Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 5:10 

“Being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” –  Hebrews 5:10   

This section of Hebrews speaks of Christ as High Priest.  We start here in verse 1 where he speaks of the Jewish view. “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.” Hebrews:5:1-4. He starts out by showing that   men selected for this role were concerned with the descendants of Abraham. The High Priest was the supreme religious leader of the Israelites. He was to teach everyone regarding the Law and Jewish beliefs. But the most important duty of the high priest was to perform the service on the Day of Atonement. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God. Having made a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God’s throne. He did this to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended.

Then we read that Jesus is now our High Priest. “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:5-6. Christ is our High Priest.  And He was ordained by God from all eternity to stand as the representative of His people before the throne. And He was also the sacrifice as well. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. And He fulfilled His role while here. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ” Hebrews 5:7-9. While He was here, He prayed greatly to God for us all, with tears and cries. He was very emotional in this because of the love He has for us. His Father brought Him here and He was obedient to Him through all His suffering. And because He was without sin He was able to be our salvation.

Now there is one more thing stated in Hebrews 5 that is important to note. “being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:10. What does this mean? This is an interesting question, and not easy to answer. Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was a king of Salem/Jerusalem and priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek’s sudden appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (See Genesis 14:17-24). Also, the phrase ‘after the order’ would normally indicate a succession of priests holding office. But there are no others mentioned in that order, which lends credence to the idea he and Christ may be one and the same. Speaking of Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews states, “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.” Hebrews 7:3. So, are Melchizedek and Jesus the same person? A case can be made either way. At the very least, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, prefiguring the Lord’s ministry. But it is also possible that Abraham, after his weary battle, met and gave honor to the Lord Jesus Himself.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.