Genesis 14

Genesis 14:18-24

Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious people in the Bible. There is often a debate concerning his identity. Was he really just a king during Abraham’s time? Was he Christ incarnate? When someone is an example or a picture of Christ in the Bible it is called a typology. For instance, Jonah being the whale for 3 days is a type of Christ because Christ was in the tomb for 3 days. We know Jonah is not Christ, but just a picture. When it is Christ, Himself, it is called a Christophany. For instance, the fourth “man” with Shadrach, Meshech, and Abendigo was Christ, therefore Christophany. We do not need to worry about all this, but it is good to know.

Melchizedek was the king of Salem. Melchizedek means “My King is righteous.” Salem is in reference to Jerusalem, which means peace. The first thing we notice is that Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek. This is interesting because the greater always blesses the lesser. Next we see Melchizedek knowing who Abraham is and worshiping the One True God. Lastly, we see Abraham giving tithe to Melchizedek.

Something unique to Melchizedek is that he is the only king in the Bible who was also a priest. In fact, according to the law you could not be both king and priest. The priests were men who lived at the temple, and spent their life performing offerings. There is only one other Priest/King in the Bible and that is Jesus. He is the Priest who laid down the offering that wiped away our sins. He is the King of kings.

Now Melchizedek will not be mentioned again in the Bible until Psalms 110:4, “Jehovah has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” We know there is a Levitical priesthood. Could there also be an everlasting priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek? Perhaps this is how Abraham knew how to perform the offering despite the fact that the Law had not been written (compare Genesis 15:9-11 with Leviticus 1:14-17). Melchizedek must have taught Abraham something of the law!

Melchizedek would not be mentioned again until Hebrews! Now read Hebrews 5:9-10. Jesus had to be a High Priest. There is one problem with this. The prophecies said that Jesus would come from the line of Judah, and only the Levites were priests. This verse tells us that Jesus came from a different order, the order of Melchizedek. Now read Hebrews 7. “To him Abraham also gave a tenth of all. He was first by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:2-3).

I ask you, who is Melchizedek? Is it Jesus Christ? Is it just a man God had revealed Himself to? Is he a Christophany or a typology