After the Order of Melchizedek

Melchizedek was a king first mentioned in scriptures in Genesis 14. Abram had just returned from a battle where he went to retrieve Lot and his possessions from the bondage of a group of kings, when he met Melchizedek. Here’s what the Bible says about him in Genesis 14:18-20 -

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. - Genesis 14:18-20

This is the only instance in the Bible where we see this king of Salem interacting with anybody. The next mention of his name is in Psalm 110, a psalm about Jesus, where He is referred to as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4 - The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

What Genesis Tell Us About Melchizedek?

- He was the king of Salem, a city of Canaan in Abraham’s day. Genesis 14:18

o Salem means peace, so he was the king of peace. Hebrews 7:2.

- He was a priest of God – Genesis 14:18

- He blessed Abram.

- Abram gave a tithe (one-tenth) of all he had to Melchizedek

Asides from this, nothing more is really said about Melchizedek, but as we see in Hebrews 7, in that “silence” lies Jesus’ similarity to this mysterious king.

His family name was not mentioned; nothing about his father or mother; nothing known of his genealogy or descendants. There are no mentions of his birth or birthplace, neither was there any record of his death. So…

- Like Jesus, Melchizedek acted in a priestly office, even though he was not from the tribe of Levi (the tribe of Israel separated to occupy the office of the priests).

- As a priest, Melchizedek blessed Abram; therefore, shown to be superior to Abram. Hebrews 7:7 - And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. This again showing similarity between Melchizedek and Jesus. Jesus said of Himself, “Before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58.

- The Levitical priests all experienced death, which ended their priesthood. But nothing is said of the death of Melchizedek – Hebrews 7:3. Even though scripture does not say he is immortal, this again typifies Christ who lives and stands in the gap for us as mediator forever – 1 Timothy 2:5.

This is why Jesus' priesthood is likened to that of Melchizedek.

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