Eternal Priest
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make Your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion Your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of Your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of Your youth will be Yours. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
– PSALM 110:1-4 ESV –
In Matthew 22:41-44, Jesus quotes today’s prophecy to shut the mouths of the know-it-all Pharisees. The Holy Spirit also used it in Acts 2:34-35 in Peter’s first sermon, and again in Hebrews 7:15-17 to describe the far better priesthood of Jesus Christ.
This psalm of David clearly shows the eternality of the Messiah (110:1) and ties back to the Scepter of Shiloh (110:2) which we have already seen in Jacob’s prophecy (Genesis 49:10/Day 5).
Not only will Messiah be a King, but also a Priest. However, not a priest from the prescribed tribe of Levi, but “a priest FOREVER after the order of Melchizedek” (110:4).
Melchizedek (“King of Righteousness”) was king over the city of Salem (“Peace” – later to be called Jerusalem) who was also called the “Priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). Woah. King of Righteousness and King of Peace.
This intriguing King/Priest blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he owned long before the law was even given (Genesis 14:18-20)! Intrigued? Hebrews 7 fills in the blanks of this mystery for us. Read it and you’ll discover that Melchizedek is Jesus!
Through Christmas, Jesus stepped into the Priesthood. Unlike the weakness, imperfection, and inadequacy of the vast line of earthly priests, Priest Jesus, as the Holy Lamb of God, literally offered Himself as the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice to permanently atone for sin! Wow!
What Priest is also the Sacrifice? Ours.
“Consequently, He is able to save completely – forever – to the uttermost – those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25 ESV).
Hallelujah!
While we await The Return of the King, let’s celebrate what Jesus did as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).
