“Many Things to Say” – The Priesthood of Melchizedek – Part 4
November 15, 2007
Dear Friends,
In this last installment on the priesthood of Melchizedek, we would like to consider the import of this matter to us personally. The key verse is 1 Peter 2:9:
Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood.
The word of God tells us that we are not only priests, but we are a “royal priesthood.” What is a “royal” priesthood? Let me suggest to you that, as amazing as it may be, we are part of the priesthood of Melchizedek.
The word “royal” is the Greek word basileios. It is from the word basileus which was used referring to the following people to name a few: King Herod, King David, Jesus King of the Jews, King Agrippa and Melchizedek. What Peter is telling us is that believers are part of a “kingly priesthood.” The only kingly priesthood in Scriptures is the order of Melchizedek.
This is not to say that we are high priests of that order. Jesus is currently and forevermore the only high priest of that order. We are not entitled to have tithes paid to us or to receive homage. On the other hand, unless you are of Jewish descent and have a last name like Cohen or some derivation thereof, you are probably not descended from Aaron and therefore not a priest by earthly descent. You are therefore “without father or mother.”
So if, in fact, we are priests after the order of Melchizedek, what are the implications?
- We have a job to do. Our job is the most important job on the planet earth today. The main job of a priest is “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 2:7 NASB) We need to be doing this by preparing ourselves with Bible understanding, preaching the Gospel, recovering the lost and helping those in need.
- We need to be living as holy men live. The priests in the Bible had extra laws that governed their behavior. As holy as the regular men and women of Israel were supposed to be, the priests had even more stringent requirements. We need to remember that we are “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” and “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” (Heb 3:1) We need to be lights in a dark world showing the way to our high priest not in words only, but in deeds.
- We need to remember we are royalty. We don’t do this in a smug or self-confident manner. We do this with a sense of duty, honor and humility that comes with being in the presence of greatness. We do not need to fear men for they can do nothing to us. We do not need to shrink back because we have the power of the universe on our side. We do not need to lose this perspective because of our own personal weaknesses as God uses the weak things in the world to confound the wise.
The writers to the Hebrews sums up the exhortation for us on the order of Melchizedek in what I sometimes refer to as the “lettuce” passage (as the key points each begin with “let us”).
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:19-25 NIV)
Have a great week,
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