Melchizedek Brings Bread and Wine to Abramby KandD
14:19Genesis 14:19
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God at Salem, blessed Abram as he returned victorious from rescuing Lot and the captives and recovering the people and goods taken by his enemies. The blessing acknowledged Abram as belonging to the Most High God, giving thanks to God as the source of his strength and deliverance and naming Him possessor of heaven and earth. To call God possessor of heaven and earth means all creation belongs to Him and He is the giver of every blessing to humanity. In that setting Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of all he possessed, showing that returning a tenth for religious purposes was practiced before the Mosaic system began and remains the duty of believers under the Melchizedek priesthood. Because God owns all things, Abraham also refused to enrich himself with Sodom's goods so God alone would have the glory, teaching that giving material goods without laying the whole self on God's altar cannot receive His approval and blessing.
Blessing After Abram's Victory
The blessing was spoken as Abram was returning after rescuing Lot and the captives and recovering the people and goods taken by his enemies in victory over the Elamites. It belonged to the account in which Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God and Abram gave him tithes of all. The victory itself was due to God, who had promised to bless Abraham.
Melchizedek who blessed Abram was priest of the Most High God. He lived at Salem, the place that later became Jerusalem. He was God's appointed witness, representing the Lord Jesus Christ in person to reveal heaven's truth and preserve God's law.
The blessing blessed Abram as servant of and belonging to the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. It acknowledged Jehovah as the source of Abram's strength and victory. It gave thanks to God as the one who brought deliverance through him, naming God as possessor of heaven and earth.
Through that victory God's power was made known to the people of Sodom. Through Abraham's integrity, unselfishness, courage and kindness God was also made known to the peoples among whom Abraham lived, including the inhabitants of Sodom.
Because his victory was due to God who had promised to bless him, Abraham acknowledged God's ownership and authority. He invoked the title Lord under oath and refused to keep Sodom's goods for himself. He would not let anyone claim to have made him rich, and he would not become rich through another's property, giving God the glory.
Ownership and Faithful Giving
God is set forth as the Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, which means that all creation belongs to Him. He is the giver of humanity's blessings, and believers are to willingly return tithes and offerings to Him in response. Abraham's acknowledgment of that ownership and authority underlay his refusal to keep the recovered goods for himself, for he would not let anyone claim to have made him rich but gave God the glory for the blessing God had promised him. Invoking this title of the Lord under oath, he refused to take any of Sodom's goods so that he would not become rich through another's property.
In this setting Abram gave Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, tithes of all, a tenth of all he possessed. That act was giving for religious purposes in response to God's requirements and blessings. Giving a tenth in this way was practiced before Moses' tithing system was established and did not begin with the Mosaic system. The tithe question thus reaches back to Abraham's time as precedent. Giving tithes is a duty that applies also to believers living under the Melchizedek priesthood.
Because all things belong to God as Possessor of heaven and earth, giving Him material goods while withholding oneself is not enough to receive His approval and blessing. His people must lay their whole selves on His altar.
Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God at Salem, blessed Abram as he returned victorious from rescuing Lot and the captives and recovering the people and goods taken by his enemies. The blessing acknowledged Abram as belonging to the Most High God, giving thanks to God as the source of his strength and deliverance and naming Him possessor of heaven and earth. To call God possessor of heaven and earth means all creation belongs to Him and He is the giver of every blessing to humanity. In that setting Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of all he possessed, showing that returning a tenth for religious purposes was practiced before the Mosaic system began and remains the duty of believers under the Melchizedek priesthood. Because God owns all things, Abraham also refused to enrich himself with Sodom's goods so God alone would have the glory, teaching that giving material goods without laying the whole self on God's altar cannot receive His approval and blessing.
Blessing After Abram's Victory
The blessing was spoken as Abram was returning after rescuing Lot and the captives and recovering the people and goods taken by his enemies in victory over the Elamites. It belonged to the account in which Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God and Abram gave him tithes of all. The victory itself was due to God, who had promised to bless Abraham.
Melchizedek who blessed Abram was priest of the Most High God. He lived at Salem, the place that later became Jerusalem. He was God's appointed witness, representing the Lord Jesus Christ in person to reveal heaven's truth and preserve God's law.
The blessing blessed Abram as servant of and belonging to the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. It acknowledged Jehovah as the source of Abram's strength and victory. It gave thanks to God as the one who brought deliverance through him, naming God as possessor of heaven and earth.
Through that victory God's power was made known to the people of Sodom. Through Abraham's integrity, unselfishness, courage and kindness God was also made known to the peoples among whom Abraham lived, including the inhabitants of Sodom.
Because his victory was due to God who had promised to bless him, Abraham acknowledged God's ownership and authority. He invoked the title Lord under oath and refused to keep Sodom's goods for himself. He would not let anyone claim to have made him rich, and he would not become rich through another's property, giving God the glory.
Ownership and Faithful Giving
God is set forth as the Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, which means that all creation belongs to Him. He is the giver of humanity's blessings, and believers are to willingly return tithes and offerings to Him in response. Abraham's acknowledgment of that ownership and authority underlay his refusal to keep the recovered goods for himself, for he would not let anyone claim to have made him rich but gave God the glory for the blessing God had promised him. Invoking this title of the Lord under oath, he refused to take any of Sodom's goods so that he would not become rich through another's property.
In this setting Abram gave Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, tithes of all, a tenth of all he possessed. That act was giving for religious purposes in response to God's requirements and blessings. Giving a tenth in this way was practiced before Moses' tithing system was established and did not begin with the Mosaic system. The tithe question thus reaches back to Abraham's time as precedent. Giving tithes is a duty that applies also to believers living under the Melchizedek priesthood.
Because all things belong to God as Possessor of heaven and earth, giving Him material goods while withholding oneself is not enough to receive His approval and blessing. His people must lay their whole selves on His altar.