CHAPTER II. THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK AND THE HAV LORD JESUS CHRIST. AVING touched upon the stupendous power of sin, my work would be incomplete were I not to treat in some detail of the miraculous means by which mankind is justified in the sight of its Maker. The decalogue will be dealt with later on, but just at present I would introduce the reader to one of those pictures, not infrequent in Holy Writ, where the darkness of the surrounding landscape is illumined by the calm light of heaven. It is described in these words : "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be God Most High, which had delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all." (Gen. xiv. 18-20.) Years afterwards the sweet psalmist of Israel thus prophesies : "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, "Thou are a priest for ever "After the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm cx. 4.) And then thousands of years later we are admitted into an upper-room in Judea, in the City of Jerusalem, and whilst watching we see the prophecy fulfilled before our eyes, It is a simple ceremony: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and brake it and He gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My Body. And He took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is shed for many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (St. Matt. xxvi. 26-30; cf. St. Mark xiv. 22-26; St. Luke xxii. 14-23; 1 Cor. xi. 23-34.) And, lastly, we have that marvellous explanation by the inspired writer to the Hebrews:: "We behold Him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God He should taste death for every man. . . Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death He might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. . . . Wherefore it behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus. Having then a great High Priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold self to be made a High Priest, but He that spake unto Him, Thou art My Son, This day have I begotten Thee: as He saith in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. Who in the days of His flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and having been heard for His Godly fear, though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and having been made perfect, He became unto all them that obey Him the Author of eternal salvation; named of God a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek." ... THE HIGH PRIEST THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. Wherefore let us cease to speak of the first principles of Christ, and press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. ... "By God's oath we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us; which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of Peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually. "Now consider how great this Man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils. And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes from Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises. But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made also of necessity a change of the law. For He of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests. And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life: for it is witnessed of Him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as it is not, without taking of an oath (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but He with an oath by Him that saith of Him, The Lord sware and will not repent Himself, Thou art a priest for ever); by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant. And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing: but He, because He abideth for ever, hath His priesthood unchangeable. Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people for this He did once for all, when He offered up Himself. For the law appointed men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointed a Son, perfected for evermore. "Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We have such a High Priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. A |