And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
After his victory over the Elamites in which he recovered the stolen goods and captives and rescued Lot, Abraham was met by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, Salem meaning peace and being his home that was later called Jerusalem and became David's capital. He brought out bread and wine, which were unfermented, to refresh Abraham's army, and he blessed Abraham while acknowledging Jehovah, possessor of heaven and earth, as the source of his strength who had delivered his enemies into his hand. He was a representative of Jesus Christ and a witness appointed by God to reveal heavenly truth and help preserve God's law, while those who held him to be more taught that Melchizedek King of Salem and King of Peace is Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Life and Redeemer of the world. Abraham gave him tithes of all as an offering to God in recognition of His mercies and blessings, which shows that tithing was practiced as part of God's plan before the Mosaic law established a definite tithing system. Returning tithes and offerings acknowledges God as the giver of blessings and supports His work, and the same duty remains obligatory for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood, to be carried out willingly and not by force.
Melchizedek and Abraham's Meeting
Melchizedek is king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Salem means peace, so king of Salem is king of peace. Salem was his home in Abraham's time and is the place later called Jerusalem, which centuries later became David's capital.
He brought forth bread and wine, which were unfermented, to refresh Abraham's army after its victory. The meeting took place after Abraham's victory over the Elamites, when he had recovered the stolen goods and captives and rescued Lot. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and acknowledged Jehovah, God possessor of heaven and earth, as the source of Abraham's strength and victory who had delivered his enemies into his hand.
Christ, Tithing, and Witness
Melchizedek was a representative of Jesus Christ in person, a witness appointed by God who revealed heavenly truth and helped preserve God's law. As priest of the Most High God he stood for the Lord Jesus Christ in the meeting with Abraham.
Melchizedek King of Salem is Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Life and Redeemer of the world. Salem means peace, so King of Salem means King of Peace, and Abraham names Jesus as Melchizedek, King of Salem and King of Peace. Abraham names him as a king of peace and as a king who served the Most High God, placing him among the prophetic witnesses who identify Jesus. With the other prophets Abraham's witness to Melchizedek answers the question of who Jesus is when He comes to Jerusalem attended by a great crowd, declaring that Jesus is the promised Christ.
Abraham gave tithes of all he possessed to Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, which demonstrates that tithing was practiced before the Mosaic system was established and before the Mosaic law set up a definite tithing system. It is an example of tithing in the days of Abraham and shows that tithing was part of God's plan from the beginning. Abraham's gift was an offering to God in recognition of His mercies and blessings, given in recognition of God, possessor of heaven and earth, who had delivered his enemies into his hand. Returning tithes and offerings acknowledges God as the giver of blessings and supports His work. The same duty of tithing remains obligatory for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood, not imposed by force but to be carried out willingly.
In the same account Abraham identifies the Lord as the Most High God and refuses the king of Sodom's goods, showing justice and regard for others' rights. Through his fidelity, integrity, unselfishness, courage, and kindness, God was revealed even to the inhabitants of Sodom.
After his victory over the Elamites in which he recovered the stolen goods and captives and rescued Lot, Abraham was met by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, Salem meaning peace and being his home that was later called Jerusalem and became David's capital. He brought out bread and wine, which were unfermented, to refresh Abraham's army, and he blessed Abraham while acknowledging Jehovah, possessor of heaven and earth, as the source of his strength who had delivered his enemies into his hand. He was a representative of Jesus Christ and a witness appointed by God to reveal heavenly truth and help preserve God's law, while those who held him to be more taught that Melchizedek King of Salem and King of Peace is Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Life and Redeemer of the world. Abraham gave him tithes of all as an offering to God in recognition of His mercies and blessings, which shows that tithing was practiced as part of God's plan before the Mosaic law established a definite tithing system. Returning tithes and offerings acknowledges God as the giver of blessings and supports His work, and the same duty remains obligatory for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood, to be carried out willingly and not by force.
Melchizedek and Abraham's Meeting
Melchizedek is king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. Salem means peace, so king of Salem is king of peace. Salem was his home in Abraham's time and is the place later called Jerusalem, which centuries later became David's capital.
He brought forth bread and wine, which were unfermented, to refresh Abraham's army after its victory. The meeting took place after Abraham's victory over the Elamites, when he had recovered the stolen goods and captives and rescued Lot. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and acknowledged Jehovah, God possessor of heaven and earth, as the source of Abraham's strength and victory who had delivered his enemies into his hand.
Christ, Tithing, and Witness
Melchizedek was a representative of Jesus Christ in person, a witness appointed by God who revealed heavenly truth and helped preserve God's law. As priest of the Most High God he stood for the Lord Jesus Christ in the meeting with Abraham.
Melchizedek King of Salem is Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Life and Redeemer of the world. Salem means peace, so King of Salem means King of Peace, and Abraham names Jesus as Melchizedek, King of Salem and King of Peace. Abraham names him as a king of peace and as a king who served the Most High God, placing him among the prophetic witnesses who identify Jesus. With the other prophets Abraham's witness to Melchizedek answers the question of who Jesus is when He comes to Jerusalem attended by a great crowd, declaring that Jesus is the promised Christ.
Abraham gave tithes of all he possessed to Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, which demonstrates that tithing was practiced before the Mosaic system was established and before the Mosaic law set up a definite tithing system. It is an example of tithing in the days of Abraham and shows that tithing was part of God's plan from the beginning. Abraham's gift was an offering to God in recognition of His mercies and blessings, given in recognition of God, possessor of heaven and earth, who had delivered his enemies into his hand. Returning tithes and offerings acknowledges God as the giver of blessings and supports His work. The same duty of tithing remains obligatory for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood, not imposed by force but to be carried out willingly.
In the same account Abraham identifies the Lord as the Most High God and refuses the king of Sodom's goods, showing justice and regard for others' rights. Through his fidelity, integrity, unselfishness, courage, and kindness, God was revealed even to the inhabitants of Sodom.