Hi, Gary Stearman. What do you know about Melchizedek?

Well, stay with us and you're going to find out a lot. I think everybody who's ever been to church has heard the name, Melchizedek, and it goes here, and it goes by, and that's the last time you think of him.

You've written a book that I think is valuable as a companion to the Bible

because Melchizedek is really important.

Yes it is. It's the kind of priesthood that Messiah is.

And Paul makes a mention of that and describes it in about

six chapters in Hebrews. And so it's very important. He makes many points about the difference

between the Malchizedekian priesthood and the Levitical priesthood. And in doing that, he's trying

to make the Jews understand the prophecies are real and they have to accept Messiah. And in doing that, he's trying to make the Jews understand the prophecies are real

and they have to accept Messiah. And we understand that by reading it, but there's a few little

things that are a little confusing to us. And Paul is trying to explain it. And we've got the

background information from the Dead Sea Scrolls now so we can actually pull it together and

understand it very well. Now Melchizedek most I think most notably appears in Genesis 1418

where Abraham meets Melchizedek, King of Salem, who brings forth bread and wine. And the Bible in Genesis

14, 18, calls him a priest of the Most High God. Now, that opens a big discussion. What does that

mean?

Well, basically, the Melchizedekian priesthood is a priesthood that's king, prophet, and priest all put together.

And when Levi, or actually Jacob, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, decided to break this up,

the kingship went to Judah, the priesthood went to Levi, and the prophetic gift went to Joseph.

And it was to remain that way until they were reconstituted

under Messiah. And Paul begins to explain that and show why the Melchizedekian order is superior,

and Christ is superior in every way all through the book of Hebrew.

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