Educator Guide
Melchizedek Bible Study Guide
Patriarchs · b. 1946 BC
Priest-king of Salem who blessed Abraham and received a tithe; presented in Hebrews as a type of Christ's eternal priesthood.
Teaching prompt
Why does the writer of Hebrews care so much about the priest who shows up for only three verses in Genesis?
Reflection
What does it mean to you that Jesus is a priest 'forever' (Psalm 110:4)?
Points to Jesus
Hebrews 5-7 explicitly reads Melchizedek as a foreshadowing of Jesus: a king of righteousness and peace, with no recorded beginning or end, who outranks even Abraham. Jesus is the priest Psalm 110:4 promised — 'a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.'
Discussion questions
- What does Melchizedek bring, and how does Abram respond?
- What kind of priesthood is promised, and to whom?
- Why is a priesthood 'after the order of Melchizedek' better than Aaron's?