COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN MELCHIZEDEK AND LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN MELCHIZEDEK AND LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study

Genesis 14 is a chapter from the family history of the origins of Israel.  It tells the story of how Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was swept up into the military doings of the ancient world and of how Abraham himself played a role in that history.

Lot and Abraham had parted company.  Uncle Abraham had given Lot free reign to choose whichever part of the land he wished and he chose the Valley of Siddum, known today as the Dead Sea.  But it was not dead in that day.  Rather it was a lush, fertile valley, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden.  Lot settled in Sodom, the sin city of antiquity.

And then a day came when a messenger arrived at the tent of Abraham with terrible news.  A coalition of kings from the east had invaded and had taken Sodom and enslaved all of its inhabitants—including Lot.  Abraham immediately organized a rescue party.  In a brazen display of faith and courage, he caught up with the raiders and attacked them by night, putting them to route and recovering not only his nephew, but all of the wealth and citizens of Sodom.

However the most unusual part of this tale took place on the return journey.  It was here that Abraham was met by a new figure; a mysterious priest-king known as Melchizedek.  The Scriptures tell us that they met, that Melchizedek brought bread and wine and a blessing, and that Abraham rewarded him with a tenth of all.  And that is all.  Melchizedek is not mentioned again in the rest of Genesis nor anywhere in any of the historical books of the Old Testament.  And although there is a veiled prophecy in the Psalm concerning him, the significance of this figure is an unsolved mystery.  Until now.

The writer of Hebrews made mention of Melchizedek and that Jesus is a priest after that ancient order (Hebrews 5:6; 5:10; 6:20).  The last such mention was in the last verse of the previous chapter.  And this time, the Hebrews writer fully explains what he means.

Statement of Problem

Over the years the concept of salvation has been preached all over the world. People believe that salvation is not just the aftermath of the death of Christ but also of their own strength and hard work to be holy. The bible in Isaiah 64:6 said that “our righteousness is like a filthy rag”. The gap that exist between the Melchizedek priesthood and Levitical priesthood is that the former believe that Christ is the one and only sacrifice while the later believe that the sacrifice of human.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN MELCHIZEDEK AND LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD