Hebrews is a book of the Bible I cherish. Studying it during the summer, the term “high priest” kept sticking out for me. Priests served in a crucial position in the community of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant. Priests had to be in the lineage of Aaron, so it was a select number of Levites who had that privilege and responsibility. We learn from the Old Testament that sacrificing animals, including daily sacrifices and sacrifices on a mass level during the three yearly festivals, was a primary role of priests. From an altar in front of the tabernacle starting when the Israelites were in the desert, to an altar in an area in front of the temple when the first temple and the second temple were in place, priests killed animals as a sacrifice to God in order to gain temporary forgiveness for the people. Just as Moses had been a mediator of the covenant between God and the Hebrews, priests were mediators between God and the people as they offered sacrifices for the sins of the people.
Plus there was the selection of the single “high priest.” Though the high priest made sacrifices throughout the year, one pinnacle duty of the high priest was the sacrifices he would carry out on the Day of Atonement. Prescribed in Leviticus 16, a bull was sacrificed by the high priest for his own sins and the sins of his family, and then two goats were sacrificed for the sins of all of the people.
Hebrews explains why Israelite priests no longer should make animal sacrifices. The reason: Animal sacrifices merely gave temporary forgiveness. In Hebrews 5:3, the author states it was necessary for the high priest to offer sacrifices for their own sins, revealing priests were not perfect. And in Hebrews 7:11, the author bluntly states: “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come – one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?” The sacrifice of animals did not perfect the priests who were sinners, and those countless sacrifices did not perfect the people. The animals were not a perfect or permanent sacrifice, rather a temporary sacrifice.
Yet the Mosaic Law served an important purpose since I think God had the intention of using it to show people their need of a perfect and permanent sacrifice. Thus the Mosaic Law leads to the high priesthood of Jesus. First, He is perfect, being without sin, as stated in Hebrews 4:15. Second, His priesthood is permanent: “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood” (Hebrews 7:23-24).
And the radical revelation in this book is that Jesus was both the High Priest and also the sacrifice! “… He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Hebrews 7:27). Being the perfect and permanent High Priest, He was likewise the perfect and permanent sacrifice. “He did not enter by the means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
Though Jesus does not seem to qualify as a high priest under the Mosaic Law, since Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, the author of Hebrews gives a detailed explanation that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, as was prophesied.
All of us have sinned, thus all of us are in need of forgiveness, because God is Holy, and He does not commune with those who are not holy. Eternal forgiveness is available because Jesus, the eternal High Priest, and the Lamb of God, died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the perfect and permanent atoning sacrifice for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death. No more sacrifice is needed! “…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). People who believe in Jesus will be transformed to be holy and will dwell forever with Jesus. If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will have eternal life in heaven with Him!
Hunter Irvine
