Hebrews 7 NIV

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now 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. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. If 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?

So, who IS Melchizedek?

Melchizedek; was both a King and a Priest of Salem.  Melchizedek in Hebrew means Righteousness.  So, he was the King of Righteousness?  And time out…wait a minute.  He was a King AND a Priest?  If you know anything about Levitical Law you can’t be both a King and a Priest.  Kings were from one line.  And the priests were from another line. You couldn’t be both. There are actually only three that were ever a King and a Priest.  Melchizedek, Jesus Christ, and because of what Jesus Christ did on that cross, according to the book of Revelation, WE are now Kings and Priests.

So who is this man?  He was the King of Salem, later to become the city of Jerusalem. The King of Righteousness, who was a King and a Priest, the King of Jerusalem?

Who was this mysterious man?  I think you are figuring it out by now.

It’s also interesting to note that at that time many scholars believed that Abraham was the richest man in the world. He had just defeated five kings, taking all of their wealth and their plunder with him.  Isn’t it crazy that Abraham tithed a tenth of everything he had to this mysterious Melchizedek figure.  Now don’t forget that for those who tithe, it is always the lesser that tithes to the greater. The richest, most powerful man in the world at that time thought King Melchizedek was so magnificent and wonderful that the lesser tithed to the greater?

Who was this man?  He is a type and a foreshadow of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Some scholars believe that he was a type of Christ; others believe He really WAS Jesus Christ in the flesh in the Old Testament. Remember… this was the very first time bread and wine were ever mentioned!

Let’s go just one step further.  Now buckle up your helmet because your brain is really going to explode on this one. There is an incredible figure in the Old Testament I know you are familiar with; his name is Joseph.  Many scholars have said that out of anybody in the Old Testament, Joseph is more like Jesus than anybody else.  They have attributed over 100 similarities between Joseph’s and Jesus’s life.  Isn’t it interesting that when Joseph went to prison, He was imprisoned for a little while with two different people?  Who were those two people?  Joseph was imprisoned with a Bread Maker and a Wine steward. They come to Joseph and say ‘can you interpret our dreams?’  What did he tell the bread maker and the wine steward?  He told the bread maker ‘the body’, that in three days he was going to be killed and hung upon a tree.  He told the wine steward ‘the blood’, that in three days he was going to be exalted at the right hand of the King. Hmmm that does sound familiar! I just love it when these things all come gloriously together!

These mysteries of the Bible are open to anyone wishing to find them and by studying the Law of First Mentioned you now have the compass to begin an incredible journey.  We do indeed have the honor and the glory of revealing these great Mysteries from God!  And NOW is the time to do it!

Enjoy the journey!

God Bless You,

Zach