What is the Order of Melchizedek and Who is it Composed of?

Melchizedek is a priest who appears briefly in the Book of Genesis. Melchizedek’s priesthood was different from the Levitical priesthood which was appointed for Israel under the Law of Moses. Unlike the Levitical priests, Melchizedek was a king as well as a priest. Melchizedek’s priesthood was also not based upon genealogy like the Levitical Priesthood was. The Book of Psalms (which was written after the Levitical Priesthood had been established for Israel) spoke of a priest who was yet to come after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110: “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.”

Besides being proof from the Old Testament that the Messiah would suffer humility on earth before being exalted to the Father’s right hand as a priest after the order of Melchizedek and a king who would return to crush His enemies under His feet, Psalm 110 also demonstrates that it was the Lord’s intention to replace the Levitical Priesthood eventually. It was His intention to establish a New Covenant through the priesthood of Melchizedek which would supersede the covenant which He had made with the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. This New Covenant would not have a different morality because the morality in the Law of Moses reflects the moral law of God (which never changes since God never changes). Yet it would mean a better covenant based upon better promises.

These things are explained in Hebrews chapter 7. The writer of Hebrews goes back to Genesis chapter 14 where Abraham pays tithes to Melchizedek after Abraham’s victory over the oppressing kings which he had just defeated.

Reading Hebrews 7:1-22: “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron (my note- that is a reference to the Levitical priesthood which Moses’ brother Aaron was the first High Priest under)? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh (near) unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety (i.e. a guarantee) of a better testament (that is, of a better covenant).”

This priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek has replaced the Levitical priesthood. Melchizedek in Genesis may very well have been an appearance of Jesus Christ before His incarnation (like the Captain of the Lord’s host in Joshua chapter 5). It is even seen a few chapters later in Genesis 18 how one of the three men who met with Abraham before Sodom’s destruction was the Lord Himself. What the writer of Hebrews says about Melchizedek at least proves that the Lord was deliberate in not recording anything about him before or after his interaction with Abraham.

Going back to Hebrews 7:3 (which says concerning Melchizedek): “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

This priesthood of Melchizedek combines royal authority and priestly authority. Only Jesus has been given an oath that He is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This New Covenant priesthood is a heavenly one which is not for men on earth who are mortal and have infirmity.

Continuing in Hebrews 7:23-28: “And they (i.e. the Levitical priests) truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”

Melchizedek in Genesis was either Jesus Himself or a foreshadow of Jesus’ heavenly priesthood which no other has a part in. There are only two established priesthoods appointed in the Bible. One of these (the Levitical priesthood) is not operating anymore by God’s appointment. The other, the Order of Melchizedek, is a heavenly priesthood which is reserved only for Jesus Christ. This means that any church with a specific group of clergy which operates as priests is deceitful.

Does not Revelation 1:6 say that Jesus has made those who believe in Him kings and priests unto God and His father? Yes, this is said in a general way of obedient believers who walk in the light of his Word. It is not speaking of a separate priestly class among Christians like the Levitical priests under the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, which had an appointed separated class of priests, even then every Israelite who worshiped and served God faithfully was a priest in a general, non-institutional way.

Exodus 19:3-6: “And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

This general way of calling every faithful Israelite a priest didn’t involve meditation in the way that the Levitical priesthood was appointed to operate. This is obviously the case regarding the general way in which faithful Christians are called priests in Revelation 1:6.

The appointed mediation of the Levitical priests under the Old Covenant was directly related to how the actual atonement for sin had not been made yet. Though the Old Testament sacrifices could not actually atone for sin, those who followed the Lord’s directions in obedience concerning sacrifice with a contrite heart received justification. This was the Lord’s prescribed way under the Old Covenant of people hoping in and partaking of the actual atonement which Jesus would eventually make on the cross.

The prescribed sacrifices in the Law of Moses and the prescribed mediation of the Levitical priesthood were inseparable. It makes sense then that a church now with an institutionalized, formal priesthood would make up reasons why its priests have to make Christ’s sacrifice present to the people; and why people ought to come to their priests in order to receive justification.

Section 1367 of the Catholic Catechism says: “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: “The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.” “And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner… this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.” (End quote)

The Catholic Church considers its communion offerings to be propitiatory (i.e. atoning) as it believes that Christ is offered in an unbloody manner and presented in person through the ritual of its priests at each Mass. The same can be said of the Eastern Orthodox Church regarding its Divine Liturgy.

We never see the Apostles of Christ or any Christian leaders in the Bible telling people that they need to come to them and do a sacrament of confession in order to receive God’s forgiveness. Not even Christ’s own Apostles were given power to mediate between God and men. One of them even said that directly.

1 Timothy 2:5-6: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”