This is a very good question and one that I love to muse upon.  Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 7:11-17, “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

In this portion, we have the ‘order of Melchisedec’ contrasted with the ‘order of Aaron’.  We learn that perfection could not be attained under the Levitical priesthood.  We read in Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”  The law could not produce holy lives because it was dependent upon man.  It was ‘weak through the flesh’.  However, God sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He came in the ‘likeness of sinful flesh.’  This means that His flesh looked like anyone else’s flesh, but without sin.  Christ, in the sacrifice of Himself at Calvary condemned sin in the flesh.  One has said that Christ died ‘for what we are just as much as for what we have done.’

Under the law, all priests had to be Levites.  A Levite would serve in his office until his death, then another would take his place.  Christ could not be priest after the ‘order of Aaron’ because He was not in the tribe of Levi.  Hebrews 7:14 says, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”  But, Christ is a “priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”  The history of Melchisedec is very brief.  I encourage you to read it in Genesis 14.  According to Hebrews 7:3 Melchisedec was, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”  Melchisedec did not receive his priesthood by being born into the tribe of Levi.  In fact, he pre-dated the tribe of Levi.  He was priest because the Lord determined he should be priest.  In Genesis 14:18, he was the first person in the Bible to ever be called a priest.

This shows us that Melchisedec was a ‘type’ or ‘picture’ of the Lord Jesus.  While certainly he had a birth and death date, and he had parents, there are no records of them.  There is no record of the beginning or the end of his priesthood.  Christ, who is eternal, is “a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”  His priesthood will never end because He will never die again.  There is so much that could be said about Melchisedec as being a type of Christ and His priesthood.  Please read Hebrew, chapter 7 to learn more about this important topic.

Let’s conclude by reading Hebrews 7:25-28, “Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself. For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.”  (204.2)