Melchizedek
King and priest of Salem
He blessed Abraham with bread and wine and received a tenth; a figure of Christ, a priest forever.
The mysterious king of Salem
In the middle of Abraham’s story, with no genealogy and no farewell, Melchizedek appears, “king of righteousness” and “king of peace,” priest of God Most High. He blesses Abraham with bread and wine and receives the tithe (Genesis 14:18–20).
A shadow pointing ahead
Psalm 110:4 promises a priest “forever in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7 explains: unlike the priests of Aaron, who died and succeeded one another, this priesthood is eternal.
Christ, our eternal priest
Melchizedek is a type of Christ: king and priest at the same time, with no recorded beginning or end. Jesus is the ultimate High Priest, who “always lives to intercede” for us (Hebrews 7:25); the bread and wine already pointed to his table.
Where to read in the Bible
- Genesis 14:18–20
- Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7
Connections
- blessed Abraham · stated in the text · Genesis 14:19
- type of Jesus of Nazareth · cross-reference · Hebrews 7:3
Topics: priesthood, type of Christ