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Who was/is Melchizedek?

I know that in Hebrews 7:14-17 it states that Jesus is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.   And in Hebrews 7:3 it states that Melchizedek was the king of Salem (or king of Peace).  That was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.”  There are also several verses in the Psalms that mention his name and he is first noted in Genesis 14:18

Too interesting!  Is there any other information on this High Priest that someone can share for my studies?

May the Lord bless you.

JamesD

Two views:

1) GENERALLY CHRISTIANS BELIEVE

It was Yeshua in angelic manifestation (Angel of the L-RD)


2) GENERALLY MESSIANIC JEWS BELIEVE

It was Shem whose service to Abraham was a type of Yeshua High Priest.

ie Shem, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David etc all  in some way communicated the attributes of Mashiach while themselves not being Mashiach. Shem - high priest, Isaac - sacrfice, Joseph - salvation and initial rejection of his brothers, Moses -law giver, David - King...

Now regarding 'Malki-Tzedek'...  Yeshua does not have beginning of days since we believe He was G-d but when considering Shem (who was only a man) the parallel with Yeshua (G-d/man) is that his service as a priest was never formally ordained and recorded in the Tanakh and hence communicating that King Mashiach will be from Eternity and that His true identity is not because of genealogies but because of G-ds Spirit and power. This should have forced the Levites to stay humble and not to think too high of themselves because of their privilege before Isra'el and G-d. Later in the Tanakh we find out He will be from the tribe of Judah through David. Yeshua fulfilled all the requirements the Tanakh gave and is therefore the rightful King Mashiach.

I beleive the second view is more correct but I'm ok with both since both are pointing to Mashiach and both views are focusing and meditating on His person and His revelation that Avrahams story communicated through the Tanakh.

Greetings Prowler!

In regard to your first section of your response – based on my meager understanding, I don’t “feel” that it was Yeshua.  True, though I believe that it was in-line with the spirit of Christ, yet in Hebrews 7:11-12 it states: “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it people received the law) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also to the law.”
My interpretation of the above in regard to “..another priest ….after the order of Melchisedec..”  is meaning that Yeshua is that priest after the order of  Malki-Tzedek.  So my reasoning is that if Jesus is “after” that order it wasn’t him.
I do not have enough knowledge to speak about Shem in that he may had been Malki-Tzedek.  Only to the point that I cannot see how it could be him, if he was just a man.  Based upon my limited understanding in this matter it seems to me that Malki-Tzedek is an eternal High Priest of God that had no mother, or father. This may be one of those mysteries of our God that will be reveled in its time? I think in the heavenly realm, there are wondrous immortal beings made by Him  that we cannot even dare to imagine.  
The Jews being so blessed to be the chosen people of our God may had received the anointing bestowed upon Avraham through Malki-Tzedek directly by God sending him to do so.
In closing, I am in agreement with you.  Just as long as these things point to the Mashiach, it is all good!  As always, the sharing of your insight seems to me profound (in a very good way).

I did not see Abraham, as Thomas, wanting to touch the High Priest of Salem,

So...

Maybe He was Yahweh or Y'shua in a tangible form, percieved by sight!
He was serving Abraham, in a similiar way as Y'shua our Lord and Saviour served the disciples.

I just read the scripture...

So it only strengthens this thought of Peter's...

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv/kjv-...;size=more

Could you possibly be hospitable to God himself and not know it?

Melchizedek

Meaning of the Hebrew word;

The words are:

Melchi = king

Zedek = righteous

Melchi zedek are two words (they aren't a name). This specific term appears twice in the Tanach, once in Genesis 14:18 and once in Psalm 110. Once it is applied to the King of Salem and once to King David.

Would you mind doing a verse-by-verse commentary on Psalm 110? It's only a few verses long. I'd like to know who all the people in it are and exactly what it being said of them.

Just a sidenote.....Yeshua's garment was said to be very costly because it was made without a seam; without seam, sort of like, no beginning and no ending.

His kingdom is eternal, no beginning and no ending, His Spirit (also like a garment because of the baptism in it), also has no beginning and no ending. This was why the Roman soldiers drew lots for the garment. One application of, the kingdom of G-d cometh with violence, and the violent (Roman soldiers) take it by force. Blessings....

Melchizedek is a Christophany of Jesus ... Melchizedek is a priest and king at the same time (Gen.14:18).   No one can hold those two titles except Jesus.  Remember King Uzziah -- he tried to be a priest and burn incense to the Lord and he got leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16-19)