Thepriesthood of Melchizedek is a role inAbrahamic religions, modelled onMelchizedek, combining the dual position of king and priest.[1]
Melchizedek is a king and priest appearing in theBook of Genesis. The name means "King of Righteousness" – a name echoing kingly and priestly functions.[2] He is the first individual to be given the titleKohen (priest) in theHebrew Bible.
In theKing James Version the Book of Psalms 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel'sDavidic line was ordained.[3] Alternatively, it is suggested this term was here intended to be treated as anagglutinated improper noun, and thus translated asrightful king rather than left as a proper nameMelchizedek; this interpretation is taken by some modern translations, such as the NewJPS Tanakh.[citation needed]
TheLaw of Moses stipulates that only the male descendants ofAaron be commissioned to serve asKohenim priests beforeYahweh and the Jewish nation. This commission is believed in Judaism to be "acovenant of everlasting priesthood" and not eligible for replacement by othertribes of Israel.
Judaicmidrash (exegesis) identifies Melchizedek withShem the son ofNoah.[4] Although theBook of Genesis affirms that Melchizedek was "priest of God Most High" (Genesis 14:18), theMidrash andBabylonian Talmud maintain that the priesthood held byMelchizedek, who pre-dated the patriarch Levi by five generations (Melchizedek pre-dates Aaron by six generations; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehoth, Amram, Aaron), was given in his stead to Abraham who, in turn, passed it on to his patrilineal descendants, Isaac and then to Jacob. Midrashic literature attributes this transition as a consequence due to Melchizedek preceding the name ofAbraham to that of God, such as in theMidrash Rabbah to Genesis,[5] while some Jewish commentators, such asChaim ibn Attar, write that Melchizedek gave the priesthood to Abraham willingly.
Maimonides, in hisMishneh Torah, explains thatJacob separated his sonLevi from his other sons and appointed him to instruct and teach the ways of "service to God", specifically the servicial methods used by his forefatherAbraham, to his brothers. He also instructed his sons to perpetuate this status of Levi ("Shevet Levi") for eternity (Maimonides, Avodah Zorah 1:15). For the prelude of this choice seeTargum Jonathan to Genesis 32:25, and/orPirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer ch. 37. In midrash, it is written thatAmram the son ofKohath the son of Levi was the spiritual leader of the sons of Jacob ("Israel") during their Egyptian Bondage.[citation needed] Following his death, his post was assumed by his son Aaron.
At the time of the erection of theTabernacle, the bible says that God commanded Moses to appoint Aaron and his sons to the Jewish priestly service as a precondition to God revealing hisShekhinah amongst the nation of Israel:
And Aaron and his sons I will sanctify to serve me and I will dwell amidst the sons of Israel and I will be to them a God, and they will know that I (am) God their Master that took them out from the land of Egypt (in order that) I (will) dwell in their midst
— Exodus 29:44-46
The majority ofChazalic literature attributes the primary character of psalm 110 asKing David[6] who was a "righteous king" (מלכי צדק) of Salem (Jerusalem) and, like Melchizedek, had certain priest-like responsibilities, while theBabylonian Talmud understands the chapter as referring to Abram who was victorious in battling to save his nephew Lot and merited priesthood.[7] The Zohar defines the noted Melchizedek as referring toAhron,High Priest of Israel.[8]
Christians believe thatJesus is theMessiah spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of the king-priest once and for all. According to the writer ofHebrews (7:13-17) Jesus is considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not adescendant of Aaron, and thus would not qualify for the Jewish priesthood under theLaw of Moses.
Melchizedek is referred to again inHebrews 5:6-10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-21: "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"; and Hebrews 8:1.
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" (Hebrews 7:5-6).
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 Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:11-12).
The author of theEpistle to the Hebrews in theNew Testament discussed this subject considerably, listing the following reasons for why the priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to the Aaronic priesthood:
The epistle goes on to say that thecovenant of Jesus is superior to thecovenant the Levitical priesthood is under. Some Christians hold that Melchizedek was atype of Christ, and some other Christians hold that Melchizedek indeedwas Christ. Reasons provided include that Melchizedek's name means "king of righteousness" according to the author of Hebrews, and that being king of Salem makes Melchizedek the "king of peace". Heb. 7:3 states, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he (Melchizedek) remains a priest forever." Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine, which Christians generally consider to pre-figure theEucharist, being symbols or sacraments of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and perhaps a sacrifice to confirm a covenant.[citation needed]
Catholics believe that Melchizedek was aprefiguration of the priesthood of Christ(CCC 1544).[9] InGenesis 14:18, Melchizedek offers a sacrifice of bread and wine. Catholics believe that Christ therefore fulfilled the prophecy of Ps 110:4, that he would be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" at theLast Supper, when he initiated the sacrifice of theNew Covenant with hisdisciples— his body and blood under the appearances of bread and wine. Melchizedek and his offering are explicitly referenced as a foreshadowing of theSacrifice of the Mass in the liturgical prayers of theRoman Canon of the Catholic Mass. Catholic priests, in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, are priests inasmuch as theyparticipate(CCC 1547) in the one priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchizedek due to theirordination.
In theLatter Day Saint movement, the Melchizedek priesthood is viewed as the priesthood authority of theTwelve Apostles ofJesus, as well asOld Testament prophets, higher than that of theAaronic authority ofJohn the Baptist and of the Levites.
According to theBook of Mormon, the prophetMelchizedek preached repentance to the people of a wicked city, and established peace in the land. According toAlma 13:18, Melchizedek's efforts earned him the title "the prince of peace". Of particular importance is the parallel Hebrew meaning of "prince of peace" and "king of Salem", another of Melchizedek's titles, and his association with (ortypology of) Jesus Christ, who is also called thePrince of Peace (Isa. 9:2), as well as the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14). Later, Melchizedek's people were, according toJoseph Smith, caught up, or "translated", to meet the city of Enoch (Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 14:34). The priesthood is referred to by the name of Melchizedek because he was such a great high priest (Doctrine & CovenantsSection 107:2). TheDoctrine and Covenants states that before Melchizedek's day the Priesthood "was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too-frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in the ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood" (Doctrine and CovenantsSection 107:3-4). Initially, the only Melchizedek Priesthood office in the Latter Day Saint movement wasElder. Later revelations extended the office complement toSeventy,High Priest,Patriarch andApostle.