False Claims on Melchizedek

1. Melchizedek’s Order Testifies Jesus as Christ

<Heb 7:11> If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

Jesus was established as the eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek, and the Levitical priests served as priests in tthe order of Aaron for generations after generations.

There were many priests in the tribe of Levi who followed Aaron’s order, but Jesus is not of the tribe of Levi. Jesus, unlike them, is a special priest following the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews lists in detail the distinctive features of the high priest following the order of Melchizedek.

<Heb 7:2-3> First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

Hebrews wrote that all the features of Melchizedek were fulfilled by Jesus, and that Jesus was a special priest following Melchizedek’s order.

2. False Claims on Melchizedek – World Mission Society, Church of God

With regard to the features of Melchizedek, there are those who claim that the prophecy was fulfilled only partially by Jesus. Because Melchizedek’s prophecy was only partially fulfilled, they insist that the Second Coming Jesus must appear in the flesh in order for the prophecy to be fully fulfilled. Of course, this is a false claim, but very unique and interesting. Thus, those who lack Bible knowledge are not easy to refute their arguments.

Now, let’s see what the argument is based on the material published by the Church of God.

『Melchizedek is a Gentile who has no father, no mother, and no genealogy in the Bible. He blessed Abraham with bread and wine. Therefore, to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek, he must be a Gentile, like Melchizedek, without a father, mother, and genealogy. And be blessed with bread and wine. But the first advent Jesus is not a Gentile. He is of the tribe of Judah and has a father and mother in the Bible and a genealogy. Therefore, even though the first advent Jesus blessed us with bread and wine, as Melchizedek, he is not a complete Melchizedek. For he was not a Gentile. Jesus must come again as a Gentile to be a complete Melchizedek. When He comes as a Gentile and blesses eternal life with bread and wine, He is the perfect Melchizedek as the Second Coming Jesus.』

The church of God took note of the Hebrew account of “no father, no mother, no genealogy,” and interpreted the meaning as being a Gentile. Is this interpretation correct?

To the Melchizedek figure (Gen. 14), Hebrews said that there are no fathers, no mothers, and no genealogy. Are these features listed to reveal that Melchizedek is a Gentile?

There is no Bible record of Melchizedek’s father or mother, nor is there a record of his genealogy. Since there is no record in the Bible, Hebrews lists Melchizedek as “no father, no mother, no genealogy.”

The Church of God misinterprets these features as meaning Gentiles. Now let’s look at the logic that misinterpreted it. The following quote is from their source.

『There can be no one born in the world who has no father or mother. Thus, the Hebrew writer said whether or not parents were saved people of God (see Matthew 12: 46–50). Joseph and Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, were the saved people of God. Thus, the characteristic of Melchizedek, “There is no father and no mother,” does not fit Jesus. Thus, the Second Coming of Jesus to fulfill Melchizedek’s prophecy must be born a Gentile in the home of an unbeliever.』

3. “No Father And No Mother.” … Jesus Conceived With the Holy Spirit.

The above arguments in the material of the Church of God differ from the Bible in the first sentence. They insisted that no one could be born without a father or mother. But this claim is not true. This is not the case for Jesus, our Savior.

Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, so strictly speaking he has no father or mother. Was he not born because of the physical power of Joseph or Mary? Although borrowing Mary’s body, Jesus is not Mary’s seed. That’s why Jesus is perfect for Melchizedek’s character: no father, no mother.

4. “No Genealogy” … Without Genealogy of The Tribe of Levi

What is the false claim of the church of God regarding the feature of “no genealogy”? Let’s look at their material.

『The first Advent Jesus, the tribe of Judah, belongs to the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 1: 1-16), so that Melchizedek’s characteristic of “no genealogy” is inconsistent with Jesus. To achieve the characteristic of Melchizedek, “no genealogy,” he must be a Gentile who is not of the 12 tribes of Israel.』

It must be pointed out that their claims are indeed narrow. If we admit that they are correct, shouldn’t there be not only the 12 tribes of Israel but also the genealogy of Korean Ahn Sang-hong? Just as Jesus belongs to the twelve tribes of Israel, Ahn Sang-hong is a Korean and belongs to the family of the Ahn family. Thus, to be characterized as ‘no genealogy’, the logic of not belonging to the 12 tribes of Israel is wrong.

There are two different interpretations. First, Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, belongs to the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, there is a claim that Jesus doesnot fit to Melchizedek’s prophecy, ‘no genealogy’. Second, Jesus, of the tribe of Judah, doesnot belong to the tribe of Levi, who served as priest. Therefore, there is another claim that Jesus fulfilled Melchizedek’s prophecy, ‘no genealogy’.

Hebrews explained in detail that the latter interpretation is correct. Hebrews 7 explains in detail how the order of Melchizedek of Jesus, who is not of the tribe of the Levites, and that of Aaron, of the Levites.

<Heb 7:11-15> If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

Jesus was not a priest of the tribe of Levi. Originally, the priest must belong to the Levitical genealogy, but Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi, but of the tribe of Judah, a distinct priest like Melchizedek. Just as Melchizedek was not of the Levitical genealogy, but was a priest of God, Jesus is our high priest, not of the Levitical genealogy.

Melchizedek’s characteristic of “no genealogy” means that he was not of the tribe of Levi, a genealogy as a priest. According to the Old Testament, priests must belong to the tribe of Levi, but Melchizedek was the only priest who was not of the tribe of Levi. Jesus, like Melchizedek, is a priest of the same character in that he did not belong to the tribe of Levi.