ENHANCE - 4th Quarter 2023

Editorial
Christian Friends of Israel
United Kingdom
King and Priest –
an indestructible life
About us
CFI UK seeks to bless Israel through
practical and moral support, and serve
the Church in teaching about God’s
purposes for Israel and the Hebrew
heritage of our faith.
CFI UK also produce a monthly prayer
letter, a weekly audio Middle East report
and distribute Haverim teaching.
Please contact us for full details of
projects in Israel and the teaching
resources available.
As an educational charity, we carry a
variety of resources relevant to our
purpose. We do not necessarily endorse
every view expressed by our guest
writers or authors.
Encouraging understanding in the
Church of Israel in context of the
Bible, history and today.
Challenging prejudice against Israel
and antisemitism alongside the Jewish
community in the UK.
Assisting cross-culturally in Israel
with charitable projects - medical,
educational and social.
What’s in a name?
ENHANCE means to increase, or further
improve the quality, value, or extent
of, in our instance, Christian friendship
of Israel. It also emphasises that when
God’s faithfulness to Israel is included and
understood by the wider Church, it truly is
‘faith enhancing.’
ENHANCE Magazine
Published by:
CFI Charitable Trust, PO Box 2687
Eastbourne BN22 7LZ
Tel: 01323 410 810
Email: info@cfi.org.uk
www.cfi.org.uk
Registered Charity, No. 1101899
Registered Office c/o
Caladine, Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road
Eastbourne, BN21 1BF
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Front cover photo:
Shepherd and sheep by Tutye
Jacob Vince
There are many biblical
references to the tribe of
Judah confirming Jesus’
kingly line as Son of David.
However there are just two verses
in the first three parts of the Bible
where an alternative priestly status
to that of Levi is mentioned - one
in the Law (see Genesis 14), and
one in the Psalms (see Psalm 110).
Indeed, there is only one single
place in the Apostles’ teaching that
mentions such an alternative, the
letter to the Hebrews.
In the first book of the Law,
Melchizedek appears, in keeping
with his name, as king and
priest of Salem, later named
Jerusalem. It is a significant
meeting, coming after Abraham
has rescued his nephew Lot
from capture. Melchizedek
brings Abraham bread and
wine, and Abraham gives him a
tenth of everything (see Genesis
14:18-20). Melchizedek is not
mentioned again until Psalm
110. Significantly, this is a
psalm attributed to David, albeit
outside of the first two books
of psalms where most are to be
found. Psalm 110 is viewed as a
messianic psalm and is formed
of two halves, the first relating to
a king, the second to a priest. In
the order of the Psalms, it comes
in the third book, part of a trio of
psalms attributed to David, Psalms
108-110, before the Passover Psalms
113-118, the Law Psalm 119 and the
Ascent Psalms 120-134.
Significantly, Psalm 110 is the most
quoted psalm in the Apostles’
teaching, with the first half quoted
by Jesus - recorded by the three
synoptic gospels (see Matthew
22:44, Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42),
by Peter in his first sermon (see
Acts 2:34) and the writer to the
Hebrews (see Hebrews 1:13),
‘The Lord says to my Lord; “Sit at my
right hand until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)
The second part of Psalm 110,
about Melchizedek, is not
mentioned at all by Jesus or his
apostles, but only by the writer of
the letter to the Hebrews, where
Melchizedek is mentioned a
staggering nine times.
Concerning the character of
Melchizedek the author writes,
“Without father or mother, without
genealogy, without beginning of days
or end of life, like the Son of God, he
remains a priest forever.”
(Hebrews 7:3)
Given how much credence is given
throughout the Bible to Jesus’
genealogy, how is it possible
for Jesus to qualify as a priest,
previously understood as coming
solely from the tribe of Levi? Well,
here we discover there are two
orders of priesthood, with one
superior to the other,
If perfection could have been attained
through the Levitical priesthood (for
on the basis of it the law was given to
the people), why was there a need for
another priest to come – one in the
order of Melchizedek, not in the order
of Aaron? (Hebrews 7:11)
Just how does Jesus qualify for this
order of priesthood since,
It is clear that our Lord descended
from Judah, and in regard to that tribe
Moses says nothing about priests.
(Hebrews 7:14)
The only basis possible, an
indestructible life!
And what we have said is even more
clear if another priest like Melchizedek
appears, one who has become a priest
not on the basis of a regulation as to
his ancestry but on the basis of ‘an
indestructible life’. For it is declared:
“You are a priest for ever, in the order
of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:15-17
ref Psalm 110:4)
2 ENHANCE • 4 th Quarter 2023