The High Priest

In the old covenant the high priest would enter the most holy place once each year on the day of atonement, bearing the blood of sacrifices to make atonement for the sins of the people. This annual ritual pointed forward to the greater work of Christ, who as our eternal high priest according to the order of Melchizedek offered his own blood and entered into heaven itself to secure everlasting redemption. Because he was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin, he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and to make intercession for us at the right hand of God.

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Key Passages

The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:1-17

Once a year the high priest enters God's presence with blood - the most solemn day in Israel's calendar, providing temporary covering for the nation's sins.

Once a year the high priest enters the Most Holy Place with blood to make atonement for the people's sins.

A¹nd the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

² And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. ³ Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. ⁴ He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. ⁵ And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. ⁶ And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. ⁷ And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. ⁸ And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. ⁹ And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. ¹⁰ But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. ¹¹ And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: ¹² And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: ¹³ And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: ¹⁴ And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. ¹⁵ Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: ¹⁶ And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. ¹⁷ And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

A High Priest Who Sympathizes

Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews reveals that Jesus is a high priest who understands human weakness from personal experience - He was tempted in every way yet without sin.

Jesus our High Priest has been tempted in every way yet without sin-we can approach God's throne boldly.

S¹⁴eeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

A Priest Forever After Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:23-28

Christ's priesthood transcends Aaron's - it is eternal, based on an indestructible life, and superior to every earthly priestly order.

Unlike mortal priests, Christ holds His priesthood permanently, always living to intercede for us.

A²³nd they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

²⁴ But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶ For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷ Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Did You Know?

The high priest entered the Holy of Holies only once a year, and only with blood. One wrong step meant death. The people waited outside in silence, wondering if their representative would return.

Jesus did not enter a man-made sanctuary. He entered heaven itself, once for all, with His own blood. He did not come out again. He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

We have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This is why we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.