(1) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2) 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; (3) 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. (4) Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (5) 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: (6) But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (7) And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. (8) And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. (9) And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. (10) For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
The Holy Ghost, by the Apostle, had more than once mentioned this extraordinary person Melchizedec; but now he enters into a more particular account of him in this Chapter. He hath given us several very leading characters in relation to his office, by way of illustrating the glorious Person, of whom he was a type, which are truly interesting, And, although the Lord hath been pleased to leave some obscurity in the subject who Melchizedec was, yet, there is enough to call forth the warmest praises of the Church to God the Holy Ghost, for an information which tends to raise our views of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the most exalted and blessed manner.
The Lord opens the Chapter with his name, Melchizedec, which is a compound word from Melek, King, and Tzedek, Justice; and, as the blessed Spirit himself hath rendered it, King of righteousness. If the Reader hath my Poor Man's Concordance by him, which was lately published in Penny Numbers, he will find a particular account of this name, Melchizedec.
The Lord the Spirit next proceeds to state the scriptural history, which He had before given of Melchizedec, as in Genesis 14:18 &c, in which we behold him in his High Priestly office. See Genesis 14:1 and Commentary. And having thus introduced him to the Church, both by name and office, and described him as King of righteousness, and King of peace; the Lord adds one feature more concerning the wonders of his Person, which had not been before mentioned, and which raiseth the greatness of his character, beyond any being merely human, for he saith, 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. And God the Holy Ghost bids the Church consider how great this man was.
It hath pleased the Lord to throw a veil over the person of this most extraordinary man, which must forever preclude an absolute decision concerning him, while the Church is in her present time state. But, as a type of Jesus, what is here said is abundant to give the most satisfying conviction, how infinitely great the Lord Jesus must be, to whom a man, without father or mother, or beginning of days, or end of life, only ministered, but as a shadow. I will beg the Reader's consideration of the subject in this point of view, as of all others the most profitable.
Amidst all the obscurity we meet in this account of Melchizedec, if he be considered as a type of Christ, nothing could have been so happily chosen for that representation. He is declared to be greater than Abraham, with whom the promises of the Covenant were deposited. He is said to be greater than Aaron: for he was not only priest of the most High God, before Aaron was born, but before the Church of Israel was formed. And as typical of Christ, Melchizedec is set forth as no other type, in all the word of God is done, I mean for the eternity of Christ's nature; for this could never have been shadowed by any expressions like those which conceal Melchizedec's origin, in having neither father, nor mother, beginning of days or end of life. I wish the Reader to pay a more than ordinary attention to this great point.
Upon a subject of such vast moment, I desire never to speak decidedly; but rather propose, what I have to offer, in a way of question, to the Reader's own judgment. And hence I would ask, on the supposition, God the Holy Ghost really intended, that Melchizedec should be a type of the Lord Jesus Christ; how could he represent the eternity of Christ, in any form of words than in the very words he hath chosen? Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, or end of life. In all the types of Christ, which have relation to his offices, there is no obscurity whatever. The Brazen Serpent, the Rock, the Manna, the Passover: the morning and evening Lamb: the day of atonement all these are types and shadows, which have their accomplishment in Christ's offices: and these, when explained by divine teaching, open very clear, and decided demonstrations, to the several parts of Christ's Offices, unto which they ministered. But here, where God the Holy Ghost, would set forth to the Church, the eternity of Christ's Person; there was no being, either man, or angel, which could in any way, or form whatever, prefigure Christ's eternal nature; and therefore Melchizedec, shall typify the greatness and superiority of his priesthood, beyond every other; but of his Person, the eternity of his Being shall be shewn by a total silence, from whence he sprung; and declaring him to have been without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. I beg once more the Reader to study the subject a little closely. I do not (as I said before) wish to speak decidedly. But on the presumption, God the Holy Ghost did intend, to bring forward this man Melchizedec as a type of Jesus; let anyone say, how could the Lord more fully imply by figure, the eternity of the Son of God, acting as our High Priest? In all the records of men we meet in scripture history, it is the invariable custom, to introduce persons, who are more eminently distinguished than others, with their genealogy, from father to son: and sometimes, this is carried on through a long pedigree. But here, where the greatest man among the Patriarchs which ever lived; greater than Abraham, greater than Aaron, and the Priest of the most high God is introduced, we are told that he is without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. And wherefore this obscurity? Is it not (I ask the question) because, in this very instance, this greater than Abraham, and all the Patriarchs, was hereby to typify His Person, in the eternity of his nature, concerning whom the Prophet, in after ages demanded; And who shall declare his generation? Isaiah 53:8
I pass by making any observations, on the several things spoken of concerning the inferiority, implied in the Levitical priesthood. For if the eternity of Christ, as here shadowed forth, be admitted, all beside follow of course. Levi, receiving tythes, who paid tythes in Abraham, is a beautiful thought, to represent the oneness of Christ, and his people. For all the seed of Christ, are in Christ virtually, and truly so, before they are brought to the knowledge of Christ, as Abraham did to Melchizedec. It is a blessed point to have always in view, that by the ancient and eternal settlements among the Persons of the Godhead; Christ and his seed, were from everlasting One. That, holy portion of human nature, which was to form one with the divine nature of the Son of God, and thereby constitute one Person, Christ, contained in it, the millions of the persons of Christ's seed, which were to arise out of it, to form Christ's mystical body, to all eternity. Hence it is said, that both He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all of one, Hebrews 2:11. So that the seed of Christ, before they are brought to lay hold of Christ, are; (as Levi was, in the loins of Abraham), one with Christ, from all eternity. Jesus could not have been the Head of his body the Church, as Head, one moment before the body, as the body: neither the everlasting Father before he had children; neither Husband before the Church was his Wife. So very blessed is the consideration of the eternity of Christ's Person; and his character, and relation, as the Head of his body the Church; the fulness of him, which filleth all in all, Ephesians 1:23.