Melchizedek is the priest-king of Salem whose order points to Jesus Christ as high priest forever.
Genesis records that Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham after his victory, blessed him, and received tithes. Hebrews identifies Jesus as a high priest forever after Melchizedek's order, and Les Feldick emphasizes that Melchizedek was a Gentile priest whose priesthood was not tied to Israel or the Law.
Genesis 14:18 — The foundational record of Melchizedek as king of Salem and priest of the most high God.
Hebrews 6:20 — Directly connects Jesus to Melchizedek's eternal order of priesthood.
Hebrews 7:1-3 — Explains the meaning of Melchizedek's names and his unique, perpetual priesthood.
Genesis 14:18 introduces Melchizedek as 'king of Salem' and 'priest of the most high God.' After Abraham's victory over the invading kings, Melchizedek came out with bread and wine, blessed Abram, and received a tenth of all (Genesis 14:19-20). Hebrews takes up this figure in Hebrews 6:20, where Jesus is described as the forerunner who was 'made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' Hebrews 7:1-3 interprets the Genesis account: Melchisedec is first 'King of righteousness' and then 'King of Salem, which is, King of peace.' He is presented without father, mother, descent, beginning of days, or end of life, and is 'made like unto the Son of God' while abiding as a priest continually. Hebrews 7:11 then asks what further need there was for another priest after Melchizedek's order if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood.
Les Feldick explains that Melchizedek was a Gentile priest. Since Israel had not yet been formed when he met Abraham, Melchizedek could not have been a priest under the Law of Moses or the tribe of Levi. Instead, he was a priest of the Most High God, a title Les connects primarily with the Gentile world. As king of Salem, the little village that later became Jerusalem, Melchizedek was both king and priest, and his priesthood covered the whole human race. Because Melchizedek was a high priest forever, Christ's high priesthood is after Melchizedek's order rather than Aaron's. Les points to Hebrews 6:20 as the New Testament proof that Jesus is the forerunner who entered as high priest forever after that order. He also teaches that the bread and wine Melchizedek brought were a subtle prophecy of Christ's broken body and shed blood, and ultimately of the resurrection — the same truth pictured in the Lord's Supper.
In Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek is described as 'king of Salem' and 'priest of the most high God.' He came out to meet Abram after Abram's return from the slaughter of the kings, brought bread and wine, blessed him, and received a tenth of all (Genesis 14:19-20). Hebrews 7 explains that his name means 'King of righteousness,' that Salem means 'peace,' and that he is presented without father, mother, genealogy, beginning of days, or end of life, 'made like unto the Son of God.'
Les points out that when Melchizedek met Abraham, Israel had not yet been formed, so Melchizedek could not be a Jewish priest. He was a Gentile priest and a representative of the Most High God, which Les connects with the Gentile aspect of God's dealings. His priesthood was not under the Law of Moses or the tribe of Levi; he was a priest of the whole human race, Jew and Gentile alike.
Hebrews 6:20 says Jesus entered as the forerunner and was 'made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' Les explains that Christ's high priesthood follows Melchizedek's order rather than Aaron's because Melchizedek was a high priest forever and was not a priest under the Law. Hebrews 7:11 also asks what need there was for another priest after Melchizedek's order if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood.
Les teaches that bread and wine were not part of the tabernacle worship or the Old Testament economy, so Melchizedek's use of them was unusual. They were a subtle prophecy pointing to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, picturing His broken body and shed blood. Abraham likely did not understand it, but God knew the end from the beginning, and this is the same truth pictured in the Lord's Supper.
The Gentile Priest of the Most High God
Les explains that Melchizedek was a Gentile priest because Israel was not yet on the scene, and he shows from Hebrews 6:20 that Jesus is the forerunner made high priest forever after Melchizedek's order.
A High Priest for All Humanity
Les points out that Melchizedek was not a priest under the Law or the tribe of Levi but a priest of all, and that Christ is a high priest after Melchizedek's order instead of Aaron's.
Before Israel Existed
Les highlights that Melchizedek met Abraham after the rescue of Sodom's captives and was not a high priest of the Jews, because that nation had not yet been formed.
Who is Melchizedek? Understanding the "Most High God" & His Names
So it's the same area, although it wasn't a city back in those days, but from the area of Jerusalem comes this priest of the Most High God, Melchizedek. I guess Melchizedek has aroused more questions over the years from my class people than has anything in Scripture. And so we're going to take the time to identify him and what was the purpose of this meeting with Abram.
King of Salem, Which Is Jerusalem
Les explains that Salem means peace and that Melchizedek was king of the little village later known as Jerusalem, bringing bread and wine as priest of the Most High God.
Bread and Wine Point to the Cross
Les shows that bread and wine were not used in the tabernacle worship or Old Testament economy, but were a leap to Christ's broken body and shed blood — something Abraham did not understand, but God planned.
A High Priest for Jew and Gentile Alike
Les stresses that a high priest was needed for the whole Gentile world as well as Israel, so Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God and Christ follows his order, not Aaron's.
A Subtle Prophecy of Resurrection
Les explains that Melchizedek's bread and wine were a subtle prophecy of the resurrection, which is the whole idea of the Lord's Supper as Jesus instituted it.
Genesis 14:18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
This is the first Bible passage that mentions Melchizedek and his role as priest of the most high God.
Genesis 14:19-20: And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Records Melchizedek's blessing over Abram and Abram's response in giving tithes.
Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
States that Jesus, as our forerunner, is high priest forever after Melchizedek's order.
Hebrews 7:1: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Hebrews reintroduces Melchizedek using the Genesis account of his meeting with Abraham.
Hebrews 7:2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Explains that Melchizedek means King of righteousness and that Salem means peace.
Hebrews 7:3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Describes Melchizedek's timeless, genealogy-free priesthood as one made like the Son of God.
Hebrews 7:11: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Raises the question of why a different priesthood was needed if the Levitical priesthood could bring perfection.
No. Les Feldick notes that Israel had not yet been formed when Melchizedek met Abraham, so Melchizedek was a Gentile priest. He was priest of the Most High God, not a priest under the Law or the tribe of Levi.
Melchizedek was a high priest forever and was not a priest under the Law. Les explains that his priesthood covered the whole human race, so Christ is a high priest after Melchizedek's order, not Aaron's.
Les says the bread and wine were a subtle prophecy of Christ's broken body and shed blood, and ultimately of the resurrection. This is the same truth pictured in the Lord's Supper.
Salem means peace. Melchizedek was king of Salem, the village that later became Jerusalem, so Hebrews identifies him as king of peace.
Watch the Teaching: Jesus as High Priest: The Order of Melchizedek Explained