Genesis 14:17 - Meaning and Application

This paragraph begins with the respect the king of Sodom showed Abram when Abram returned from defeating the kings. But before that is described in detail, the story of Melchizedek is briefly given. About him, we should notice the following.

I. Who he was. He was king of Salem and priest of the most high God. Other great things are said about him in Hebrews 7:1 and following. Some rabbis and most Jewish teachers have concluded that Melchizedek was Shem, Noah’s son, who was both king and priest to his descendants, following the pattern of the patriarchs. But that seems very unlikely. Why would his name be changed? And how did he come to live in Canaan?

Many Christian writers have thought this was an appearance of the Son of God himself, our Lord Jesus, known to Abram by this name at that time, just as Hagar later called him by another name (Genesis 16:13). He appeared as a righteous king, supporting a righteous cause and giving peace. It is hard to think that any mere man could be described as without father, without mother, and without ancestry, having neither beginning of days nor end of life (Hebrews 7:3). Scripture says of Melchizedek that he lives and remains a priest forever (Genesis 14:3, Genesis 14:8). The apostle even applies this language to our Lord, who came from Judah (Genesis 14:13, Genesis 14:14). It is also hard to believe that any ordinary man, at that time, was greater than Abram in the things of God, or that Christ would be a priest after the order of any mere man, or that any human priesthood would surpass Aaron’s to the degree Melchizedek’s did.

The most common view is that Melchizedek was a Canaanite prince who ruled in Salem and maintained the true religion there. But if that is so, it is hard to explain why his name appears only here in the whole story of Abram, or why Abram had his own altars instead of using the altars of his neighbor Melchizedek, who would then have been greater than he. Mr. Gregory of Oxford says that the Arabic Catena, on which he places much weight, gives this account of Melchizedek: that he was the son of Heraclim, son of Peleg, son of Eber, and that his mother was Salathiel, daughter of Gomer, son of Japheth, son of Noah.

II. What he did. He brought out bread and wine to refresh Abram and his soldiers, and to celebrate their victory. He did this as a king, teaching us to do good, share what we have, and show hospitality according to our ability. He also pointed to the spiritual food and strength Christ has stored up for us in the covenant of grace, to refresh us when we are worn out by spiritual battles.

As priest of the most high God, he blessed Abram, and this was likely an even greater refreshment to Abram than the bread and wine were. In the same way, God has raised up his Son Jesus and sent him to bless us with authority, and those he blesses are truly blessed. Christ went into heaven while blessing his disciples (Luke 24:51), because that is what he lives to do forever.

III. What he said, Genesis 14:19, Genesis 14:20. He said two things. First, he blessed Abram from God: “Blessed be Abram, blessed by the most high God” (Genesis 14:19). Notice the lofty titles he gives to God.

He calls God the most high God, which speaks of God’s perfect greatness in himself and his sovereign rule over all creatures. He is King of kings. It helps our faith and our reverence in prayer to look to God as the most high God and to call him that.

He also calls God the possessor of heaven and earth, meaning the rightful owner and sovereign Lord of all creatures, because he made them. This shows him to be a great God, worthy of great praise (Psalm 24:1), and it shows how happy the people are who have his favor and love.

Second, he blessed God for Abram: “Blessed be the most high God” (Genesis 14:20). In all our prayers, we must praise God and join praise with our requests. These are the spiritual sacrifices we should offer daily, and also on special occasions.

God, as the most high God, must receive the glory for all our victories (Exodus 17:15; 1 Samuel 7:10, 1 Samuel 7:12; Judges 5:1, Judges 5:2; 2 Chronicles 20:21). In them he shows himself higher than our enemies (Exodus 18:11), and higher than we are, because without him we could do nothing. We should give thanks for other people’s blessings as well as our own, rejoicing with those who rejoice. Jesus Christ, our great high priest, is the Mediator, that is, the one who stands between God and us, for both our prayers and our praises. He not only offers ours, but his own as well, for us. See Luke 10:21.

IV. What was done to him. Abram gave him tithes of all, that is, a tenth of the spoils (Hebrews 7:4). This may be understood in two ways. It may have been a gift to Melchizedek, as a return for his kindness. Those who receive kindness should show kindness in return. Gratitude is one of the laws written into human nature.

It may also have been an offering promised and set apart for the most high God, and therefore placed into the hands of Melchizedek, his priest. When we have received a clear mercy from God, it is very fitting to show our thankfulness by some special act of loving giving. God should always receive his due from our possessions, especially when, through some special providence, he has preserved them or increased them for us. The tenth of our increase is a very fitting amount to set apart for God’s honor and for the service of his house.

This also teaches that Jesus Christ, our great Melchizedek, is to be honored and humbly acknowledged by each of us as our king and priest. Not only the tenth of all we have, but all of it, must be given up to him.