Administration of Bread & Wine ordinances in Bible

[DBSmith]

Are the Old Testament bread and wine ordinances (given by Melchizedek to Abraham when he received the high priesthood, and also, to Levi when he received the priesthood) related to the Shewbread and wine ordinances received in the holy place in the first Temple ...and are they then restored in the New Testament by Jesus revealing the Bread of Life and Living Water doctrines and then extended into the emblems of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by DBSmith]

Well Paul specifically ties Melchizedek in Hebrews 6:20 to the establishment of Jesus' as a High Priest . Although he - Paul - makes no mention of the bread and the wine, it is interesting to note that both were mentioned in Genesis. In any case, it seems that the Melchizedek was indeed a "type" or a representation of the "antitype" of Jesus himself and the promise God made to make Jesus a Priestly King, not through lineage but by direct appointment (as was the case for Melchizedek). This would be one of the covenants Jesus referred when he instituted the Memorial of his death on Nisan 14. This is important because Jesus, as a Judean, would have had no legal right in an earthly sense to the Priesthood, something specifically reserved for the descendants of Levi. Under the Hebrew model kingship and Priesthood were kept entirely separate, so in Melchizedek we have the precedent of combining the two roles (him being both the King of Salem and a Priest).

Water was not used as an emblem during Jesus' evening meal and Jesus referred to himself as the "bread of life" in an entirely different context, not alluding to the showbread but to the life sustaining manna in the wilderness. Although as I said Paul did refer to various features of the Temple arrangement as a picture for the greater arrangment for worship based on the ransom, I hesitatet to say that the showbread specifically was type for Jesus' body as spoken of during the memorial of his death. Jehovah's Witnesses have in recent years learnt to be more cautious in pronouncing types and "antitypes" unless such are specifically indicated in scripture.

In short Melchezedek, definitely a "type" for Jesus. TThe wilderness manner, definitely a picture of Jesus as the "Bread of life". Water was used by Jesus as a symbol of the purifying and curative actions of the God's word and as well as in revelation for the provisions made through the ransom for guiding mankind back to perfection. Whether there were specific temple ceremonies connected water, the temple showbread and wine offerings, that served as a picture for Jesus' sacrifice, I cannot say. I'd have to do more research.

Good question though.

JEHOVAHS WITNESS

[DBSmith]

Melchizedek is a priest (high priesthood) after the order of the Most High God, El Elyon, The Father. Aaronic priests were priests (lesser priesthood) after the law of Moses, Yahweh, The Son...for a school master according to Paul, until the coming of Melchizedek (type), the Messiah, the Atoning Messiah, the last and great eternal sacrifice. Luke 4:17-21; Isa 61:1-2

Gen 14:18-19 Bread and wine ordinance given
-Abraham receiving the high priesthood from Melchizedek (priest of El Elyon)
-Proverbs 9:5 (Wisdom administering the same ordinances, see for Wisdom,
Prov 8) Genesis Rabbah XLIIL6

Testament of Levi 8. Bread and wine ordinance given
-Levi “become[s] a priest of the Lord� …..and was given “bread and wine, the
most holy things�

The manna from heaven Exodus 16:15 1 Cor 10:3
The water from the rock Num 20:11 1 Cor 10:4

Leviticus 23:13 Lev 24:9 “an everlasting covenant� (The Bread of His Presence)

John 6:33,35,48,51 the flesh and blood of Jesus

John 6:53-58 “the flesh of the Son� “and� “his blood� “hath eternal life�


John 7:37-38 Jesus cried out to the crowd on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles, where they were all “tabernacled� on Temple grounds waiting for the water that was poured off the side of altar (water from the Rock), representing the Holy Spirit, to flow unto them under their feet and dwellings: water out of the wells of Salvation (Ps 118:24-29 was sung among others). It was the grand finale of the feast [consider John 8:6,8 where some believe that Jesus wrote their names in the ground (earth) after rejecting the Living Waters, him, the day before, John 7:45,47-48,52. (Jer 17:13, John 7:38)

Mark 14:22-24 the new testament (covenant)

1 Cor 11:24-25 The Sacrament (from Paul, though not in the book to the Hebrews, but 6:4 uses terms like enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift where Paul uses Christ to be after the order of Melchizedek 5 times who as a priest of the Most High God offered up, administered, the ordinances of bread and wine