THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The phrase “And every one that is left of thy house shall come to bow down to him” does not pertain to Elijah's lineage but rather to that of Aaron, who had a remnant that remained until the advent of Christ, and indeed, they persist even today. Therefore, if we consider the remnant that was predestined, as another prophet remarked: “Only a remnant of him shall be converted” (Isaiah 10:22); and as the apostle points out: “So also at the present time, according to the election of grace, a remnant is preserved” (Rom. 11:5); it is reasonable to believe that among this remnant the one referenced as “He that is left of thy house” truly believes in Christ, just as many did in the early Church, with a few even now who believe, albeit rarely.
Read more (446 words)
The fulfillment of what the man of God subsequently added, “He shall come to bow down to him because of a heap of silver,” pertains to the worship of Christ, the High Priest who is also God. In the priesthood established in the lineage of Aaron, the people would not go to the temple or altar to pay homage to the priest. What does ‘heap of silver’ signify but the conciseness of the word of faith, which the apostle refers to: “For the work is finished and soon to be decided according to righteousness, a decisive work the Lord will do on earth” (Rom. 9:28; Isa. 10:23)? Furthermore, the symbolism of silver often represents the divine word, as illustrated in the psalm declaring: “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined” (Ps. 11:7).
Now, what does the man who approaches the priest of God say? “Enroll me in some Levitical office, that I may have sustenance." Essentially, he expresses a desire to abandon the esteemed position of his forefathers, which he views as of little worth, and instead desires to associate himself with one of the priesthoods, even the humblest. In this context, the priesthood refers to the people themselves, whose mediator is Jesus Christ, the man who reconciles God and humanity. The Apostle Peter refers to this community as “A chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9). Some have translated the request as “to some sacrifice,” yet the intention remains the same, referring to the Christian community. This explains why the Apostle Paul states, “One bread, and we, being many, are one body” (1 Cor. 10:17). Thus, the inclusion of “and a piece of bread” beautifully signifies the specific type of sacrifice to which the Priest proclaims: “But the bread which I will give is My Flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). This sacrifice is not according to Aaron's order but rather follows the order of Melchizedek; let him who reads understand. This concise and beneficial confession—“Enroll me in some Levitical office, that I may have sustenance”—represents the so-called heap of silver; it is brief and embodies the words of the Lord within the believer's heart. Moreover, since it was previously stated that God provided the house of Aaron with the offerings of the Old Testament, as affirmed by His question: “Have I not given to thy father's house of all the sacrifices of the children of Israel which are burnt with fire?”—which represents the Jewish sacrifices—it is fitting to likewise declare, “and a piece of bread ... that they may have food,” which in the New Testament symbolizes the sacrifice of the Christians.