The Founder of a Special Priesthood.

Melchizedek was a priest of God who lived at the same time as Abraham. His name means in Hebrew 'King of Righteousness'. He was the king of a small city state called Salem, afterwards known as Jerusalem, making him also 'King of Peace'. Salem, in Hebrew, means 'peace'. After Abraham had conquered the surrounding heathen nations, Melchizedek gave him his blessing in the same way that Jesus Christ now blesses us when we in his absence share a symbolic feast of bread and wine (see Genesis 14:18).

In his letter to the Hebrews the writer demonstrates that Jesus Christ as our high priest and king, is superior to the Mosaic high priests, because he has greater authority and is a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" (see Hebrews chs.6-7). God's perpetual priesthood was vested in Melchizedek long before Israel was a nation, and had its own priests under the Mosaic dispensation. Jesus is now our high priest after this same order, representing us before God; and the order of Melchizedek will be restored again on earth when Jesus returns to be acknowledged as priest and king over the whole earth, which he will rule in peace and righteousness.

David recognised the power and authority, which would be given to his greater descendent when he wrote: "The Lord [God] has sworn and will not change His mind: 'You [Jesus Christ] are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.' The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth." (Psalm 110:4-6).

Mad, Madness
Magic
Man
Martyr
Mary
Mediator
Melchizedek
Memorial
Mercy
Messiah
Michael
Millennium
Minister
  1. The priests in the Old Testament
  2. The angels
  3. Jesus Christ and the apostles
  4. The civil authorities
Miracle
Mission, Missionary
Moderation
Mystery