Melchizedek

After Abraham defeated Chedorlaomer and his allies to rescue Lot from captivity (see Gen. 14:1-16), Melchizedek, King of Salem, offered greetings to Abram and gave him bread and wine (see v. 18). He also blessed Abram. Melchizedek wasn’t just a king but also a priest of God. It is clear Abram understood him to be worthy of honor and affirmation. Keep in mind this event predated the Levitical priesthood, which later would be established under Moses. Yet Melchizedek was the Lord’s priest. Some scholars believe he actually was Jesus Christ—that here God’s Son made a preincarnate appearance. Such an appearance is called a theophany.

Abram accepted Melchizedek’s blessing and gave him a tenth of his possessions. It is interesting that Abram’s encounter with the King of Salem preceded his meeting with the King of Sodom. The King of Sodom sought to make an agreement with Abram, but Abram declined (see vv. 21-24). The evidence seems to indicate that Abram’s interaction with Melchizedek helped him maintain a proper and even a humble perspective after a victory that could have made him prideful.

Melchizedek is mentioned by name again in the Old Testament in Psalm 110:4. In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews upholds Melchizedek as a pattern for Christ’s Priesthood (see Heb. 5–7), lending support to the possibility, mentioned above, that when Abram encountered the King of Salem, he actually was interacting with Christ.