Intro
Here is a question in recognizing greatness. Who was the greatest man of the Old Testament? The answer might surprise you. It is Melchizedek. Wow and he is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalms 110:4. We get a little more about this mysterious king found in Hebrews chapters 5 and 7. A study of Melchizedek also has some profound teaching for us to live by.
One Scottish preacher, Bill Freel said, “If you grasp the significance of Melchizedek you have entered into a spiritual wonderland”. In Genesis 14 Melchizedek is observed historically. In Psalm 110 Melchizedek is spoken of prophetically and in Hebrews 5 & 7 Melchizedek is applied doctrinally.
Historical context
Here is a little background from Genesis 14. Abram is in a battle against four kings that captured his nephew Lot. Abram won the battle with his servants and allies and rescued Lot and also received the spoils of the victory of the battle.
He was met by Melchizedek the priest of the Most High God. This mysterious priest is also the King of Salem. We know this now as Jerusalem. Melchizedek is a king and a priest. This is a unique combination to be a priest and a king. Abram gave a tithe, a tenth to Melchizedek the priest/king.
There are three verses that are specifically related to Melchizedek in the historical account.
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 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
Melchizedek prophetically.
So far, we still don’t know too much about Melchizedek from the three verses in Genesis 14. But we also have an important reference to Melchizedek in Psalm 110, the Messianic Psalm.
The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
Psalm 110:4
Jesus uses Psalm 110 to silence his critics, the Pharisees, recorded in Matthew 22:44. He asks the Pharisees, “Whose son is the Messiah David? How could David call him Lord”? The Messiah was before King David. The Messiah is in the order of Melchizedek. This is an awesome prophecy that Jesus uses to confirms that he is the awaited Messiah.
Melchizedek doctrinally
Hebrews 5:5-10
5 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.” 6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1-18
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, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 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. 17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
King Melchizedek
Melech is the Hebrew word for king and Tsedek is the Hebrew word for righteousness. Melchizedek literally means the King of righteousness. The Old Testament prophets used the imagery of a stump as a prophetic promise. Isaiah spoke of the coming messiah with imagery of a stump. A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1-2)
A similar imagery of the righteous branch with the same basic message of the coming messiah is found here in Jeremiah:
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Melchizedek was the King of Salem. The word Salem means peace. So Melchizedek is the King of Peace and King of righteousness. Melchizedek is the King of Peace. The Messiah is the Prince of Peace. “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.… And He will be called the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
The prophesies of the coming Messiah often use the image of righteousness and peace. It is a fitting type of the Messiah to come, King of righteousness and King of Peace. “First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” (Hebrews 7:2)
Melchizedek the Priest
Genealogy is significant in the priesthood, but not a word about it for Melchizedek. The left-out genealogy is called the inspired omission. Hebrews 7:3 says Melchizedek was without beginning or end. The ironic thing is that Hebrews is a book asserting that Jesus is our high priest. Jesus can’t trace his linage to Aaron or even to Levi. He is from the tribe of Judah.
Jesus is a priest on the basis not of ancestry, but power Hebrews 7:16. There is so much in this Priest-King Melchizedek. Hebrews tells of the superior high priest in Jesus. In chapter 8 we have a better covenant. In chapter 9 we have a better sanctuary. In chapter 10 we have a better sacrifice. In Hebrews 5-7 we have a superior High Priest in Jesus Christ.
The Priesthood was determined by being a descendent or heir in the line of a priest. Both Moses and Aaron were descendants of Levi. The Old Testament priests must trace their heritage to Levi. Not Melchizedek.
Bread and the wine
Melchizedek blesses Abraham and gives him bread and wine. Jesus told us at the last supper that the bread was his body and wine was his blood. At the last supper the bread and wine become symbolic of the body and blood of Christ shed on the cross.
The writer of Hebrews never mentions that when Melchizedek brought bread and wine it was connected to what Christ instituted at the Lord’s Supper. We can make this assumption and in church history the church has made this assumption, but it is not specifically asserted by Scripture.
Abraham Tithing to Melchizedek
Hebrews 7 lays out the doctrinal significance of Melchizedek and tithing. The principle of tithing precedes the law by hundreds of years. Abraham (Abram) paid tithes to the priest of the Most High God, not under the law. Abraham the friend of God the father of faith, who believed God and it was credited as righteousness, tithed.
Tithing began before the law and continues after the law. Hebrews 7 underscores that tithing is an eternal principle. We should give our tithes to Jesus not out of law, but love. It is a moral principle.
Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
If the temporary priest received tithes Hebrews 7:8, then how much more the eternal priest receives them. Melchizedek is a type of Christ and Abraham a type of Christian tither. Here is the place of tithing in God’s plan. It is here before the law, “Abraham gave a tenth of all,” a tithe. God will bless you when you give your tithe with the right motive. It is no wonder that the Macedonian Christians begged for the opportunity to give. (2 Corinthians 8:3)
Melchizedek is the Old Testament type of Christ. Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek typified New Testament Christians giving tithes to Christ. Now symbolically even Levi, the great grandson of Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. Under the Mosaic Law the Levites received a tithe. The principle of the tithe precedes and transcends the ceremonial law.
It is better for us to bring tithes to Jesus Christ who is the eternal high priest. It is better than the tithes of the Old Covenant system. We are children of promise, spiritual heirs of Abraham. We are blessed to bring our tithes to the present day high priest of the Most High God, Jesus.
Conclusion
Do you see it now? Who is the greatest man in the Old Testament? It is this Priest of the Most High God, King of Righteousness and King of Peace who blessed Abraham. The greatest man of the Old Testament is Melchizedek.
We find that Melchizedek is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. God inspired the Bible. The significance of Melchizedek would be hinted at in Psalm 110 and expounded in Hebrews 5 and 7. Jesus is the Prophet, Priest and King in the order of Melchizedek.
With the few verses we have on Melchizedek and how we read in the Gospel how Jesus used Psalm 110 to explain he is the Messiah, that would be enough to know without doubt Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. He is the King of Righteousness. He is the King of Peace.
Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:9-10) Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus came to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Put your faith in Jesus Christ.
