What was the prophecy behind Melchizedek's bread and wine?
The bread and wine brought by Melchizedek, the High Priest of Salem, were a subtle prophecy of the resurrection. They were not the normal sacrifices of Abraham's day, but prefigured what Jesus later administered in the Lord's Supper, which serves as a constant reminder of that resurrection.
Les explains that Melchizedek was the High Priest of Salem, the little village that later became Jerusalem. He was not a High Priest of the Jews, because that nation had not yet been formed. Abraham was returning after recapturing the people of Sodom and winning a victory. Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine, which was not what they normally used in the sacrifices of Abraham's day. Les says this was a subtle prophecy, and the prophecy was the resurrection. That is the whole idea of the Lord's Supper—to be a constant reminder. He ties this to Jesus administering the bread and wine in Matthew chapter 26 and to 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
More Questions
Was Melchizedek a priest of the Jews?
Melchizedek was not a High Priest of the Jews, because the Jews had not even been formed yet in his day.
What title of God is Melchizedek identified as priest of in Genesis 14:18?
Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High, and the term 'Most High' had not appeared earlier in Genesis.