What Is the Order of Melchizedek?

First mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek is referred to as both a king and a priest. Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7:17 refer to the order of Melchizedek. The phrase in the order of speaks of lineage. It could also be described as “after the pattern of” or “after the manner of.” So, “the order of Aaronic” (or the Levitical) means a priesthood that comes from the line and is after the manner of Aaron. 

But Melchizedek is different—he was both a king and a priest. He points to the Messiah, who would be both the King and the Priest. 

What Does “Melchizedek” Mean?

Melchizedek means “king of righteousness.” He was the king of Salem, the ancient name for the city of Jerusalem. Salem means “peace,” and Jerusalem means “city of peace.” This made Melchizedek, who was a priest, also king over the city of peace.

• The forever priest. 
• The king of peace. 

Melchizedek in the Bible

Genesis 14:18-20 

• “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.” (emphasis added)

Melchizedek was a king and a priest. He blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tithe. 

Psalm 110:4 

• “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (emphasis added)

King David states the Lord’s promise of a forever priesthood after the order of Melchizedek—pointing to the Messiah—cannot be annulled.

Hebrews 5:5-6

• “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek…’” (emphasis added)

Yeshua didn’t make Himself a High Priest. Rather He—the Son—was chosen and declared by the Father for the role (Psalm 2:7) as priest forever. The early Jewish Believers had to shift their thinking away from the priesthood after the order of Aaron, which had become corrupt, and move to a priesthood of an eternal and righteous order—in the order of Melchizedek.

After His resurrection, Yeshua fully took on His role as our perfect High Priest. Unlike the priests from Aaron’s line, who had to make sacrifices for their own sins, Yeshua, being sinless, bore the punishment for others. His priesthood is eternal, unlike the temporary role of Aaron’s descendants. 

Hebrews 7:1-3, 17

• “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” (emphasis added)

Echoing the points above, the writer of Hebrews wanted Jewish Believers to remove their objection to Yeshua being High Priest because He wasn’t from the tribe of Levi or the family of Aaron. He was from the tribe of Judah. The writer wanted the audience to understand how Yeshua’s priesthood and kingship were different—a King-Priest anointing. It was eternal and from Judah, thus fulfilling the Genesis 49:10 prophecy. 

Abram and Melchizedek Met and a New Identity Was Given

Genesis tells us Abram (who later became Abraham) and Melchizedek met after Abram fought a battle (with God’s help) and rescued his nephew Lot. In the battle, Abram’s army retrieved everything the opposition had plundered. 

As Abram returned home, Melchizedek came to meet him. He brought Abram bread, wine, and a blessing from God. Abram immediately responded by giving a tithe—a tenth of all the plunder he had obtained from the battle. 

After this encounter with Melchizedek, Abram had a word of the Lord come to him in a vision. God reminded him of His promises and made a covenant with him. Later, Abram’s name is changed to Abraham, which means “father of many nations.”

There is a multiplication factor taking place—Abram (which means “father”) was given a new identity and name, Abraham (which means “father of many nations”).  Melchizedek brought out bread and wine, functioning as a type and shadow of Messiah. 

The Lord Orders Abraham’s Steps

The Lord set up and ordered Abraham’s steps, choosing him from a Gentile and idolatrous nation to bless all the nations of the earth. He came to dwell in a land promised to him and, in the process, separated from everything he had ever known. 

This separation from the old was met with a battle. Yet, he walked away victorious, which set the stage for a covenant meal between him and the King-Priest, and his name—his identity—being changed, multiplied from “father” to “father of many nations.” 

The Authority of the Order of Melchizedek 

As mentioned, of the order means “after the pattern of” or “of the lineage of.”  Therefore, understanding the order of Melchizedek gives insight into tapping into your authority and accessing divine resources in Yeshua. 

The order of Melchizedek isn’t so much a name but rather a title. It is described as a position that allows access to the throne room of Heaven and results from prayers.

So then, if Yeshua’s priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek (king of righteousness), it means Yeshua is the King-Priest. And as co-heirs with Him, adopted by the Father and having access to the promise (Galatians 3:29), then we, too, are King-Priests after the order of Melchizedek—not because of our righteousness, but because of Jesus—Yeshua the Messiah! 

The authority we have as King-Priests flows through us by the name of Yeshua. When we say, “… the order of,” we are speaking of the one who gives us authority—the one whose priesthood has no beginning and no end, who is everlasting and whose body and blood were broken and poured out for us—giving us a New Covenant.  

Prophetic Significance and Resurrection of the Order of Melchizedek

Yeshua didn’t go into the water to be immersed or baptized because of sin; He was sinless! He said in Matthew 3:15, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Yeshua was baptized in the Jordan River. This is the same location where the 12 stones were erected to honor the 12 tribes who had wandered in the wilderness and crossed over into the Promised Land. 

Aaron’s priesthood was finished. So, prophetically, Yeshua comes as a King and Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek. His temple—His body—goes down into the water, and He honors the past priesthood of the Levites and comes up with the resurrection of a new priesthood—in the order of Melchizedek—a priesthood that has no beginning or end, one that is everlasting and eternal, one that includes One New Humanity.

Yeshua chose to identify with the Melchizedek priesthood—the King-Priest anointing—versus identifying with the Levites. He was not a Levite but from the tribe of Judah, which is why he wasn’t a Pharisee or a Sadducee. 

When Yeshua died on the cross, the middle wall of separation in the Temple was torn in two. The priestly place that the non-Jews had no access to—the Holy of Holies—was now open because of the sacrifice of the Lamb. His blood removed the wall, creating in Himself One New Man, making peace—giving Gentiles access to and creating an everlasting priesthood in the order of Melchizedek. 

Takeaway

Anyone who calls on the name of the High Priest Yeshua is actually grafted into the identity as the King-Priest in the order of Melchizedek! It is from this position that you have authority to… 

• Set the captives free (Luke 4:18-21)
• Trample down snakes and scorpions and all the enemy forces (Luke 10:19)
• Boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)
• Be God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

This teaching is from the Curt Landry Podcast. Listen to it here! Check out more teachings from Curt Landry Podcast!