“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18).
“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life” (Hebrews 7:14–16).
For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec: By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament (Hebrews 7:21–22).
Everyone likes a good mystery. The important parts of a good mystery include clues, questions, answers, speculation, and solutions. Mystery envelops the Bible character Melchizedek. He appears out of nowhere, and then suddenly disappears. Was he a real person? Was his appearance to Abraham a theophany (an appearance of Jesus in the OT)?
Part of the the mystery surrounding Melchizedek is due to the writer of Hebrews statement: “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:3).
What does that mean? How does one not have a mother or father? No beginning of days? No end of life? Who is this mysterious man?
While I believe Melchizedek was a real person, and despite his similar characteristics of Jesus I do not believe that he was simply a theophany. His cameo in Genesis, however, is packed with significance and worthy of our study.
History of Melchizedek
In Genesis 14 a dispute among several kings resulted in a war in the Jordan Valley, where Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was living in Sodom. A coalition of kings invaded Sodom and the surrounding areas, taking Lot captive (Gen. 14:1-12). One person escaped and told Abraham of the news. Abraham gathered his trained men and went to battle with the kings who invaded Sodom, freeing Lot and recovering the cities (Gen. 14:13-16).
The king of Sodom, and Melchizedek, king of Salem, met Abraham at his return home. Time and space don’t permit us to spend time on the king of Sodom here. The meeting of Melchizedek and Abraham is an amazing meeting. Abraham, the man of faith, and Melchizedek. We are intrigued when great men and women meet each other. Think of Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. To be a fly on the wall at those meetings and encounters.
The influential life of Abraham is important throughout the rest of Genesis and Scripture. Melchizedek’s life is briefly mentioned here. Though given a short introduction, he will be important a thousand years later when the psalmist says: “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). Psalm 110 is the most quoted chapter of Psalms in the New Testament. Then another thousand years after Psalm 110 was written, the writer of Hebrews said: “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils” (Hebrews 7:4).
While much of Abraham’s life of faith is recorded and recounted on throughout the Bible, Melchizedek has a small cameo and makes a giant impact.
Melchizedek: a Man of Faith and Righteousness
Scripture says Melchizedek was a priest of the most high God (Gen. 14:18). This is significant for a few reasons. First, he was a servant of the Lord in a rather godless region. The people of the Jordan Valley were anything but worshipers of Jehovah. For Melchizedek to be considered godly at this time, and in this place, gives us reason to believe he was a man of faith. People who live contrary to their surrounding culture are considered to be counter-cultural. Melchizedek was a man of faith in a faithless world. If you are going to make any impact upon the world, then you must not be like the world. We don’t know where Melchizedek learned about the Lord. We aren’t given the details of his conversion. What we do know is that he was righteous. For Paul said, “The righteous live by faith” (Rom. 1:17).
The writer of Hebrews said Melchizedek’s name meant “king of righteousness” (Heb. 7:2). Righteousness means to live according to a God’s law. Melchizedek lived by a higher law than that of his surrounding people. One writer said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Pro. 14:34).
Do you see the first connection between Melchizedek and Jesus? Jesus is the King of Righteousness. He is superior to Melchizedek because the righteousness of humanity is as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). We cannot claim our own righteousness as any good. What righteousness we have has been imputed to us from the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. Jesus perfectly obeyed the Word of God: “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” (Heb. 5:8–9 KJV). Through Christ’s perfect obedience, He took our sin, and gave us His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:21-22; 4:6, 11; 5:18-19).
A Priest and King
The second interesting reason to Melchizedek’s priesthood is that he is not from the Levitical priesthood. Obviously, Levi hadn’t been born yet and the Mosaic Law was was about 500 years in the future. This is significant because Melchizedek’s priesthood was not based upon lineage or inheritance, much like Jesus. The writer of Hebrews draws this conclusion:
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof (Hebrews 7:11–18).
