13 And now, my
brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth
fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.
14 Yea, humble
yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest
after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high
priesthood forever.
15 And it was this
same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid
tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
16 Now these
ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look
forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order,
and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins,
that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
17 Now this
Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong
in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of
all manner of wickedness;
18 But Melchizedek
having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood
according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And
behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his
days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of
Salem; and he did reign under his father.
19 Now, there were
many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater;
therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.
20 Now I need not
rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are
before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. (Alma
13:13-20)
Alma continues speaking about the priesthood.
They are told to humble themselves before God and bring
forth fruit which will bring repentance. “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy
of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham”[1]
(Luke 3:8).
They must humble themselves as the people did in the days of
Melchizedek, a high priest after the order about which he spoke. “Which Abraham
received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage
of his fathers, even till Noah” (D&C 84:14).
Alma identifies Melchizedek as the high priest to whom
Abraham paid tithes.
“And Melchizedek [HEB King of righteousness] king of Salem
brought forth bread and wine[2]:
and he was the priest of the most high God.
“And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most
high God, possessor [OR creator] of heaven and earth:
“And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered
thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” (Genesis 14:18-20).
All ordinances were given so people would look forward to
the Son of God. “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and
by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel
and administer in the ordinances thereof” (5th Article of Faith).
“And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son,
in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward
to his Son for redemption” (Alma 13:2).
The priesthood is a type of His order. “The Lord hath sworn,
and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”
(Psalm 110:4).
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered;
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;
“Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec”
(Hebrews 5:8-10).
This allowed them to look forward to a forgiveness of their
sins so they might enter into the Lord’s presence.
“It seems that the holy order was a group within the house
of Israel that advanced to a god-like status while yet in the premortal world,
much as our Jesus had. They emerged as the leaders within the house of Israel
and were prepared and ordained to the holy order, which was the order of the
Son of God, to show the manner of ‘Christ-ness’ to the people, they being types
of Christ (Alma 13:16). In this manner the people would understand what they
themselves had been foreordained to become and could ultimately also enter this
holy order. These high priests of the holy order undoubtedly labored among the
spirits in the premortal world and were ordained and prepared to descend to
earth and be leaders in the Lord's redeeming work here. It would appear that
all the house of Israel could ultimately be part of this holy order, or the
order of Gods.”[3]
Melchizedek was the king of Salem. His people were a wicked people.
He was a man of might faith. He received the priesthood and called on his
people to repent. They obeyed his word and peach was established throughout the
land. He was call the prince of peace.
“Melchizedek was evidently a prince by birth, for he became
king of Salem (later Jerusalem-Gen. 14:18; Ps. 76:2), where he reigned ‘under
his father’ (Alma 13:18). ‘Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought
righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions,
and quenched the violence of fire’ (JST Gen. 14:26).
“Though living among a wicked people, Melchizedek ‘exercised
mighty faith, and received the office of
the high priesthood according to the holy order of God’ (Alma 13:18). This
priesthood was after the order of the covenant that God had made with Enoch
(JST Gen. 14:27), and Melchizedek ruled both as king and priest over his
people.
“… With
extraordinary goodness and power, Melchizedek diligently administered in the
office of high priest … Consequently, Melchizedek became known as ‘the Prince
of peace’ (JST Gen. 14:33; Heb. 7:1-2; Alma 13:18). ‘His people wrought
righteousness, and obtained heaven’ (JST Gen. 14:34). His Hebrew name means ‘King
of Righteousness.’”[4]
There were many before Melchizedek. “Yea, and behold I say
unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many
before the days of Abraham who were called by the order of God; yea, even after
the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great
many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto
them” (Helaman 8:18).
Even so, none were greater.
“There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the
Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood.
“Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is
because Melchizedek was such a great high priest” (D&C 107:1-2).
Alma closed his comments reminding them they had the
scriptures before them. If they resist the scriptures, it will be to their
destruction.
[1] “… Abraham is our father; we have kept the commandments of
God, and none can inherit the promises but the children of Abraham; for
I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham” (JST Luke 3:13).
[2] “… and he brake bread and blest it; and he blest
the wine, he being the priest
of the most high God” (JST Genesis 14:17).
[3] Alma
the Younger Covenants with the Fathers (Part 1), M. Catherine Thomas,
Maxwell Institute website.
[4] Melchizedek,
Bruce Satterfield, Maxwell Institute website.
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