After the Order of Melchizedek

Q. What does "after the order of Melchizedek"mean and who was he?

A. He was a character talked about in several scriptures in Genesis, Psalms and the book of Hebrews. Jewish tradition says that it could possibly be Shem, the son of Noah who had an Academy in Jerusalem to study the things of G-d. He was the only survivor left from the pre-flood world and passed on his knowledge to the righteous of his contemporaries, including Abraham. Christian tradition says he may be Yeshua who existed in some pre-incarnate form and appeared to Abraham. In my opinion, neither scenario is likely.

Let's look at this. Melchizedek is not his name, it is a title meaning "King (Melchi) of righteousness (zedek). Little is really known of him except the scriptures use him as an example of the type of messianic priesthood that was to come, which is what "order of Melchizedek" means. At the time he lived, people could approach G-d on an individual basis. In Exo 19.6 G-d says that He wants to make Israel a nation of "kings and priests.". The word for priest is "kohen" and it means one who draws near, to bring a sacrifice. This word can be used for priests of G-d or pagan priests in the scripture. After the Golden Calf incident, G-d commisioned the sons of Aaron to be the priests. As a result, now it was strictly hereditary.

Melchizedek, whoever he was, lived in an age when anyone who believed in G-d could function in this priestly role. When it says that Yeshua is a priest after the order of Melchidezek it simply means that the "individual" priesthood is coming back and the role it plays in the life of a believer, with Yeshua acting as highpriest. It simply is reverting back to the way it was and more in line with what G-d originally had intended.

Q Doesn't Eph 2.15 say that the law has been done away with in Jesus?

A. Let's look at a few things first. Noboby can do away with G-d's commandments, they are eternal (Mt 5.18, Isa 40.8) so it must means something else. Let's look at verse 14 and 15 and then analyze it, "For he himself is our peace who made both one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,having abolished in his flesh the emnity, the law of commandments in ordinances; that in himself he might make the two into one new man, establishing peace." In the first century there were man-made ordinances passed by the School of Shammai, the leading group of the Pharisees, that seperated Jew and Gentile from eating or associating together and did not even allow a Jew to enter into the house of a Gentile.

That's why the centurion said the Yeshua "it is not lawful for you to come under my roof, but say the word and my servant will be healed." These ordinances or commands, are called the 18 edicts. ALfred Edersheims book "The life and times of Jesus the Messiah" (p .166) talks about them. These "fences " were put in place to keep the Jewish people from defiling themselves by eating unkosher food and other types of uncleanliness. Well, G-d never said a Jew could not go into a gentiles house. It is those man -made commands and ordinances that are being broken down so that Jew and Gentile can be one in Messiah. The term "ordinances" is the Greek word for "dogma" or man-made commands. So let's look at this again."

For he himself (Yeshua) might make the two (Jew and Gentile) into one (group, body, bride,olive tree, etc) and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall (the man-made fences, 18 edicts that separated the two) having abolished (made useless) in his flesh the emnity(the antagonism between the two caused by) the law of commandments in ordinances( dogmas, man-made doctrines and opinions of men) that in himself (Yeshua) he might make the two (Jew and Gentile) into one new man, establishing peace (between the two)".. So, in short, Yeshua is breaking down the man-made fences and dogmas that seperated Jews and Gentiles so that we can felllowship together, following the L-rd in peace. This verse has nothing to do with the Law being done away with. Now, go and study!