Gospel Outreach International

Have you ever wondered about the mysterious figure of Melchizedek and his connection to Jesus Christ? This Bible study explores the profound significance of Melchizedek’s priesthood and how it prefigures Christ’s eternal priesthood. Through examining the few but crucial mentions of Melchizedek in Scripture, we discover important truths about Jesus’s role as our perfect High Priest.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, Hebrews 7:1

• Melchizedek was both the king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God, whose name means “king of righteousness” and whose city (Salem) means “peace”
• He blessed Abraham and received tithes from him, demonstrating his superior spiritual position
• Unlike the Aaronic priesthood, Melchizedek’s priesthood was not based on genealogy or inheritance
• Modern Christianity sometimes reverts to Old Testament patterns, creating separate priestly classes despite the New Testament teaching of the priesthood of all believers
• Christ’s priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood because it is permanent, effective, and based on His own eternal nature
• The old system under Aaron was inadequate and failed because it was based on law rather than grace
• God confirmed Christ’s eternal priesthood with an oath, demonstrating its supreme importance

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22

What a wonderful study of how Jesus fulfills and surpasses the priesthood of Melchizedek! While Melchizedek was a remarkable figure who blessed Abraham and received tithes, Jesus is the perfect reality of what Melchizedek only modeled. As our text shows, Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who lives forever and whose sacrifice was complete and final. Unlike the temporary priests of the Old Testament, Jesus continues His priestly work eternally, saving completely those who come to God through Him. This gives us great confidence in approaching God through Christ, our perfect High Priest.

Bible References

• Hebrews 7:1-28
• Genesis 14:17-20
• Psalm 110:4
• Galatians 5:22-23