"Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well."
(Hebrews 7:11-12)
Jesus is described in Hebrews as "Our High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek"
What does that mean?
Who is Melchizedek?
Why is it imperative we be liberated from the bondage of the Levitical Priesthood?
This section closes with a poem, "Thank you Ray" which touches on a piece of one story of emancipation.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.
(He was priest of God Most High.)
And he blessed him and said,
'Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!'
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
(Genesis 14:18)
Melchizedek appears at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 14.
“Melchi” מלך means “my king.” At that time, a king was usually a secular manager, not a priest.
"Zedek" צדק can be translated as "righteousness," or alignment with natural laws. The laws of the natural world are indicators of of God's hand. The opposite of the spirit of 'zadek,' or righteousness, would be obliviousness to surroundings, self-centeredness rather than sensitivity to the whole, not in harmony with “the kingdom of heaven in the midst of us.” (Luke 15:21)
"Salem" means "peace." Melchizedek is a righteous priest-king of the city of peace, approaching Abram in the desert to bless him with bread and wine.
Does that sound familiar?
When we read , the Spirit makes connections, yes?
What role does Melchizedek play in the story?
Abram had gone to rescue his nephew Lot. Earlier, they had peacefully parted ways in order to allow enough space for each of their respective families and herds to thrive. The peacefulness of the parting came from Abram,
“Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. I f you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9)
Abram is generous in both word and deed. Lot chooses the richer land but is then taken as a prisoner of war and needs a savior who turns out to be Uncle Abram (Genesis 14:12). With only 368 men against 5 kings, Abram is successful. Upon return from the rescue, Abram is greeted by Melchizedek, the High King-Priest of Salem, who blesses him with bread and wine. Abram is so moved, that he spontaneously gives Melchizedek a tenth of all he has. Melchizedek's blessing is an affirmation of Abram’s action in trusting God and retrieving Lot, “the lost sheep,” unintimidated by the 5 armies. Directly after being blessed, Abram resists the King of Sodom's financial reward, seeking only to honor his promise to God and assure God gets the credit for Abram's fortunes.
"But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Posessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or untying that is yours lest you should say, "I have made Abram rich." I will take nothing but what the young mean have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me."
Melchizedek's blessing protected and fortified Abram's faith in and surrender to "The LORD Most High." The whole story is retold and expanded upon close to the end of the Bible in the book of Hebrews.
“Melchi” מלך means “my king.” At that time, a king was usually a secular manager, not a priest.
"Zedek" צדק can be translated as "righteousness," or alignment with natural laws. The laws of the natural world are indicators of of God's hand. The opposite of the spirit of 'zadek,' or righteousness, would be obliviousness to surroundings, self-centeredness rather than sensitivity to the whole, not in harmony with “the kingdom of heaven in the midst of us.” (Luke 15:21)
"Salem" means "peace." Melchizedek is a righteous priest-king of the city of peace, approaching Abram in the desert to bless him with bread and wine.
Does that sound familiar?
When we read , the Spirit makes connections, yes?
What role does Melchizedek play in the story?
Abram had gone to rescue his nephew Lot. Earlier, they had peacefully parted ways in order to allow enough space for each of their respective families and herds to thrive. The peacefulness of the parting came from Abram,
“Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. I f you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8-9)
Abram is generous in both word and deed. Lot chooses the richer land but is then taken as a prisoner of war and needs a savior who turns out to be Uncle Abram (Genesis 14:12). With only 368 men against 5 kings, Abram is successful. Upon return from the rescue, Abram is greeted by Melchizedek, the High King-Priest of Salem, who blesses him with bread and wine. Abram is so moved, that he spontaneously gives Melchizedek a tenth of all he has. Melchizedek's blessing is an affirmation of Abram’s action in trusting God and retrieving Lot, “the lost sheep,” unintimidated by the 5 armies. Directly after being blessed, Abram resists the King of Sodom's financial reward, seeking only to honor his promise to God and assure God gets the credit for Abram's fortunes.
"But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Posessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or untying that is yours lest you should say, "I have made Abram rich." I will take nothing but what the young mean have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me."
Melchizedek's blessing protected and fortified Abram's faith in and surrender to "The LORD Most High." The whole story is retold and expanded upon close to the end of the Bible in the book of Hebrews.
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"Jesus Compared to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. |
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"For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110)
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’” (Psalm 110)
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."
Why does this story matter?
Abraham is considered the father of three faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Melchizedek's life is indestructible; he precedes and is superior to Abram as evidenced by the fact that Abram is blessed by him, pays tithes to him, and is protected by his blessing.
Melchizedek's bread and wine blessing change everything. Abram then with Hagar, fathers Ishmael and his descendants, multitudes. Next, Abraham and Sarah, though beyond child-bearing year, produce Isaac whose offspring multiply into "many nations." Thousands of years later, Jesus lifted up and a loaf of bread for a blessing and it multiplied to feed five thousand (Luke 9:16). Life came abundantly through both blessings; God can give life!
Hebrews is believed to be written by Apollos, not Paul. Assuming Hebrews is not written by Paul, that means Paul never mentions Melchizedek at all, ever, and glaringly omits any mention of him in Romans when detailing Abraham's righteousness. Isn't it essentially Paul who deifies Jesus? Jesus says he is the Christ but does not say he is God and does not say to worship him. He calls himself the "Son of Man" over and over again, emphasizing his shared humanity with us, his brother hood; "OUR father who art in heaven." Jesus is impatient and racist and human and annoyed. "And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Furthermore, God says to listen to him; instead, we worship him. He didn't say to do that!
