What kind of role that melchizedek's play in old testament?

Answer 1

Even though Melchizedek only appears in The Bible once, and later mentioned in Psalm 110:4 and expounded on in Hebrews 7, I believe he played a MAJOR role, and here is why. (Verses taken from NKJV).

Gen 14:18 - "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High."

Here we see that a priest of Most High God (El Elyown) exists, prior to the Levitical priesthood, showing that his function was superior to that which would come via the Law. Not only that, but Melchizedek brought the two symbols of Christ's Body and Blood, the bread and wine and blessedAbraham in the presence of the bread and the wine. I don't believe that is there by mistake. I don't want to add anything to the text, but this is very strong information that Melchizedek had a very specific purpose in ministering to God, before Law was given, otherwise, he would be a useless priest of God Most High, and I can't see anywhere that God does anything without purpose. Not only this, but Melchizedek had a specific purpose in blessing Abraham in the presence of the bread and the wine. I believe that this is a very significant moment in history, in that it was the FIRST record of Abraham being blessed, and who was he blessed by? Melchizedek. When you look at when the LORD first speaks to Abraham in Gen 12 all the way up to Gen 14, Abraham has not been blessed, rather he has only been told he will receive blessing. And even all the way up til Gen 22, we don't hear of another mention of blessing Abraham. Even in Gen 22 after Abraham was tested, it says "in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you," thereby indicating another covenant that would be established while the other covenant was being fulfilled. And that covenant is the everlasting covenant. But what initiates this blessing? Melchizedek, the priest of El Elyown, God Most High. Not only this, but in Gen 17, Abraham asks God to allow Ishmael to inherit the blessing and God says that He has heard and has blessed Ishmael, which are both in a past tense, yet we never see where these blessings occur outside of when Abraham was blessed by who? Melchizedek. And following the same logic in Hebrews regarding Levi paying tithes to Melchizedek while in the loins of Abraham, Ishmael was blessed by God through Melchizedek while in the loins of Abraham as well, as was every child born of Abraham.

Second reason I believe that Melchizedek plays an important role is Psalm 110:4.

Ps 110:4 - "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'".

Here we know that David is prophesying of the Messiah, as he begins with The LORD (Yahovah) said to my Lord (adonai), and then uses 2nd person to describe the Lord. Not only that, but Hebrews explains that indeed, this Scripture is the LORD speaking to the Lord, i.e. Father to the Son.

Hebrews 5:5-6 - "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.' As He also says in another place: 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'"

Therefore we can clearly see that Jesus is declared a priest (H3548 kohen) forever (H5769 owlam) according to the order (H1700 dibrah - reason, suit, or style:--cause, end, estate, order, regard.) of Melchizedek. So it was not that Melchizedek was a type of Christ, rather Christ was a type of Melchizedek, in that Christ's High Priestly office is after His. The Bible also makes it clear that Melchizedek was an eternal being in Hebrews as well:

Heb 7:1-3 - "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,...without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."

Even here we see that the author of Hebrews acknowledges that Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God, thereby indicating a Priestly Office prior to the giving of the Law which charged the Levitical priesthood with ministry, prior to the first Advent of Christ. This role was a necessary and important role, otherwise it would not have been attested to in Hebrews in such great detail.

We want to be careful, however, because although Melchizedek is in fact a priest, he is not to be worshipped or revered, as Christ is now the High Priest for all who believe. Though we may not have much information on him, we can understand the following things from Scripture:

1) He blessed Abraham in the presence of bread and wine, and it was significant.

2) He was a priest of God Most High and has an important role.

3) Jesus Christ's High Priestly Office is according to the order of Melchizedek.

4) Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the new covenant in His blood.

I hope this helps.