Hebrews 5:6
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Here in our text the writer of Hebrews (thought by many to be Paul) quotes from Psalm 110 (a Psalm of David) where David referred to the Lord, the Messiah who was to come, a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek appears in Genesis 14, seemingly coming out of nowhere, ministering bread and wine to Abram. His name means “king of righteousness” and his position was king of Salem meaning “peace.” Abram, realizing he was in the presence of no ordinary man, worshiped and paid tithes to him.
This is most likely a Christophany – an Old Testament appearance of Christ. Two thousand years before Christ came to die for our sin, Melchizedek brings the symbols of his death – bread and wine, the elements of communion. Abram partook of Melchizedek’s bread and wine in anticipation of Jesus – just as we now partake in looking back to Christ’s death for us on the cross.
The Truth
“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:8-10)
