Melchizedek—King and Priest

Bible Passage: Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7

I. Verse 18 “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High”

1. Melchizedek is introduced abruptly in this narrative

a. Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness”
b. “King of Salem” means “King of Peace”
c. “Salem” is the ancient name for “Jerusalem”

2. In addition to His title “King of Salem,” Melchizedek is also introduced as the “priest of God Most High”

a. The expression “God Most High” is the English translation of the Hebrew phrase El Elyon
b. The divine name/title El Elyon refers to Yahweh Himself

i. Gen 14:22 With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth
ii. Psalm 78:35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer
iii. Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel
iv. 2 Samuel 22:14 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded
v. Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High
vi. Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
vii. Psalm 97:9 For you, Lord, are over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods
viii. Daniel 4:34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the; I honored and glorified him who lives forever

c. Yahweh El Elyon is the of all the gods

3. Priesthood existed much before Aaronic priesthood, as early as this story or even before Abraham
4. Yahweh El Elyon resided in Salem, which is Jerusalem, much before the building of the Temple

II. Verses 18-20 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. He blessed Abraham: “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

1. The bread, wine, and blessing over Abraham look like covenant scene
2. It seems like a foreshadow of the Communion
3. The bread and wine symbolize spiritual sustenance for Abraham after the war
4. Melchizedek mediates grace to Abraham before El Elyon

III. Melchizedek is both King of Salem and High Priest before El Elyon

1. One person holding two offices—King and Priest, is a unique phenomenon in the Old Testament
2. The priesthood of Melchizedek is completely different from the priesthood of Aaron
3. Melchizedek was not appointed, and has no predecessor, no successor, no beginning, no end, and no family background

IV. Melchizedek, Priest and King, becomes an expectation, something different from the kingship and priesthood of Israel

1. In Psalm 110:1-4, the psalmist looks forward for a person who is both “King” and “Priest”
2. The King sits at the righthand of the LORD—the righthand of God is the seat of the King
3. The Priest stands in the order of Melchizedek, i.e., without lineage and appointment

V. Let’s look at Jesus!

1. Peter announces in Acts 2:32-33 “God raised this Jesus to life, … exalted to the right hand of God”
2. Mark 16:19 “… He was taken up into heaven, and he sat at the right hand of God”
3. Eph 1:20 “… God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”
4. Heb 1:3 “ … he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”
5. 1 Peter 3:22 “He has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him.”

VI. Jesus the Melchizedek, the King of Salem and the Priest of El Elyon

1. Heb 5:10 “Jesus was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek”
2. Heb 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek
3. Heb 8:1-2 We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being

VII. Gen 14:20 Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything

1. The word “tithe” is ⅒
2. Abraham giving tithe points to his spontaneous covenant response, worship, and acknowledgement of divine victory over five powerful kings
3. Tithe points to Abraham giving credit to God for his victory
4. Abraham did it spontaneously, without being legislated
5. It has become a standard of giving to God, a pragmatic worship
6. There appears to have a connection between giving ⅒ to God and divine blessing (cf. Mal 3:10)

VIII. Lessons

1. Jesus is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek
2. Jesus mediates perpetually between God the Father and His people
3. The Communion represents God’s perpetual covenant with those who have been elected in Jesus
4. Worship is not mere singing, but it is pragmatic
5. Giving to God is not an obligation, but is a spontaneous response to God’s involvement in our life

Takeaway:

1. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart (cf. Heb 10:22)
2. Demonstrate pragmatically your appreciation for God’s involvements in your life (cf. Gen 14:20)