No, You Do Not Hold The Melchizedek Priesthood

As you are turning to Hebrews 7, I want to point you back to the beginning of the thought that the author picks up here in chapter seven, which really began in Hebrews 5:6.

That verse quotes Psalm 110:4, applying that ancient song of Israel prophetically to Jesus Christ. Psalm 110:4 sings, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

The author underscores this identification emphatically and clearly just a few verses later, in Hebrews 5:9–10, saying, “And being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

And at this point, all of us are saying, basically, “Go on…” I mean, I of course know what you’re talking about, but for anyone who doesn’t in the room, could you explain it to me like I’m five Right? Who is that? What does that mean? Who is Melchizedek and what does he have to do with Jesus? What is Psalm 110:4 all about? And you expect the author of Hebrews to elaborate and explain and apply what he means, but he doesn’t.

Instead, he goes into an aside that took us from Hebrews 5:11 all the way through the end of chapter 6 on pushing on past doctrinal infancy and into maturity, as well as a warning not to apostatize, to fall away from Christ, explaining along the way the grounds for our security in Christ, anchored in God’s character and promises like a steel bolt in granite.

...It will actually become the meat of the center of the whole book of Hebrews. And so here in chapter seven, verse one, he picks that thread up again and continues tugging on it.

Look with me at Hebrews 7:1, if you would. This is the Word of the Living God:

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”

-Hebrews 7:1–10
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See, this topic—of Jesus’ ultimate, undying high priesthood after the order of Melchizedek—is essential for Christians everywhere and all the time, but there are unique circumstances that make it especially relevant for us, situated in the heart of Mormon country as we are.

Mormon theology teaches that there are two orders of priests, both of which continue today: The Aaronic and the Melchizedek Priesthood—the Melchizedek Priesthood being the higher order.

They teach that the Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Adam in the Garden, passed on to Abel and Seth, his sons, and then given to all the Patriarchs going forward—including Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and through Moses.

They further teach that this priesthood would have been granted to the nation of Israel, but that they were found unworthy of it. That’s important, because they then believe and teach that both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through special visitations to Joseph Smith.

Now, the LDS church claims to grant the Melchizedek Priesthood to worthy males of 18 years of age and older. This supposedly grants those male members the authority to grant priestly blessings to their families, as well as exercise authoritative priestly ministry in their homes. Raise of hands if you’re comfortable, how many men here have been told that you were a member of the Melchizedek Priesthood? See?

This matters deeply, and it matters because, number one, this understanding of the Melchizedek Priesthood is found nowhere in Scripture, and number two, it matters because of what the author of Hebrews teaches us in this very chapter of Scripture.

In these first ten verses of Hebrews 7, the author of the book teaches us the origins, the qualifications, and the supremacy of the Melchizedek Priesthood—and in the process will shows us why this Priesthood consists now, and will always consist, into eternity future, of a single, living, High Priest: The Lord Jesus Christ.