“This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.'” (Hebrews 7:1-2 NIV)
Genesis 14:18 tells us how Melchizedek served bread and wine following Abraham’s military victory over a coalition that held his nephew as a prisoner of war. Those familiar elements served as a precursor to the events that took place at Jesus’ last supper with His disciples…
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'” (Matthew 26:26-28).
One source examines these elements and makes the following observations…
“Further details link Melchizedek with Christ. When Melchizedek meets Abraham, he presents ‘bread and wine’ (Gen. 14:18). This anticipates the emblems of bread and wine that Jesus spoke of when he used them at his last Passover supper, saying that they represent his body and blood, broken and shed for us for the remission of sins. (Matt. 26:26-28) Presenting a sacrifice is a priestly role, and Melchizedek is also called ‘priest of God Most High’ (Gen. 14:18).” (1)
This portion of Scripture also mentions how Abraham gave Melchizedek “…a tenth of everything.” That ten percent portion is commonly defined as a “tithe.” Another commentary examines that offering in a contemporary framework…
“One of the first standards of giving found in the Bible is the tithe, a word which means ‘tenth.’ Abraham tithed in Gen 14:20 after returning from the daring rescue of his nephew Lot from four enemy kings. He encountered the priest Melchizedek and voluntarily surrendered to him one-tenth of all the spoils he had taken from his enemies. It’s often said that the tithe is Old Testament ‘legalism,’ but Abraham tithed some 430 years before the Law was given to Moses.
…Like every other facet of serving God, all giving (including the tithe) should be done with the right attitude. When giving is viewed as a rule and done out of a sense of duty, it becomes legalism. But it is not legalistic to give if we do so in thanksgiving to the Lord… we have plenty to be thankful for, including our ability to work.” (2)
(1) Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell, PhD, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, [pg. 214] © 2017 Josh McDowell Ministry
(2) Introduction – Tithing, Copyright © 1999 by Christian Financial Concepts. All rights reserved. https://www.crown.org/