Who exactly is this individual named Melchizedek that we found in Genesis 14? And why did Abram give tithes to him? It will take us two postings to get through all the truths that the Holy Spirit would teach us about the significance of this man.
Jamieson, Fausett and Brown Commentary says that this was a native prince of the area who seems to have been one who knew and worshipped the most high God. He was a Gentile (as all Jews are descendants of Abraham). Melchizedek blesses Abram's valor and blesses God for the victory. Abram acknowledges God by taking a tenth (a tithe) of all that he had and giving it to this priest Melchizedek. But I don't think that explains him fully.
The writer of Hebrews (thought by many to be Paul) "compares" him to Jesus Christ (compares the similarity, not the personage, for there was only one Christ) and has much to say about Melchizedek; but before we begin this passage of scripture, there are a few points from the passage in Genesis that we should take note of.
The first is that when Melchizedek came to Abram, he came bearing bread and wine.
The second is that the book of Genesis (which means beginnings and which is filled with genealogies) neglects to give us any information on the genealogy of this priest. He appears to come out of nowhere and leave again as quickly as he arrived, and we are told very little about him.
The third is the significance of his name, the order of which is significant as well as the meanings of both his name and title.
Yet scripture will illuminate these things for us, some in Genesis when we get to the story of Joseph, and even further along into both the Old and New Testaments. Over and over again, we will see that the Word of God is filled from beginning to end with prophetic revelation of Jesus Christ. In fact, I cannot stress enough the significance of the scripture in John 1 that tell us that Jesus IS the WORD OF GOD. The Word is ALL about HIM because it IS HIM! How amazing that Jesus is revealed so thoroughly in the Old Testament, without His name even having to be mentioned. It is that very point that causes many to miss out on the revelations that the Old Testament provides.
We will begin today, however, with the passages in Hebrews. Please take the time to read the whole passage (beginning in Hebrews chapter 6 and ending in Hebrews chapter 7), it is too long to put all of it here, but I have underlined the things that are pertinent to the similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus Christ. And as this passage is a bit heavy in its subject matter, for it was written to the Hebrews who were much more familiar with the Levitical priesthood than we are at this point in our study, I have used the NIV version of the bible, whose language is a bit easier to digest.
"When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:13-20)
"This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace."
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder….
…and what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
…and it was not without an oath, but He [Jesus] became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.' Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priest, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priest men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever." (Hebrews 7:1-28)
Tomorrow, we will learn more about the Levitical system of priests that God ordained and will see how Abram knew to give a tenth of his plunder to this priest way before the Mosaic Law was established, from which the Levitical priesthood and the commandment to "tithe" were initiated. Or was that really their origin? Between this posting and next, we will come to understand the significance of Melchizedek.
Meanwhile, feel free to continue in your own research and add more of your thoughts to these postings, as I see has already been done. There is much truth being revealed by the mystery of Melchizedek. We do want to be careful not to miss any of it! I will respond to your comments at the end of the second posting, if I may.
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