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Melchizedek, priest and king

The Old Testament

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High —

Genesis 14:18

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In the New Testament

where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:20

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Melchizedek, king of Salem, brings forth bread and wine to Abraham. He is the priest of the most high God. He blesses Abraham, and Abraham gives him tithes of all.

A figure who appears out of nowhere in Genesis and disappears again, without father, mother or genealogy. Hebrews makes exactly that point: having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God. His name means 'king of righteousness'; Salem means 'peace' and was later linked with Jerusalem. He is king and priest at once, like the Branch in Zechariah (no. 8), and older than the priesthood of Levi. Church fathers saw in the bread and wine a foreshadowing of the Lord's Supper. See also Psalm 110 (no. 10).