Melchizedek and Jesus

The Lord be with you

In Genesis 14 we meet Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness.” In Hebrews 7 we read that Melchizedek was a “type” of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews explores that connection a bit, especially in reference to Jesus as our eternal High Priest. Valerius Herberger explores this connection in reference to the meaning of Melchizedek’s name. Below is a portion of what he wrote.

You [Jesus] are the King of righteousness. You are the royal Fountain full of righteousness. In summer and winter You overflow with the righteousness that avails before God. From Your fullness I receive all that I lack. You are “the LORD, our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6). You were made to us righteousness from God (1 Cor. 1:30). You are the righteous Servant who by His knowledge makes many to be accounted righteous (Is. 53:11). You are our “Advocate … who is righteous” (1 John 2:1). “As by the disobedience of one the many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (You) many are made righteous,” [Rom. 5:19]. You are none other than that “Righteous One” whom Righteousness and Mercy look for (in St. Bernard). You died for us poor sinners so that there could be satisfaction between God’s righteousness and mercy. O Lord Jesus, I am unrighteous, for which I am ashamed. But You are righteous, for which I rejoice. You are my righteousness, for what is Yours is mine. Let Your righteousness blot out and cover my unrighteousness. Let Your righteousness by mine, and then my righteousness will exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees [Matt. 5:20], for Yours exceeds that of the holy angels and all creation. Thus do I recognize my unrighteousness and my righteousness: My unrighteousness springs from my own sins, but my righteousness springs from Your precious merit. O Lord Jesus, my unrighteousness grieves and accuses me, but my righteousness, which is founded on Your righteousness and merit, gladdens and absolves me. If my unrighteousness is great, my righteousness is far greater, for my righteousness is Jesus Christ. O Lord Jesus, though my unrighteousness points me to God’s wrath and eternal damnation, my righteousness in You brings me God’s grace and eternal life. Since, moreover, this righteousness imputed to me exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, I know for certain that I will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Oh Lord Jesus, help me to Your glory to hate and oppose all unrighteousness, to pursue Christlike righteousness, and to serve You without fear all the days of my life, in holiness and righteousness pleasing to You. Help me to be devoted to You in my heart, actions, words, and deeds, and yet to hope not in my self-righteousness which flows from my good works but in my righteousness which You obtained for me with Your good works on the cross. In other words, help me to trust in that righteousness which You have given me, and be saved.

Herberger, Valerius The Great Works of God: Parts One and Two: The Mysteries of Christ in the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-15 375-276