The Tithe of Melchizedek
Read Genesis 14:18–24 and Hebrews 7:1–10. Who was Melchizedek?
Why did Abram give his tithe to this priest who seems to appear
out of nowhere?

The sudden appearance of the mysterious Melchizedek is not out of
place. After Abram has been thanked by the Canaanite kings, he now
thanks this priest, a thankfulness revealed by his paying his tithe to him.
Melchizedek comes from the city of Salem, which means “peace,” an
appropriate message after the turmoil of war.
The component tsedek, “justice,” in the name of Melchizedek,
appears in contrast to the name of the king of Sodom, Bera (“in evil”),
and Gomorrah, Birsha (“in wickedness”), probably surnames for what
they represent (Gen. 14:2).
Melchizedek appears after the reversal of the violence and evil rep-
resented by the other Canaanite kings. This passage also contains the
first biblical reference to the word “priest” (Gen. 14:18). The associa-
tion of Melchizedek with “God Most High” (Gen. 14:18, NKJV), whom
Abram calls his own God (Gen. 14:22), clearly indicates that Abram
saw him as priest of the God Abram served. Melchizedek is, however,
not to be identified with Christ. He was God’s representative among
the people of that time (see Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 1, pp. 1092, 1093).
Melchizedek officiates, indeed, as a priest. He serves “bread and
wine,” an association that often implies the use of fresh-pressed grape
juice (Deut. 7:13, 2 Chron. 31:5), which reappears in the context of the
giving of the tithes (Deut. 14:23). In addition, he extends blessing to
Abram (Gen. 14:19).
Abram, meanwhile, “gave him a tithe of all” (Gen. 14:20, NKJV) as a
response to God the Creator, the “Possessor of heaven and earth” (Gen.
14:19, NKJV). This title alludes to the introduction of the Creation story
(Gen. 1:1, NKJV), where the phrase “heavens and earth” means totality or
“all.” As such, the tithe is understood as an expression of gratitude to the
Creator, who owns everything (Heb. 7:2–6; compare with Gen. 28:22).
Paradoxically, the tithe is understood by the worshiper not as a gift to God,
but as a gift from God, because God gives us everything to begin with.
Why is the act of returning tithe a powerful indicator of faith, as
well as a great faith-building act?