Who Is Melchizedek? How Was He a Type of Christ?
Melchizedek was priest-king of Salem in Canaan during the time of Abram. He’s mentioned a few times in Scripture, starting with the following passage wherein Melchizedek met with Abram in the Valley of Shaveh to honor him after Abram’s militia impressively defeated King Kedorlaomer of Elam and the kings allied with him:
18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The name Melchizedek means “righteous king” and he was the spiritual and political leader of Jerusalem when it was called Salem, aka Shalem, which means “peace” or “peaceful.” Psalm 76:2 offers evidence that Salem and Jerusalem are one-and-the-same. Jerusalem, incidentally, means “possession of peace” or “foundation of peace” and is first mentioned in the Bible in Joshua 10:1.
What God Did Melchizedek Serve?
Melchizedek spoke of the Almighty as “God Most High” in the above passage, but Abram spoke of the Creator as “LORD God Most High” in the same context (verse 22). In other words, Melchizedek knew about the Most High and spoke of God in terms of titles, yet Abram knew God personally and so used God’s name, YHWH.* Abram is of course better known as Abraham (Genesis 17:5)
* Even though Abram & other patriarchs knew the Creator by name (Genesis 9:26, 12:8, 22:14, 24:12, etc.) they didn’t know God in the fuller sense that their descendants would, as disclosed in Exodus 6:3; cf. Genesis 4:26.
Melchizedek in the Book of Hebrews
The intriguing priest-king of Salem is also mentioned in the book of Hebrews in 5:1-10 and here:
1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now 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. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
11If 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? 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one 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. 17For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek is revealed to be a type of Christ in this passage. A ‘type’ simply means a person or thing that foreshadows someone or something else.
Verse 3 curiously says that Melchizedek didn’t have a beginning or end. Obviously he did since he was a human being, but there was no record of his father or mother, which is why he was said to be “without genealogy,” thus he became a symbol of the coming Christ, a high priest forever with no beginning and no ending; in other words, immortal in the absolute sense (Psalm 90:2 & 1 Timothy 6:16).
Verse 17, by the way, is a quote of Psalm 110:4.
Genesis 14:20 is the First Mention of ‘Tithing’ in the Bible
To ‘tithe‘ literally means to give 10% of your earnings (presumably to God via a representative) and we see that Abram gave 10% of the plunder of his victory to Melchizedek, who symbolizes Christ, the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18). This was well before the Mosaic Law and illustrates that tithing is a wise principle of thankfulness, generosity and honor. Abraham is the Father of Faith while New Covenant believers are children of faith (Romans 4:16). Believers should only give if, like Abraham, they can do so cheerfully and free of pressure (2 Corinthians 9:7). You can read important details about New Covenant giving and tithing here (please keep in mind that New Covenant believers are not under the Law).
Why did Abram give Melchizedek 10% of his plunder? He was full of gratitude to the Sovereign God, who granted him a great victory, not to mention deliverance for Lot, his nephew. Since Melchizedek was obviously a priest of the one, true God and Abram recognized his authenticity, that’s whom he honored. He interestingly didn’t treat the king of Sodom in like manner (Genesis 14:21-23).
Further Insights About Melchizedek
This intriguing priest-king of Canaan illustrates that the LORD can reach people with sincere hearts even in a pagan world.
Melchizedek, incidentally, is also mentioned in Hebrews 6:20.
Related Topics:
Is Christianity a “Relationship with God”?
Religion and Christianity — What’s the Difference?
THE Angel of the LORD — Mighty Angel or Pre-Incarnate Christ?
HEBREWS / ISRAELITES / JEWS — Why Did God Choose Them?
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