Kingdom Covenant Part 2
At Keys Vineyard Church we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Covenant’ and we are posting the series here on Online Bible Institute. Last week, we started talking about the covenant God made with Abram. God will bless Abram, and Abram will bless the nations. We introduced the idea that ‘blessing’ is about experiencing heaven on earth. Today, we will introduce Melchizedek and talk about the royal priesthood.
Genesis 14:18–20 (NIV)
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Melchizedek is a figure of significant importance in biblical theology, embodying the unique role of a royal priest. His brief but impactful appearance in the Genesis 14 narrative presents him as both king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God.
Melchizedek blessed Abram (later Abraham) as a priest, acknowledging God’s hand in Abram’s victories and further establishing the divine approval of Abram’s mission. This blessing and acknowledgment are pivotal, illustrating Melchizedek’s authority and connection to God.
Unlike the Levitical priesthood, his priesthood is not genealogically derived; instead, it is directly appointed by God, signifying an eternal and unbroken line of spiritual authority. This aspect of his priesthood is emphasized in Psalm 110 and expounded in the New Testament book of Hebrews, where Melchizedek is portrayed as a type of Christ.
The figure of Melchizedek as a royal priest serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, illustrating the ideal of a priest-king who mediates God’s covenantal relationship with humanity. Melchizedek represents the blending of royal and priestly authority and foreshadows the New Covenant in Christ.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.