LET’S MEET MELCHIZEDEK
Genesis 14: 17 –24 & Hebrews 5-7
THE STORY…
•Abram and his 318 men conquered the 4 Kings and rescued
Lot and his family. The King of Sodom came to meet with
Abram
•Melchizedek –King of Salem and High Priest of the Most
High God –brought bread and wine to Abram and blessed
Abram, “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 hands.”
•Abram gave a tenth (tithe) of everything he had to
Melchizedek – honoring Melchizedek’s position
THE STORY CONTINUES…
•V21 The King of Sodom told Abram to simply give him back
his people and Abram can have all their goods, gold, etc.
•V22 Abram responded, “I have sworn an oath to the Lord,
God Most High, Creator of the heaven and earth, that I will
accept nothing belonging to you, not even one thread or
string of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I
made Abram rich.’”
•In fairness to his men, he asked that his men be able to keep
the things gathered from the battle as payment for their
work.
A LOOK AT ABRAM’S RESPONSE TO THE KING OF SODOM:
•Abram kept his oath to God-the Creator of heaven & earth
•He refused the gifts the King of Sodom offered (flattery)
•Sanctified himself and kept himself separate from evil. He
would not be “blessed by evil”
•Said, “You (Sodom) will NEVER be able to say you made me
rich!” Confirming his (Abram’s) well-being was totally
dependent on the Lord. He drew a line…
MELCHIZEDEK
•A mysterious person! No record of his birth or death
•King of Salem –later Jerusalem
•Brough bread and wine to Abram…a practice that will be
established as a part of the worship in the Temple and now in
our Churches…Bible scholars say this was a prophetic practice
that Jesus would fulfill (Last Supper)
•He was the priest of God Most High, Creator of heaven & earth
•Receives a tithe (1/10th) of all of Abram’s possessions as a
thanksgiving offering to the Lord
•Name: mele = King of sedeq = Righteousness
Melchizedek = King of Righteousness
MELCHIZEDEK –PROPHETIC IMAGE OF JESUS
•Psalms 110:4 (written by David), “The Lord says to my Lord, you
will rule from Zion…arrayed in holy splendor…from the order of
Melchizedek.”
•Lord said to my Lord…who is God speaking to? The pre-earth Jesus
•Rule from Zion – Revelation’s new heaven and earth
•Arrayed in holy splendor –Rev. 19: 11 –18
•From the order of Melchizedek –not family line but position/office
THE WRITER OF HEBREWS HELPS US UNDERSTAND IN
HEBREWS CHAPTERS 5 - 7
•Heb 5: 5-10 = Christ did not take the glory of becoming a high
priest, but God said… “You are a priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek” (quoting Ps 110: 4)
•V7 “While on earth, Jesus functioned as a High priest…”
•V9 “Made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation,
once and for all for all who obey Him…”
•V10 “Designated by God to be the High Priest in the order of
Melchizedek
HEBREWS 7
•V1&2 Melchizedek –King of Righteousness and King of
Salem –King of Peace
•V3 “like” or resembling the Son of God
•V7 Melchizedek is greater than Abram – Abram tithed to…
•V11 “perfection could not be from the Levitical Priesthood –
must come from another line –we were still in need of
another High Priest to come
HEBREWS 7 CONTINUED
•V14 – 27: Jesus (Judah’s lineage not Levi’s) Jesus became the
High Priest –not by law or lineage –BUT based on the power of
an indestructible life – Ps 110: 4, God’s oath stated this priest will
live forever!
•Jesus rose from the dead –He lives eternally –making Him the
“guarantor of a better covenant”
•Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood
•And therefore He is able to save completely those who come to
God through Him … because He (Jesus) lives eternally to
intercede for them/us.
•V27 Jesus sacrificed for our sins once and for all when He offered
Himself as our sacrifice
LET’S LOOK …
•Abram: stood his ground for holiness –costed him
lots of $$$, remaining in right relationship with God –
he believed in and was dedicated to the covenant
God made with him
•Melchizedek: prophetic picture/person of Jesus, a
priest from a different lineage –Jesus not from Levi
but from Judah
LET’S LOOK AT WHAT JESUS DID FOR US!!!
•Jesus became our forever priest –interceding for us right now!
•Because of Jesus’ resurrection, He is the guarantor of a better
covenant
•He is able to completely save us and on the cross His shed blood
had paid for our sins once and for all who believe and live
obedient lives – like Abram, living a holy and righteous life…
•Our depts are completely paid for and He continues to
intercede for us!
