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Comparison
Melchizedeck/Jesus Christ
A comparison of
Melchizedek and Jesus Christ as to:
Ancestry, Names, Kingdoms,
Priesthood., Gifts & Sacrifices, Blessings, Tithes
BLESSINGS
- Melchizedek
Melchizedek blessed Abram
and said, "Blessed be Abram of the Most High God (El mighty strong God of
power), possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be the most high God (El)
which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand". (Genesis 14:19-20 NKJV)
Melchizedek connected Abram to El and then blessed El as Abram's deliverer.
In doing so, Melchizedek became the connecting link.
This
blessing showed the high priest's job as one that connects a human being to
the heavenly Father. Jesus Christ currently fulfills this from the right
hand of the Father. He connects His children to His Father.
Today when
believers walk in priesthood, they connect to Jesus Christ those who do not
know Him, or are in need of His grace. This usually is done through
intercession for them, and through prayer with them. In times past,
christian children were taught to say bedtime prayers that went like this,
"God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy," etc. They would have been acting as
priests if they had completed the prayer by adding, "May my Mommy and Daddy
be a blessing to You (God)".
In the
above scripture, Melchizedek's blessing linked Abram to El, (the mighty
strong God of Power), and linked El to Abram as (the deliverer of his
enemies into his hand); a victor with enemy spoil. This is the first time
that God revealed Himself by this name. This is significant in regard to the
Messianic Priesthood as a type of how God intends to rule. Verses 8-12 from
Psalm 2 is a good example:
Psalms 2: 8-12 Ask of Me,
and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the
earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You
shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel"
Now therefore, be wise, O
kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and
rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in
the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.
Melchizedek's blessing was a type of the Father's blessing on the Son when
He returns in great power to overcome the great rebellion, and to establish
the Messianic reign on the earth.
Blessings -- Jesus Christ
The
Apostles always greeted the church, and each other, with blessings from the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; Gal. 1:3; Phil. 1:2)
In 2 Cor.
1:2-4 Paul acts as a priest as he greets the saints from the Father and
Jesus Christ, and then turns around and blesses the Father.
The
Apostles also blessed in benediction. (in leaving) (Ep. 6:23-24; Phil. 4:23;
1 Thess. 5:28)
When Jesus blessed in
benediction, He ascended into heaven!
(Luke 24:50 NKJV) And He
led them out as far as Bethany,
and He lifted up His hands
and blessed them.
When Jesus
blessed His disciples after His resurrection, He was parted from them and
ascended into heaven from whence He sent the Holy Ghost (John 16:7, Acts
2:33-39)
(John 16:7 NKJV)
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away;
for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you;
but if I depart, I will
send Him to you.
(Acts 2:33 NKJV) "Therefore
being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father
the promise of the Holy Spirit,
He poured out this which
you now see and hear.
He also
received gifts for men.
(Psalms 68:18,19 KJV)
You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have
received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God
might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with
benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Psalm
68:18,19 is a prophecy about what would happen with the benediction
(blessing) of Jesus.
1. the
ascension,
2. taking
captivity (shbiy -- prisoners, booty) captive (shabah --to carry, drive,
take away).
3. to
receive gifts for men (including the rebellious).
The word
"gifts" carries with it the meaning of a sacrificial offering.
Futher,
the apostle Paul amplifies this passage in Eph. 4: 8-15:
(Ephesians 4:8-13 KJV)
When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to
men.
1. Now that he ascended,
what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth?
10He that descended is the
same also that ascended
up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.)
Gifts
2 .11. And he gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers;
12For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the
body of Christ:
13Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, to a
perfect man,
to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ:
14That we from now on be no
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15But speaking the truth in
love,
may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
One last
thing I want you to see from the prophecy in Psalm 68 is found in verse 19.
It is the 2-way priestly prayer in which the blessings come from God to us
and are then sent back to God
by our
expressions of thankfulness.
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily loads us with
benefits,
the God of our salvation!
Selah
Psalm 68:19 |
