Jesus, the
Christ as the great high priest who has 'passed into the heavens' (Hebrews 4:14) — the perfect mediator who offers himself as the once-for-all sacrifice and ever lives to intercede.
The book of Hebrews develops the title 'high priest' as the central christological framework. Several biblical truths. (1) The Old Testament high priest. Israel's high priest, descended from Aaron, entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, bearing the blood of bulls and goats for the people's sin (Leviticus 16). He represented the people before God and bore their burdens — but his sacrifice was repeated yearly, never perfect. (2) Christ as superior high priest. Hebrews argues that Christ is greater because: (a) He is sinless. Hebrews 4:15 — 'in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.' (b) He is eternal. Hebrews 7:24 — 'this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.' (c) His sacrifice is once-for-all. Hebrews 9:12 — 'by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.' (d) He is after the order of Melchizedek, a higher priesthood than Aaron's (Hebrews 7). (3) Christ as sympathetic priest. Hebrews 4:15 — 'we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' He has shared human experience and tempted human nature. He understands. (4) Christ as eternal intercessor. Hebrews 7:25 — 'he ever liveth to make intercession for them.' Christ in heaven prays for his people. Romans 8:34 — 'who also maketh intercession for us.' (5) Christ as access to God. Hebrews 4:16 — 'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' The high priesthood of Christ opens immediate access to God for the believer. (6) The Day of Atonement fulfilled. The OT Day of Atonement is fulfilled in Christ. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies; Christ entered heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24). The blood of bulls covered sin annually; Christ's blood removed it forever.
“Seeing 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Christ understands; he sympathizes. He has already entered with his own blood; he ever lives to intercede for you. There is no need for any other mediator — Christ is sufficient. Pray in his name. Worship at his throne. The work of priesthood is complete; the access is open.
Hebrews 4:14 — Christ is 'a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens.' He entered heaven itself with his own blood (Hebrews 9:12), offering himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. He continues to intercede for his people (Hebrews 7:25). Unlike the Old Testament high priest who offered yearly sacrifices, Christ's priesthood is eternal, sinless, and perfectly effective.
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in Genesis 14:18-20 — 'priest of the most high God' who blessed Abraham. The Bible says nothing of his parents or origin. Psalm 110:4 declares the Messiah a priest 'after the order of Melchizedek.' Hebrews 7 develops this: Melchizedek's priesthood was greater than Aaron's, and Christ's priesthood is after his order — not Levitical, not by inheritance, but eternal and royal.
Yes. Hebrews 7:25 — 'he ever liveth to make intercession for them.' Romans 8:34 — Christ 'maketh intercession for us.' At God's right hand, Christ continually prays for his people. This is one of the most comforting truths of the Christian faith — when you cannot pray, Christ is praying for you. His prayers always reach the Father's ear.
Hebrews argues the OT priesthood was a shadow; Christ is the substance. (1) Christ is sinless — OT priests had to sacrifice for their own sins first. (2) Christ is eternal — OT priests died and were replaced. (3) Christ's sacrifice was once-for-all — OT sacrifices repeated. (4) Christ entered the true sanctuary, heaven itself. Hebrews 8:13 — 'In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old.'