Expert: Scott Talbot - 5/30/2009

Question
I probably spelled that incorrectly..it is said as if spelled like this..mal kees a deck.  I could not find reference to Him in my Bible and am interested in learning about who he is..is he the Christ?, why prophets spoke of him & why those Jews who have His beliefs do not follow the laws in Leviticus...I believe those laws were written by the Levites..just need some definition please.  Thank you.  Eva

Answer
Hi Jeanette,

Actually, you were very close. You're referring to Melchisedec (also spelled Melchizedek).

I will provide a brief answer in the interest of time and space, and then allow you to do some further digging on your own. You will find a lot of good commentaries on the subject when you know the correct Bible references to look up. (Try www.crosswalk.com for some free reference material.)

Melchisedec is mentioned in Genesis 14:18, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, and 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17, 21.

No, he is not the Christ, but is said by some to be analogous of Christ because of some of his unique characteristics. (For example, they both act as prophet, priest, and king.)

Leviticus is one of the five books of the Torah, the Mosaic Law. These were all given to Moses by God to serve as the constitution of the theocractic government in which God Himself ruled Israel through human spokespersons and representatives. Melchisedec is a unique example of one who practiced a formal "system" of worship prior to the giving of the Mosaic Law. While there are some distinctions, there are not any contradictions, if one understands the role played by each in their appropriate historical contexts (or in the context of God's unfolding revelation).

I hope this points you in the right direction.

Scott