Who was Melchizedek?

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all." (Genesis 14:18-20)

Melchizedek’s name means “my King is the God” or “My King is Righteousness”. He is also the King of Salem (Peace). The transliteration for this word is Malkiy-Tsedeq. The two root words that make Melchizedek is from מֶלֶךְ and צֶדֶק . The name Melchizedek is a proper masculine noun; מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Both brings us to focus on the Priest-King when Abram meets him as the King of Salem which is probably referred to Jerusalem. Melchizedek is mentioned in three biblical books: (Gen. 14: 18-20; Ps. 110:4, Heb. 5:6-11; 6:20-7:28). Interestingly enough, Melchizedek is mentioned in several non-biblical documents such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and writings from Philo Judaeus. Melchizedek went out to greet Abram after he returned from the successful battle with Kedorlaomer in the valley of Siddim. The priest-king presented Abram with bread and wine and blessed him in the name of the most high God. Abram honored the king-priest and gave him a tenth of everything he had just seized.

There are only four major views concerning the personhood of Melchizedek. He was a type of Christ, a Canaanite priest, Shem, or the second person in the trinity (Jesus). The Canaanite priest or Shem is very unlikely, so we'll focus on the other two. In one of the views, Melchizedek is a type of Christ. “Abram’s blessing instead came from the king-priest Melchizedek who was a prototype of Christ.” (Hindson/Yates, 2012). In the other view, this was indeed a Christophany (theophany). This would lead us to believe that this sighting was of a pre-incarnate Jesus. Hard to believe? Let's not forget that Jesus, the second person in the trinity appeared to Abraham later on in the 17th chapter about his son and Sodom and Gomorrah. This King of Salem was mysterious in that we never see him again. The one thing that holds these views all together is the fact that he (Melchizedek) was a priest-king as is Jesus. Hebrews 7:3 tells us that Melchizedek was without beginning and end and without parents. This again points to a pre-incarnate Messiah.

David referred to Jesus as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Which in three out of the four gospels Jesus Himself referred to this particular Psalm. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus came in the same order of Melchizedek and not the order from the Levitical priesthood; which was corrupt and damaged. Jesus came from the line of Judah and not from the Levites. He came to fulfill the law and the prophets and live forever just as described from the psalmist in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was the ideal ruler of the Hebrew nation as both a priest and a king. We know that this prophesy will come in His second coming. The Jews were expecting the mighty ruler of Daniel 9 to manifest Himself among them and deliver them from Rome. He came the first time to deliver them from their sins and ours. The second time He is to come like that ruler in Daniel 9.

What is so special about this character is that he is both a “King” and a “Priest”? Abram paid a tithe to him after the victorious battle. The author of Hebrews speaks of Melchizedek of having no bloodline, no beginning, and no ending. He also quotes the Psalm 110 passage. The author of Hebrews is settled on Melchizedek being a type of Christ. In fact, an entire chapter is devoted to Melchizedek’s priesthood.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

John 8:56

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