“He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever” (Hebrews 7:3 ESV).
Before we leave this portion of of Scripture, we should make some final observations regarding this somewhat enigmatic statement: “[Melchizedek] is without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life…” (Mounce).
As mentioned previously, this passage has led some to conclude that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (or an Old Testament appearance of Jesus prior to His physical birth). One commentator who holds that position explains his reasoning…
“This unique description surely implies far more than a mere failure to mention Melchisedec’s genealogy, as the standard naturalistic explanation of this passage has it. The only one of whom these statements could actually be true is God Himself, appearing to Abraham in a theophany…
No mere earthly king was ever ‘made like unto the Son of God,’ nor was there ever one who ‘abideth a priest continually’ (same word as ‘forever’). It is difficult to see how these descriptions could be properly applied to anyone but the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to encourage Abraham in this unique pre-incarnate experience, assuming a human form ‘like unto’ that which He would assume forever when He became the incarnate Son of God. For the first time He founded and implemented forever the priestly order of Melchisedec.” (1)
Another scholar adds…
“The author of Hebrews also says Melchizedek had no mother or father (v. 3). The statement of his lack of parentage could simply mean that there was no genealogical record of his background, or, as some commentators believe, it could mean he was not of normal human descent but was perhaps a preincarnational appearance of Christ. This is a very popular theory.” (2)
Nevertheless, one source reminds us that the simplest answer is often the best as we seek to formulate our view of this passage…
“Melchizedek is described in Scripture as being like the Son of God, not as being the Son of God Himself (Hebrews 7:3). It seems best to view Melchizedek as an actual historical person-a mere human being-who was a ‘type’ of Christ. A type is someone (or something) that prophetically foreshadows someone (or something) else.
The reason some Old Testament persons or things foreshadow someone or something in the New Testament is that God planned it that way. In the revelatory process, God in His sovereignty so arranged the outworking of history that certain individuals, things, events, ceremonies, and institutions foreshadowed Christ in His person or ministry. This, I believe, is the case with Melchizedek.” (3)
(1) Institute for Creation Research, New Defender’s Study Bible Notes (Hebrews 7:3) https://www.icr.org/bible/Hebrews/7/3/
(2) Sproul, R. C. (2014). Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Reformation Trust Publishing. Page 116.
(3) Ron Rhodes, The Complete Book Of Bible Answers Copyright © 1997 by Ron Rhodes, Harvest House Publishers. Page 124