Genesis Types: 5. Melchizedek, A Type of Christ as King and Priest

(Genesis 14:18-20) Who was Melchizedek? When Abraham returned from his victorious battle with the five kings, having rescued Lot, we find Melchizedek going out to meet him. "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" (Genesis 14:18, 19). This strange character was called king of Salem, meaning King of Peace. Doubtless he was king of the city of Jerusalem of that day. He also had the title of Priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek was a type of Christ as King. The meaning of his name is king of righteousness, and he was called king of Salem which probably refers to the old city of Jerusalem. At his second coming, Christ will be a righteous king. "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked" (Isaiah 11:4). Melchizedek’s being King of Peace typifies Christ’s reign of peace on earth at His return. Isaiah 9:6 calls Him "Prince of Peace." Wars shall cease when He becomes earth’s King of kings. Melchizedek was a type of Christ as Priest. "Without father, without mother, without descent [i.e.], pedigree as a priest], having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually" (Hebrews 7:3). Melchizedek can typify Christ as Priest because as a priest he had no recorded genealogy; he had no record of the beginning of his life or of the end of his life. Thus he fittingly pictures Christ our Priest, who had no human father, and who was and still is eternal. "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24, 25). Let us go to Christ as our ever-living Priest, and trust Him to save us completely and forever. [Old Testament Types - FHW]