⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

When the Old Testament consists of 39 books and over 31,000 verses, why make such a big deal out of Melchizedek who is mentioned in only four verses? Of the New Testament books, only in Hebrews do we find mention of him (Hebrews 5, 6 and 7), where, as we are seeing, the writer sees considerable significance in this individual.

Besides Gen 14, the only other time his name occurs in the OT is in Psalm 110, but this gives us the critical link. “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’ ” (Ps 110:4). To be “according to the order of” means to serve in the same capacity as and with the same effect as” Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews tells us that is true of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This psalm (verse 1) was quoted in Hebrews 1:13 to show that the Son is greater than the angels. Jesus quoted it in Matthew 22:44, raising the question among the Pharisees about whom the psalm was speaking. “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’ ” (Psalm 110:1). Their standard understanding was that David was referring to himself, but Jesus challenged them that such an interpretation could not possibly be right. Peter, at the conclusion of his Pentecostal sermon in Acts 2:33-35, asserted that this verse referred to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His being seated at the right hand of the Father. Peter summed up by saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36).

This is what is called a “Messianic Psalm,” that is, it prophesies of the coming Messiah, who ultimately was revealed to be the Lord Jesus Christ. David, the author, was saying, the “Lord” (referring to Yahweh, or God), made a promise to “my Lord” (referring not to David as the Pharisees taught, but to the Messiah). This is none other than Jesus Christ.

The point for our study today is that in contrast to “mortal” priests, this One who received a tithe from Abraham was a priest in the order of Melchizedek who “lives on” (Heb 7:8) as a “priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:4). We are beginning to see what many have called a “pre-incarnate” manifestation of the second person of the Trinity, Christ the Son! He is the same One who said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).

Lord, I am so glad for Your Son the Lord Jesus who is my eternal high priest always making intercession for me. I would have no hope without Him.