Priest כֹּהֵן

Our word for today is another of the five words that we find used for the first time in the Bible all in chapter 14 of Genesis. We’ve looked at king and Melchizedek today we are looking at כֹּהֵן Priest. It is used 743 times in the Old Testament. So, what exactly does this word mean? The first time it’s used here in Genesis 14:18 it identifies who Melchizedek is. “He was priest of God Most High.” This is given to explain his actions of bringing out “bread and wine”. So we are not talking about just a picnic that Melchizedek was throwing because it was lunch time. The context helps us understand what is going on. Abram just rescued his nephew Lot in a great battle against several kings. And his conversation with the King of Sodom also helps us put this together. It looks like Abram had asked for God’s help in rescuing his nephew because this was a very dangerous life threating task. And in his request to God, he mentioned something about not doing this for financial gain from the King of Sodom who was grateful for Abram’s help. It looks like Melchizedek is there just in time for Abram to thank God for his success in bring back Lot and his possessions safely. From the beginning we see this idea of a priest helping others make a connection with God most high. Part of this involves a tenth or a tithe that we will look at in a couple of days. There is a lot more to our word priest which we will develop in the future as it will come up a lot in the Bible. For today let’s focus on the bread and wine connection with כֹּהֵן priest. We will see this come up later in the New Testament when Jesus takes these elements and says this. Matthew 26:26-28 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Now when I read that did you just get Melchizedek vibes? Jesus also brings out bread and wine just like Melchizedek who “was priest of God Most High”. So Jesus is also a priest with bread and wine who helps us connect with God. The big difference is that Jesus is not just a priest he is also God himself who came to be our sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The bread and cup in communion remind of us what Jesus has done for us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t want us to miss this connection, this is why he puts it together for us in the New Testament.  Hebrews 6:20; 7:1, 3, 22-28 Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. … For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him … He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. … This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.