Genesis 14

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Genesis 14 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Here in Genesis 14, we find the bizarre story of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek came to Abraham after his defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. He gave bread and wine to Abraham and his men which symbolized friendship.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

Genesis 14:18 NASB

Do you think it’s a coincidence he brought bread and wine? This was a foreshadowing of the Messiah. Melchizedek also blessed Abraham and praised God for His powerful victory. Because of this, Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tenth of all items he had acquired. Through this act, Abraham was recognizing Melchizedek as a great man. David writes that the Messiah would come as a priest through the line of Melchizedek as opposed to Aaron. This is a huge statement.

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalms 110:4 NASB

The comparisons don’t stop there. The author of Hebrews gives a direct comparison of the two by stating Melchizedek was made like the Son of God. Could it be that Melchizedek was actually the pre-incarnate Christ appearing in the Old Testament?

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.  4  Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

Hebrews 7:3-4 NASB

At the very least, we know that Melchizedek was extremely unique and represented an Old Testament Christlike figure. The author of Hebrews uses this priest and king to make a powerful point. If the Jews believed in the greatness of Melchizedek as a king and priest, what was stopping them from believing that Jesus was even greater? The evidence had walked among them. But in His grace, God offered this metaphor of Melchizedek as another spectacular example of how Jesus is both our King and our High Priest.