NT Use of OT Part 19: Psalm 110:4 and Contextual Fulfillment

The focus of my last two blogs has been on the use of Psalm 110:1 in the NT. The reason for this is because Psalm 110:1 is the most quoted OT verse in the NT. But there are also four uses of Psalm 110:4 which reads:

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:4 is referenced four times in Hebrews:

just as He says also in another passage,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” (Heb 5:6)

being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 5:10)

For it is attested of Him,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” (Heb 7:17)

(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’”  (Heb 7:21)

The emphasis of these passages is on Messiah as Priest and the superiority of Christ’s priesthood in the order of Melchizedek over the Levitical priesthood. Since Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm in which David foretold of the coming King-Priest, and since Jesus is the fulfillment of this King-Priest, these are cases of contextual fulfillment of an OT verse. Or to be more specific, these are cases of Direct Prophetic Fulfillment of Psalm 110:4.