Melchizedek, King of Salem (Jerusalem) was a contemporary of Abraham.  When Abraham came back from the attack that liberated Lot (Lot had been a prisoner of the kings of the east when they fought the king of the five Dead Sea city states), he brought out bread and wine to great Abraham.  Being a priest of God the Most High, of El Elyon (God of Jebusite Jerusalem), Melchizedek blessed Abraham.  Abraham then tithed one tenth of the spoils taken in victory in the battle.

     This event causes interest arising from the fact that only here in the patriarch's history are they linked with the city of Salem (Jerusalem) which would become the capital city of King David's kingdom.  The story was told in light of this fact.  It gives credence to the link between David and the king-priest of Jerusalem who at Israel's beginning had ties to the patriarch with the most authority.

     King David inherited the sacred traditions and brought the kingship and the priesthood together.  This being the meaning of the "priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek" attributed to the king in Psalms 110:4 which reads "The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

     In the epistle to the Hebrews:

5:6  "As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

6:20  "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

7:1  "For this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him."

7:10-11  "For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.  If, therefore, perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people recieved the law) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Mechizedek and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

7:15  "And it was yet far more evident; for that after the similitude of Mexchizedek there ariseth another priest."

7:17  "For He testifieth, Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

     Jesus is called a priest after the order Melchizedek.  The author points out the way in which Melchizedek cam on the scene in Genesis 4:18-20 which reads, "And Melchizedek, King of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the Most High God.  And he blessed him (Abraham) and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.  And he gave him thithes of all."

     Melchizedek was not a Levitical priest.  He was unique and isolated in that there is no information given concerning his lineage or ancestry.  With a priesthood not only inherited but conferred personally by God making it superior to Abraham and Levi (who was "from Abraham's loins"), Abraham paid him tithes.  All th ese things are characteristics which make Jesus a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.