Psalm 110 (109):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What was a mere shadow in Melchisedec is fulfilled in the truth of Jesus Christ. Just as the names “Jesus” and “Christ” existed before, so does the name of Melchisedec. His genealogy is obscured, giving the impression that he has no beginning or end. In contrast, while Jesus Christ also lacks a beginning or end, this is not like Melchisedec; He exists beyond time. Here we see the shadow, and there unfolds the truth.

When hearing the name Jesus in the Old Testament, one does not refer to the true Jesus but recognizes that name as a foreshadowing, likewise with Melchisedec, whose timeless nature is not the ultimate truth, but a representation that culminates in Christ. The mention of an oath should not be taken literally. Just as God's wrath signifies not anger but divine action, so too is an oath an assurance of future certainties. Thus, the prophet, having described the glory of the saints and the subjugation of adversaries, now speaks of the present reality. Notice his deliberate structure: starting with a future promise, “Till I make Thy enemies Thy footstool,” followed by, “The rod of power shall the Lord send Thee from Zion, and Thou shalt rule over Thy enemies,” transitioning to the future once more, “Power with Thee in the day of Thy power, in the splendour of Thy saints,” before concluding with a present reality devoid of punishment: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Herein lies the message of sin’s forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Yet, many misunderstand the writings regarding Melchisedec, claiming he surpasses Christ and forming their own heretical sects, known as Melchisedekites, who seek to uphold this superiority citing, “Thou art a priest in the ages according to the order of Melchisedec.” It must be addressed that they ask how Melchisedec, who prefigures Christ's priesthood, could be lesser. Our response is that he is a man who serves us and is not superior to Christ, nor even to John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said, “Among those born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matt. 11:11). Others mistakenly claim Melchisedec is the Holy Spirit, but if that were true, what would be the need for the Word of God to become flesh? To clarify that Melchisedec is neither superior to Christ nor the Holy Spirit, let them define his nature: is he celestial, terrestrial, or from the abyss? Should they assert he belongs to the celestial realm, they must acknowledge that he too bows before Christ, the incarnate Son of God born of the Virgin Mary; as the Apostle declares, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:10). Thus, if every knee bows to Him, it follows that Melchisedec is lesser since he worships the exalted Christ.

Moreover, they might consider the Apostle’s statement, “Being made like unto the Son of God” (Heb. 7:3), indicating he bears the image and likeness of God, as do we. The Jews allege Melchisedec was born of an illegitimate union and thus lacks genealogical records. We counter this claim, noting that Solomon, born of Uriah's wife, also has a genealogy. Melchisedec serves as a type of the Lord and reflects the image of Christ, much like Jonah; the Scriptures remain silent on his parentage so we may see in him a figure of Christ, who is truly without father or genealogy. The Melchisedekites challenge us, asking about the meaning of God’s words, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Our reply is that Melchisedec was a righteous man who genuinely represented Christ. Inspired by the prophetic spirit, he recognized the forthcoming sacrifice for the nations, presenting God with bread and wine as a foreshadowing of Christ's coming.

Since the Jewish synagogue, following the line of Aaron, offered only animal sacrifices, God calls out to Jesus Christ, destined to be born of the Virgin Mary, declaring, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec;” not in comparison to Aaron, who made sacrifices of calves and sheep, but as one who offers the eternal sacrifice through bread and wine to the Father with the Holy Spirit, receiving glory now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Therefore, our interpretation should focus solely on this: "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec." We must consider why it specifies "according to the order." This indicates that His priesthood is not in alignment with the Jewish sacrificial system, but follows the order of Melchisedec. Just as Melchisedec, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, so You offer Your Body and Blood, the true bread and wine. This Melchisedec introduced us to the sacred mystery that we now preserve. Christ Himself proclaimed, "He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood" (John 6:56). In the order of Melchisedec, He imparted this sacrament to us.

The Scriptures say, "The Lord swears" — yet, this does not imply that He swears as we do; rather, He judges those who make oaths and exacts justice on those who do not uphold them. Hence, it is stated, "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest forever." God has honored His promise by providing us with a High Priest eternally, indicating that we, too, must honor our commitments and recognize that we take oaths in the presence of Him who cannot lie. Should we be dishonest, He will be our avenger.

Yet, He has determined that this priesthood shall endure forever, as indicated by His oath that ‘he would not repent.’ This is expressed in human terms; the Divine Being does not experience suffering, and repentance implies suffering. Melchizedek served not as a priest for the Jews, but for the Gentiles; likewise, our Lord Christ did not present Himself to God solely for the Jews, but for all humanity. He inaugurated the priesthood on the night of His Passion, when He ‘took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body”;’ and likewise He took the cup and ‘gave’ it to His disciples, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). We observe that Melchizedek is recognized as both priest and king, embodying the ideal of a true priest and sovereign, and he presents to God not sacrifices lacking words, but bread and wine. This was also the offering he made to Abraham, perceiving in the loins of the Patriarch the first reflection of his own high priesthood. Therefore, if Christ is of the lineage of David, who is from Judah, and Christ holds the high priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, it follows that the Levitical priesthood has ceased, and the blessings of the high priesthood have transferred to the tribe of Judah.

