The
Melchizedek Priesthood.
According to the Bible: Melchizedek is mentioned
only ten times in the Bible—eight of which are in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
In Israel, priesthood was confined to the lineage of Levi (through Aaron),
whereas kingship was in the lineage of Judah. Consequently, religious priesthood
and political kingship could never be held by the same person. This is what
makes Melchizedek unique. The only glimpse we have of Melchizedek is in the
three brief verses of Genesis 14:18-20. There we are told he that he was both
king of Salem (later Jerusalem), as well as priest of God Most High. Psalm 110:4
is the only other Old Testament scripture referring to Melchizedek. This entire
Psalm is Messianic: Jesus applied it to Himself (Matt.22:43-45; Mark 12:36; Luke
20:42), and Peter reaffirms the early church's understanding of it in Acts
2:34-35, as applying to Jesus. Indeed, the author of Hebrews explains in detail
that Jesus alone is this promised priest after the order of Melchizedek, and
explains just how far superior His priesthood is above Abraham, the Levitical
priesthood and the Mosaic law. Plus, in Jesus, the roles of both king and priest
became united in one person, which had never before been true in Israel.
Zechariah 6:9-14 also portrays this Messianic priest-king relationship without
even using the name Melchizedek. Here Zechariah is told to crown the
current high priest, Joshua, in a highly prophetic act, symbolizing the coming
of Jesus who would ultimately fulfill both roles.
The most important point to note throughout all of this is: with the sole
exception of Genesis 14:18–20, where Melchizedek is first introduced,
virtually every mention of a Melchizedek priesthood in the Bible is in
reference to the specific and unique ministry which Jesus Christ alone
fulfills as God's chosen means of salvation for His people. Nowhere is there
any suggestion that there ever was—or should be—an order of Melchizedek
priests in the Christian church.
Melchizedek was actually a forerunner of Jesus Himself, he prefigured the
way in which Jesus would ultimately work—as both king and priest. His name
is used in the Bible (1) to illustrate this king-priest relationship and (2)
to differentiate his work from that of the Levitical priesthood. And as
discussed above, Zechariah 6:9–15 illustrates this same king-priest
relationship without even mentioning Melchizedek by name. Clearly, then, the
king-priest relationship is more important than the Melchizedek title per se.
Since the Biblical concept of a Melchizedek priesthood always refers to the
unique and exclusive role of Jesus Christ alone, any attempt by mere humans
to appropriate this title or ministry to themselves actually constitutes a
form of blasphemy, by usurping an unique title and function which belong to
Jesus alone. We conclude, therefore, that God could never have authored the institution
of a Melchizedek priesthood order within His church. Indeed, the New
Testament and the history of the Christian church confirm that it never has
had an order of Melchizedek priests.
According to Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith
completely distorted the Biblical view described above by creating fictitious
accounts of Melchizedek within his own "scriptures." His distortions
are found primarily in his Inspired
Version of the Bible in Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7, his Book of Mormon
in Alma 10:7-16 and in his Doctrine & Covenants section 83:2. For
example, he
makes Melchizedek out to be a high priest. The high priesthood, however,
was reserved only for Aaron and his lineage. And Melchizedek actually preceded
Aaron by hundreds of years. The
book of Hebrews also makes a big point that Melchizedek was "without father
or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the
Son of God he remains a priest forever" (Heb. 7:3). His point is that the
priesthood of Melchizedek 1) is perpetual, just like Jesus', and 2) is
superior to Aaron's priesthood which depended on meticulous genealogical records
to transmit its authority. Joseph Smith furthers contradicts the Biblical record
by creating a genealogy for Melchizedek in Doctrine
& Covenants section 83:2. He also tries to make it appear that
there was a long line of Melchizedek priests, which authority was passed from
one generation to another.
For a more in-depth discussion, see my chapter 13, The
Melchizedek Priesthood - A Biblical Analysis, or our tract The
Melchizedek Priesthood.
