real characters, and offices,
sustained by Him, who "abideth a priest upon his throne for ever."
We have no historical account of the parentage or descendants of
Melchizedek; he is presented to us as "without father, without
mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life;" but being made like unto the Son of God, abideth a
priest continually.[115] And Christ's priesthood was not derived
by genealogy, or succession, he had neither father or mother of
the family of Aaron, from whom his priesthood could descend. It is
evident our Lord sprang "out of Judah, of which tribe no man gave
attendance at the altar;"[116] neither did Christ die and leave it
to others, by way of descent, but was constituted a single priest,
without predecessor or successor. "He abideth a priest for ever,
after the order of Melchizedek." It is impossible for a finite mind
to comprehend the eternal sonship of the Son of God, whom the
Father, before the foundation of the world, constituted a priest for
ever; and therefore, the priesthood of Melchizedek was instituted to
prefigure to us the nature of Christ's eternal priesthood. "The Lord
hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever, after
the order of Melchizedek." These words deserve particular attention.
It is God the Father who swears to Christ; no oath of allegiance is
required from him who is constituted our Priest. Jehovah, whose eye
pierces through futurity, knew he would be faithful in his office,
and he freely and unreservedly trusted him to maintain his divine
honour and justice, and accomplish the salvation of sinners. The
high-priestly office, though honourable, could not add to Christ's
dignity; but his glorious person did confer honour and dignity
upon the sacred office, for he who is constituted our High Priest,
"is fellow to the Lord of Hosts." "Every high priest is ordained,
to offer both gifts and sacrifices," and great was the sacrifice
offered by Christ: he offered up himself; he would borrow nothing,
but was both priest, sacrifice, altar, and temple: and "by that
offering, he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." "And
because he continueth ever, he hath an unchangeable priesthood;"
"wherefore he _is_ able to save them to the uttermost, that come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them." Blessed Jesus! thou priest of Melchizedek's order, while
we would not withhold from thee a portion of all that thou givest
us, let us not rest satisfied, till we are enabled to present "our
bodies and souls a reasonable sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto
God."
[114] Hebrews v. 5-11., vii. 1-28.
[115] Hebrews vii. 3.
[116] Hebrews vi. 20.