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!

There is some wonderment surrounding Melchizedek: Who he was, where he was from, who his family was? And yet, without all of the family status and position in this world, simply by his mere presence, he commanded respect and received high honor from those around him. Abraham, the one who God called to build the nation of God — the Jews, honored him by giving him a tithe of his plunder from victory.

Melchizedek’s name meant King of Righteousness. His title meant King of Peace. He was righteous and a man of peace with God. And this held a higher status than any lineage.

When, in the verse previous to this passage, it says that Jesus is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, it references a few of the unique features of Jesus’ priesthood. 1) He was righteous and did not have to offer sacrifices for sin. 2) He did not gain the priesthood by normal means (through a family line), but by holy living. 3) He was recognized as a peaceful King or ruler. Jesus was not trying to overthrow a worldly government, but to establish a way for us to join him in the peaceful kingdom of God.

Lord, thank you for this passage that helps us understand who Jesus was in comparison to Melchizedek. Jesus was the greatest, because he was God. But because he was human and perfect he was compared to the greatest priest that ever walked the earth, Melchizedek. I have a King of Peace and a King of Righteousness who can bring both to my heart and transform me.