Athanasius remarks that God's oath is His declaration which assures His listeners that His promises will indeed come to pass. The divinely inspired Apostle, in the epistle to the Hebrews, elaborates on this notion, clarifying the eternal nature of Christ’s priesthood by contrasting it with the Levitical priesthood, which was established without an oath, whereas Christ’s was affirmed with one. He mentions this in the context of humanity since the divine essence is not characterized by emotions like repentance. “Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec,” underscores that the Lord serves as a Priest in the order of Melchisedec, who provided bread and wine to Abraham and his companions upon their victorious return from battle, as illustrated in the fourteenth chapter of Genesis.

Christ holds the eternal priesthood, having no beginning or end, reflecting the divine nature similar to Melchisedec, who is not attributed a genealogy or a death in the Scriptures. This absence does not suggest Melchisedec is without origin in the same way Christ is, who genuinely possesses neither beginning nor conclusion.

In the Hebrew language, by the names conveyed—melchi meaning king and sedek meaning righteousness—along with salim meaning peace, it reveals that Melchisedec was rich in significance, being the king of truth and peace. St. Gregory the Theologian indicates that Christ is called Melchisedec because He exists independently of physical lineage and genealogy, thus transcending our human understanding. He represents peace, having received tithes from the patriarchs who triumphed against malevolent forces. The allegorical application of Melchisedec's story to Christ can be found in the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the Apostle Paul draws remarkable parallels.

Nicodemus notes that sufficient observations have been made regarding this chapter within the context of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Theodoret points out that Melchisedec served as a priest not solely for the Jewish people but also for the Gentiles; Christ likewise offered Himself to God not just for the Jews but for all of humanity. It is important to note that Melchisedec served as both priest and king. Therefore, if Christ is of David’s lineage in a physical sense, and David is from Judah, and He received the priesthood by the order of Melchisedec, then it signifies the conclusion of the Levitical priesthood, with the high priesthood's blessing transferring to the lineage of Judah.

Thus, Christ, descended from Judah in a physical sense, now occupies the priesthood not by His own offering but as the head over those who make offerings. He identifies the Church as His body, through which He acts in humanity and accepts its offerings in His divine nature.

Thirdly, Melchizedek offered bread and wine, contrasting with Aaron’s offerings of lambs and calves. Fourthly, Melchizedek served as a priest for all, rather than being limited to the Hebrews, whereas Aaron's role was exclusive to his people. Lastly, Melchizedek required neither a tabernacle nor a temple for his sacrifices, while Aaron depended on both.

Christ embodies the priestly role according to Melchizedek's order; He was not succeeded by any man, nor does He succeed anyone in the highest form of the eternal priesthood. He has no mortal father or divine mother. He is both king and priest, offering His body as bread and His blood as wine in the sacrament. Furthermore, His priesthood extends beyond the Hebrews to encompass all nations, as affirmed by Malachi’s prophecy: from the east to the west, a pure offering will be presented to His name (Malachi 1:11). The oath referenced by the Prophet affirms the promise from God the Father to the Son, ensuring that His priesthood is established and unwavering for eternity.

Christ is recognized as the everlasting Priest primarily because the impact of His one sacrifice persists indefinitely, reflected in the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘By one offering He has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified’ (Hebrews 10:14). Moreover, as He remains eternal, He continually offers sacrifice through His ministers, who come and go within the Church, as the Apostle indicates: ‘And they indeed have been many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing, but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood’ (Hebrews 7:23-24).

His pre-incarnate birth is characterized as occurring before daybreak, indicating that the Son of God existed from the very beginning, prior to the creation of the visible heavens filled with stars, of which He is the brightness exceeding that of the morning star. A similar truth about the eternal nature of the Son is echoed in another psalm: "Before the sun His name abideth" (Psalm 71:17). As the Son of God, born before time commenced, He is predestined by God the Father for the salvation of humanity from all eternity, and this divine predestination is affirmed by the oath of God the Father, suggesting a declaration from the eternal council: "As My Godhead is unchangeable, so too is My will unchangeable that My only begotten Son should be the Redeemer of sinful men." In His role as Redeemer, God the Father designates His Son as Jereus, because redemption would be attained through the sacrifice He was destined to offer on the Cross. This redemption, secured by His sacrifice, is accomplished once; however, the One who offered it is the eternal Priest, as the power of His sacrifice transcends time. He is a Priest forever in the order of Melchisedec, which aligns Him with Melchisedec (Heb. 7:3-15), who, according to St. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, embodies an eternal and continuous priesthood, distinct from the Levitical priesthood, as indicated in the Mosaic account where he is introduced without lineage; his beginnings or the end of his life are not disclosed. This omission in the narrative of Melchisedec is intentional, serving to illustrate the image of Christ’s everlasting priesthood (Hebrews 7:3). The apostle also emphasizes various similarities between Melchisedec and Christ throughout Hebrews 7.