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,
"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram is a clear example of God affirming doing the “right thing” (trusting God and right action). Melchizedek and Jesus belonged to the same “order.” It says that in Hebrews. This is too hard for the church, the temple, the mosque, the synagog, the world to hear. After all, that would mean that miracles, large and small, are all the work of one God. With no picky details to fight about, what would we do? For example, Peter could have continued to walk on the water just like Jesus but for his lack of faith.
My first inkling of this faulty paradigm is unforgettable. After my husband died, I started to "date" (whatever that means) a man named Ray who confused and overwhelmed me completely with talk of the Order of Melchizedek and the negation of the Levitical priesthood, totally foreign territory to me. I escaped his seeming insanity and my complex agitation on an eight-hour Bolt bus-ride, studied, and read and had my mind blown by what I didn't know I didn't know and its implications
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110)
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’” (Psalm 110)
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."
Why does this story matter?
Abraham is considered the father of three faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Melchizedek's life is indestructible; he precedes and is superior to Abram as evidenced by the fact that Abram is blessed by him, pays tithes to him, and is protected by his blessing.
Melchizedek's bread and wine blessing change everything. Abram then with Hagar, fathers Ishmael and his descendants, multitudes. Next, Abraham and Sarah, though beyond child-bearing year, produce Isaac whose offspring multiply into "many nations." Thousands of years later, Jesus lifted up and a loaf of bread for a blessing and it multiplied to feed five thousand (Luke 9:16). Life came abundantly through both blessings; God can give life!
Hebrews is believed to be written by Apollos, not Paul. Assuming Hebrews is not written by Paul, that means Paul never mentions Melchizedek at all, ever, and glaringly omits any mention of him in Romans when detailing Abraham's righteousness. Isn't it essentially Paul who deifies Jesus? Jesus says he is the Christ but does not say he is God and does not say to worship him. He calls himself the "Son of Man" over and over again, emphasizing his shared humanity with us, his brother hood; "OUR father who art in heaven." Jesus is impatient and racist and human and annoyed. "And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Furthermore, God says to listen to him; instead, we worship him. He didn't say to do that!
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind,
"You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram is a clear example of God affirming doing the “right thing” (trusting God and right action). Melchizedek and Jesus belonged to the same “order.” It says that in Hebrews. This is too hard for the church, the temple, the mosque, the synagog, the world to hear. After all, that would mean that miracles, large and small, are all the work of one God. With no picky details to fight about, what would we do? For example, Peter could have continued to walk on the water just like Jesus but for his lack of faith.
My first inkling of this faulty paradigm is unforgettable. After my husband died, I started to "date" (whatever that means) a man named Ray who confused and overwhelmed me completely with talk of the Order of Melchizedek and the negation of the Levitical priesthood, totally foreign territory to me. I escaped his seeming insanity and my complex agitation on an eight-hour Bolt bus-ride, studied, and read and had my mind blown by what I didn't know I didn't know and its implications
Thank you, Ray
Freddy and I
came untied
when he died
my first love
good night
enough, thought I,
for a lifetime;
Children left -
me, bereft beset,
immersed in work
wept
fireside
late nights
there I slept
two years more or less
traveled far
to seek
went within
to pray
meditate
led to seminary
Isaiah, Psalms,
Jerusalem,
Matthew, John;
Enter Ray
who says
by way
of his BE-ing
"WAKE!
sleep walker
to the truth
of Ferguson,
Brown,
of Levitical priesthood
that grabbed
your pussy
tied it up
spun you three times
asked that you strut
and pin the tail
on Balaam's donkey
blind
to the angel
waving a flag
of energy,
music,
love, food,
news
of injustice,
wake up
sleepy head
God's not done
with you yet!"
Enter Ray
who said,
"Alchemist's tale
challenges
the frail
wail
of preachers' triune
creation, the tune
of Nicaea
in 325
where to decide
for Christ's divinity
was the override
in overdrive
by Constantine
seeking
the power of unity
at the head of the sea
of humanity
All will bow down
to HE!!!
(Constantine)
Great God
Crowned now
No opposition
allowed -
Heresy!! Heresy!"
Enter Ray
who introduced
Melchizedek's
truth
"New law,
new High Priest,
of good,
new hood;
Goodbye Levites
with your rules
your not cool,
what's right
uptight
regulations
your constrictions
suffocations,
boa-tight
nations
Abram's tithe
bears witness
to movement
'tween there and here
beyond the veil
is near
some cross over
to and fro
leave faces
to glow
with recognition
of the truth
of transmutation
twixt our roots
in heaven
and in earth
hummus human
dance, sing,
give birth
love your lovers
kiss your babes
share your assets
none enslaved
by minds'
impositions
legitimized
scriptural
'terpretations
solidified
to rock
eroding
as we talk
keep it real
instead
the best rock
is unseen
a process
of keeping clean
principles
guide us to
be together
me and you
widow me
that's true
but one that's free
to choose
to be alive
remaining days
til I cross over
through the Way
thank you Ray
Standall
never ever bail
on your holy grail.
***