Jesus came as a priest after the order of Melchizedek forever. The point isn’t that Melchizedek didn’t have a mother or father, its that no record was given. Therefore, after the similitude of one who seems to be “forever,” Jesus is a priest for all of eternity. The Levitical priesthood was only to be temporary. The sacrifices they made were never going to be sufficient to remove the sins of all of humanity. The blood of bulls and goats would not wash away sins. Part of this insufficiency was that the Levitical priests were human and would die (Heb. 7:23). Jesus is superior to the Levitical priesthood, and even the Melchizedekian priesthood because He lives forever (Heb. 7:15-16).
Moreover, Melchizedek was said to be King of Salem and a priest of the most high God. Israel’s priesthood began with Aaron and was passed down through his descendants (from the tribe of Levi). When Israel’s kingship arose a few centuries later, the monarchy and priesthood were kept separate. No one could simultaneously be king and priest. King Uzziah attempted to do priestly tasks and God struck him with leprosy (2 Chron. 26:16–21). Melchizedek predates the Levitical priesthood and the monarchy of Israel. Again, this points us to Jesus. He is both King and High Priest.
As King, He is the Creator ruling and governing. As Priest He represents God to us, and represents us to God. This is important because Jesus is in heaven right now interceding on our behalf (Heb. 7:25).
“If I can hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me” – Robert M’Cheyne
Jesus, as our High Priest, is praying for us. You failed to pray today? Jesus didn’t miss the prayer meeting. Beloved, rest in this reality, that Jesus is praying for you right now.
Notice as well, Melchizedek is said to be king of Salem. Salem was the location of Jerusalem. “Jeru” was added years later to the name “Salem,” making the name “Jerusalem.” Psalm 76:2 makes this Salem to be Jerusalem, “In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.”
The word “Salem” in the Hebrew means “peace” or “complete.” It is where the word Shalom derives. Melchizedek is king of peace, and his name means righteousness. The writer of Hebrews “to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Hebrews 7:2). The truth taught here is that righteousness comes before peace.
Righteousness comes before peace. The world needs to be taught this truth. People everywhere want peace, but peace follows righteousness. The prophet Isaiah said, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:17). Jesus is the King of Righteousness. He perfectly obeyed and fulfilled the Law of Moses on our behalf.
Jesus is far superior because He is King of Peace. The Bible speaks of peace in two different ways. There is subjective peace, and there is objective peace. Subjective peace is the peace within your mind and emotions. It’s a tranquility of the mind, or a positive feeling of safety. This is the peace of God in our hearts. It’s the assurance of knowing that a sovereign God is in control.
Objective peace, on the other hand, is quite different. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). This is not the peace of God, rather, this is peace with God. This concerns our relationship with God. And thus it implies that we were once at war with God. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Our sin kept us at war with God.
But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. The King of Righteousness brought about peace. Another writer said it like this: “Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).
Thank God that Jesus is both King of Righteousness and King of Peace. He is King of kings. He is also the merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17).
The King’s Bread and Wine
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: 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 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).
Melchizedek meets Abraham and brings him bread and wine. The King-Priest of Salem comes bearing gifts for a weary man. Abraham has just returned from the battle. He is depleted and weary. Suddenly a mysterious man comes to bring Abraham bread and wine. Abraham, a man of faith, following the promises of God, needed replenished. He had just fought a battle and needed a little encouragement. So the King-Priest blessed a faithful and worn-out man with bread and wine.
Beloved, do you see how Melchizedek prefigures Jesus Christ? Again, the writer of Hebrews wrote this: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:11-14).
What will bring you life again? What will replenish your soul? What will yield righteousness and peace?
The writer of Hebrews tells us and connects us back to Jesus:
“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:5-10).
Do you see it yet?
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:26–29).
Jesus is far superior to Melchizedek because He is the only King-Priest who gives us his body as life-giving bread, and his blood, as soul-cleansing wine. Jesus, our King-Priest, is the Ancient of Days. He is the beginning and the ending. He is the Rock of Ages, able to reign and represent God to us, and us to God forever.
Are you weary with fighting against God’s call? Come and partake of the King’s bread and wine. Do you need peace with God? Come and eat the King’s bread and wine. Do you need a righteousness that only come from God? Then come and partake of the King’s bread and wine. Do you need cleansing? Then come partake of the King’s bread and wine.