Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Thanks for joining our study. If you missed last week’s discussion of Psalm 110, I wrote: “Stay tuned for another study about Melchizedek. I feel called to write about him again since Vol. 50 was three years ago.”
So here we go! In my humble opinion, Melchizedek is “under-reported” as the prefiguration of Jesus Christ in Genesis. I hope this two-part series shines more light on the mysterious Melchizedek. Today is an overview, and next week, we will delve into Hebrews 7, the chapter dedicated to the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus.
In the Old Testament, Melchizedek is only a blip. First, he suddenly appears in Genesis 14:18-20 — a 56-word passage. Then he is mentioned 1000 years later, in one significant sentence from Psalm 110:4 — “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”
Since Psalm 110 is a Messianic prophecy, it is widely believed that “You” refers to Jesus Christ. How powerful and profound to read, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind..” Therefore, through David, the Lord revealed a theological concept of utmost importance, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek,” but the concept went unexplained in Psalm:110-4. It only took another 1000 years for the unknown Hebrews writer to delve into the meaning of the Genesis passage and the Psalm 110:4 verse. Let’s read Genesis and meet Melchizedek:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything” (Genesis 14:18-20).
Interestingly, Melchizedek suddenly appeared, not prefaced in the preceding verse:
“After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley)” (Genesis 14:17).
Melchizedek’s visit prompted this Hebrews 7 verse: “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). Let’s review verse by verse:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.”
Initially, Melchizedek is identified as “the king of Salem,” short for the Holy City of Jerusalem. Then the king of the Holy City immediately distributes “bread and wine.” Although a common meal, at the Last Supper, Jesus states that bread and wine are His body and blood to eat and drink “in remembrance of me.” Is that a first-sentence coincidence?
“He was priest of God Most High,” and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.’”
Note that Melchizedek is described in the most holy and Godly terms: “He was priest of God Most High.” Melchizedek was not just a “high priest” like Aaron, the first high priest. In fact, throughout the Old Testament, no high priest is titled like Melchizedek. He is God’s highest representative, sent to give Abram a blessing before Abram is renamed “Abraham” in the next chapter Genesis 15 where God makes His covenant with him.
The next verse is a turnaround, when, after giving Abram a blessing “by God Most High.” Melchizedek praises God for what God did for Abram: “‘And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’”
Does that mean in this short encounter with Abram, Melchizedek resembles Jesus by being fully God and fully Man? Is Melchizedek the pre-figuration of Jesus? That is my belief, but you decide.
Finally, the last verse is also jaw-dropping. Note that Abram does not speak during his encounter with Melchizedek. However, he is moved into action: “Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
There is no explanation why Abram generously gave Melchizedek “a tenth” since there was no “ask” for what became known as a “tithe.” Abram was rich, so a tenth was a substantial gift to the “king of Salem.” Then poof! Melchizedek is gone. He never appears again, and as noted earlier, his name is not mentioned for 1000 years until Psalm 110-4 — a Messianic prophecy. I repeat the verse because it is so powerful and emphatic:
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”
Now fast forward 1000 years to the book of Hebrews 5:6, where Melchizedek is first mentioned in the New Testament with a partial requote of Psalm 110:4 — “‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’” The context is a discussion about high priests, and the NIV translation subtitle reads, “Jesus the Great High Priest”:
“Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). Skipping to Verses 4-6:
“And no one takes this honor on himself, [being called a high priest], but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he [God] says in another place, [Psalm 110-4] “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5: 4-6).
Let’s proceed to Hebrews Chapter 6, where the certainty of God’s promise to His people is discussed, starting with the promise God made to Abraham:
“‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.’ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised” (Hebrews 6:13-14). God made an oath to Abraham that translated into hope, about which the Hebrews writer said:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19-20).
High priests went “behind the curtain” only once a year to where God dwelt, the Holy of Holies, to pray and ask for forgiveness of sins.
That final verse of Hebrews 6:20 heralds the grand theme explaining how and why Jesus had “become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek,” discussed in Hebrews 7. We pick up there next week. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit recently hosted a four-day exhibit with a VIP guest at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana.Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>