Folks, the most recent conversation between myself and Rabbi Mordechai Klein took place a couple of weeks ago. Here’s a recap of the end of that conversation:
Rabbi, our conversation started a few weeks ago with your question, “How can I have eternal life”? Rabbi, this is how. Believe that Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha Mashiach died to to pay the price for your sins and mine. Just believe, Mordechai. Do you believe?
Yes, I believe. Thank you Lord. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for giving me eternal life.
Praise God, Mordechai. The angels in heaven are rejoicing!
Let’s meet again soon. We’ll talk about how Yeshua is now our great and ultimate High Priest. OK?
Yes!! Thanks Art.
Today the Rabbi and I will talk about Yeshua, our great High Priest.
Hi Mordechai. Do you remember Melchizedek from Genesis?
Sure, Art. He showed up after Abram defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him and rescued Lot, Abram’s nephew whom they had taken away. There was a celebration! Let me read the verses:
Genesis 14:18–20 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Rabbi, I’ve always found Melchizedek to be a kind of enigmatic character. We see him again in Psalm 110. Let’s read a couple of verses from that Psalm:
Psalm 110:4–5 “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You 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.”
Rabbi, in this Psalm of David, the LORD, Adonai, is speaking to the Messiah who is called Lord or Adon. Adonai is swearing to the Messiah that He will be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus spoke about this Psalm in Matthew 22:41–46. I’m going to read what He said: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
Rabbi, we know that under the Old Covenant, the Mosaic Law, that all priests are descended from Aaron, the first High Priest. And Aaron was not a priest forever, because he died. And his descendants, a long line of them, were also priests.
Art, who is this king and also priest in the order of Melchizedek? He brought out bread and wine. The bread and wine put me in mind of the communion at Yeshua’s last Passover meal, what many Christians refer to as the last supper. Is Melchizedek related to Aaron? Who is Melchizedek?
Rabbi, we have to note a couple of things. Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram tithed to Melchizedek. Both of these things suggest that Melchizedek was a very exalted person. His name means king of righteousness. And also he was king of Salem which means king of peace. And he was a priest of God Most High. And in Psalm 110, Adonai made Messiah a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Rabbi, we’ve already established before today that Messiah Yeshua is equal to God. He is divine. And now we learn that He is a priest, a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Now if Yeshua is a priest in the order of Melchizedek and Yeshua is God and Messiah, and if there is only one God andone Messiah, which there is, it seems to me that there can only be one priest in the order of Melchizedek. What does that mean?
Art, is Melchizedek in the New Testament? You’ve made it clear to me that the Old Testament and the New Testament are together one book. And I also know that the Bible does not contradict itself. So if Melchizedek is in the New Testament, that should help us, right?
Rabbi, I absolutely agree. Let’s take a look.
Art, I will do the search right now on my smartphone. Let’s see. Melchizedek is in nine verses in Hebrews, in chapters 5, 6, and 7. But something very important comes first:
Hebrews 4:14–16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Mordechai, this is fantastic! Jesus our great high priest has ascended into heaven. Putting together these Scripture passages tell us that Yeshua is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. And we see here another reason why Yeshua had to become the God - Man. Because as God and Man, as both Son of David and Son of God, He is fully able to empathize with our human weaknesses.
Art, look at Hebrews 7:3 which speaks about Melchizedek: “Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.”
Art, maybe this sounds too fantastic but do you think that the Melchizedek who met Abram in Genesis 4:14 could have somehow been Yeshua?
I do Rabbi. I think Melchizedek was a Christophany, an actual appearance of God in the flesh in the form of our Messiah, a pre-incarnate appearance. I can’t think of any other explanation that fits the Biblical facts. And maybe the bread and wine were in fact a preview of communion. I think there was and is only one priest of the order of Melchizedek and His name is Jesus. Aaron, from the tribe of Levi, was high priest under the Law, under the first covenant, the Old Covenant. But that covenant became obsolete. It is gone. We have a new covenant now, the New Covenant and the New Covenant requires a new High Priest and God gave us One, Jesus from the tribe of Judah, a priest, the priest, from the order of Melchizedek.
Art, once again my head is exploding! Just think of it! We have a High Priest who Himself payed the price for our sins and who lives forever and we can go to Him, to His throne of grace, with confidence, to receive mercy and grace whenever we need those, which is all the time! This is simply incredible!
I couldn’t agree with you more, Rabbi! Rabbi, you have learned so much over these past few months. I believe that you have been born again. Rabbi, you are an inspiration to me! Until the next time, Mordechai. Shalom.
