Argument: We see then that Melchizedek resembles the Son of God who is depicted as an eternal being. Now if Mary was the mother of Jesus why is He presented here as "motherless"? And if He was born in 3 BC, why is He without "beginning of days"?

 

Response: This whole context is speaking of priestly offices: from 6:20 all the way to Chapter 11, the subject is a comparison/contrast between Melchizedek's priesthood, Aaron's priesthood, and the Levitical priesthood. Jesus' priesthood is superior to Aaron's and Levi's because Jesus' priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, and Melchizedek was greater than Aaron or Levi because Aaron and Levi, being in Abraham's loins, paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham. The "resembling the Son of God" refers to "he remains a priest forever." (See also Heb 6:20.) Jesus has a priesthood that Melchizedek's priesthood resembles. We know without question that Jesus DOES have an ancestry - the Bible clearly states that Jesus is descended from David. We have an explicit, detailed genealogy given in Mathew. Mathew 1:1: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." We know without question that Jesus DOES have a mother - he made provision for her even as He was hanging on the cross. We know without question that Jesus DOES have a Father - God Himself is Jesus' Father - Jesus Himself stated that very thing unequivocally on many occasions. To top it all off, in the same immediate context, we have Heb 7:14, which says: "For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah..." How can you square that with what you think Heb 7:1-3 is saying?

 

Therefore, Jesus is NOT presented here as motherless. Neither is He presented here as without beginning of days. ALL THAT is said of Melchizedek. The resemblance being spoken of relates to the priesthood. Jesus' priesthood is perpetual, like Melchizedek's priesthood seems to be. Furthermore, I said, "seems to be" because I don't think this stuff about Melchizedek is meant in a literal sense. My paraphrased understanding of this passage is: that because the scriptures give us no other information on Melchizedek, it appears as though he has no father, mother etc and so his priesthood appears to be perpetual. In this (his perpetual priesthood) he resembles the Son of God, Jesus Christ. In 7:15: "This becomes even more evident when another priest (Jesus) arises in the LIKENESS of Melchizedek..." The word, "likeness" does NOT indicate a one-to-one ontological likeness, but a "likeness" in terms of the way it APPEARS. In 7:8 it says: "Here tithes are received by mortal men; there by one OF WHOM IT IS TESTIFIED that he lives." The phrase "of whom it is testified" means, "according to the Biblical data that we have." This is further support, from the immediate context, that the information given about Melchizedek is not to be taken literally. In Hebraic fashion, the writer is using concrete terminology when speaking of symbolisms, allegory, metaphors, figures of speech, etc.

 

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