715. The reason why Melchizedek (who represented the Lord) brought bread and wine out to Abram and gave him a blessing is that divine goodness and divine truth are the most universal qualities throughout heaven and the church. We read the following about Melchizedek:

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought bread and wine to Abram. He was a priest to God the Highest. He gave him a blessing. (Genesis 14:18-19)

The following passage in David makes it clear that Melchizedek represented the Lord:

You are a priest forever of the kind Melchizedek was. (Psalms 110:4)

For more proof that these things are said of the Lord, see Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10-11, 15, 17, 21. Melchizedek brought out bread and wine because these two elements include all the qualities of heaven and of the church, and therefore all that is a blessing. The bread and wine in the Holy Supper perform the same function.