THE HIGH PRIEST The High Priest was the priest in charge of the Tabernacle. Sometimes he was also simply known as the priest (Ex. 31:10); the anointed priest (Lev. 4:3); the priest who is chief among his brethren (Lev. 21:10); and the chief priest (2 Chron. 26:20). It was an hereditary office based on descent from Aaron (Ex. 29:29-30; Lev. 16:32). Normally, it was understood that he served for life (e.g. Num. 18:7) A special degree of holiness was required of the high priest (Lev. 10:6,9; 21:10-15). For example, this meant that He wasn t allowed to defile himself by contact with the dead, even in the case of his own parents and was forbidden to show any outward sign of mourning. He could not leave the sanctuary precincts. He was to be totally dedicated to God, always ritually pure and ready to serve the Lord. If the high priest sinned, he brought guilt upon the whole people (Lev. 4:3). The sin offering for the high priest (Lev. 4:3-12) was identical to that required if the whole congregation of Israel commits a sin (4:13-21). The consecration of the high priest was an elaborate seven-day ritual involving special baths, putting on special garments, and anointing with oil and with blood (Ex. 29:1-37; Lev. 6:19-22; 8:5-35). He shared in general priestly duties, but his special privilege was that he alone was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Once again the study of the High Priest is a fascinating study and it is full of intricate and special significance. Many books have been published concerning his office, and many Bible Studies have spent a great deal of time on him. I don t purpose to veer off into detailed study, because our purpose at present is merely to consider the High Priest with reference to the study of the Tabernacle.
D.G. 2 He must have been a most impressive person standing in front of Israel with all his ceremonial clothing. Every part of his dress spoke of God s covenant with His people. But as I say, we re not going along that road just now. We are going to concentrate upon the Heavenly High Priest. The writer of Hebrews wrote, Heb. 4:14 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. This is an important subject, the High Priesthood of Jesus, and as in matters pertaining to Grace it is good to look at it under five points. Jesus Christ, the High Priest, HIS RECONCILIATION Heb. 2: 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. I love the preaching of the Gospel. It is always guaranteed to have an effect on people: Some folk receive it as the very thing they have been waiting all their lives to receive. It is as a release to their former way of living. God s people love to hear it preached. Some folk, on the other hand, hate it, or turn off when the preacher begins to preach on salvation by faith through grace alone. A great hero of mine, C.H. Spurgeon, said this in one of his sermons, I believe if I should preach to you the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ every Sabbath day, and that twice, and nothing else, my ministry would not be unprofitable, perhaps it might be more profitable than it is. Many dishes are put upon the table at intervals, but bread and salt are always placed there; and so we will have the atonement again, and again, and again; for this is the bread and salt of the gospel feast. I agree with Spurgeon 100%! Look at the High Priest in the Old Testament wilderness, He had God s approval to be in the midst of God s people, the children of Israel. There were many priests in the tabernacle area, for the sacrifices of the altar were too numerous for one man.
D.G. 3 All the descendants of Aaron were set apart unto this work. As a priest died, another took his place. As a High Priest died, another took his place. Now, what was the reason for the existence of so many priests? Simple, one man or one priest could never expiate (to make atonement for, to make complete satisfaction for) the sins of all the people. Here is where we see Jesus Christ, the High Priest, and HIS RECONCILIATION. Whereas there were many priests in the old dispensation Jesus Christ became the one High Priest in order to reconcile unto Himself His own people. The old priest at the tabernacle couldn t save you from all your sins, - only those that you had committed and come to atone for. The animal that you brought for sacrifice was only good for your past sins, What about those sins in the future? They needed other sacrifices, every time you sinned. So you see how unsatisfactory the old dispensation was. Imagine you coming in to church on a Sunday morning and having your sins forgiven. On Sunday afternoon you find yourself breaking God s laws again, - you ve got to wait until the next occasion you are in the Lord s house to be forgiven. But, what if you couldn t make it next week? you wouldn t receive forgiveness! But when Jesus went to the cross He became the one Priest for ever, and He finished His work of reconciling the sinner unto God. No more blood needs to be shed. No more sacrifices to be offered up, Heb. 10: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. The sacrifice that Jesus offered far superseded any sacrifice that the Old Testament High Priest ever offered.
D.G. 4 Paul rejoiced with the Church in Rome, 5: 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Jesus Christ, the High Priest, HIS IDENTIFICATION Heb. 4: 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. The High Priest lived strictly within the confines of the Tabernacle area. His whole life was taken up with the Tabernacle. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, lived in the town of Nazareth and was brought up as a carpenter. Every Sabbath He would have attended the synagogue. He would have worn the appropriate clothing. He wouldn t have worked on the Sabbath or on the feast days. Jesus was a good and faithful Jew, and no-one could accuse Him otherwise! When He began His ministry He left the carpentry behind Him but His roots were still firmly grounded in the ordinary Jewish society. As a carpenter he would have met all types of people and you could imagine Jesus talking to them about ordinary things and being told things that no-one else in the town would have been told. Jesus would have known everyone in that town, and everyone knew Him, Mt. 13: 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Jesus, the great High Priest, identified with the people as He lived among them and shared their joys and their sorrows. He knew the rigours of life. He saw in the streets of Nazareth how men s lives were being ruined because of sin. There was adultery and gambling and marriage break-ups and murder and stealing and unfairness and greed in His day too, and yes, He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
D.G. 5 Jesus Christ, the High Priest, His Reconciliation and His Identification Jesus Christ, His High Priest, HIS ASSOCIATION Heb. 5: 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. The High Priest of the Tabernacle, - and later the temple, - could trace his genealogy back to Aaron, and back to Levi, and then on to Abraham. He was well-privileged to belong to such an illustrious line. What was Christ s association that made Him infinitely more acceptable before God? It was this, God said, Thou art my Son. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the Mediator of a new covenant, I Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus In the sovereign will and plan of God He was born into a humble family in Nazareth, but this same Man was the only means by which the sins of men could be eternally forgiven. The Word says, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. what does it mean? to day have I begotten thee It does not mean the doctrine of adoptionism Neither does it mean that Jesus is any way inferior within the Godhead. It means that for the purposes of the everlasting salvation of countless millions Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became the Mediator of the new covenant when God invested Him with the authority and honour of High Priestly function. Jesus said, Jn. 8:54 If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me. Jesus Christ, His High Priest, HIS APPOINTMENT Jesus Christ, the High Priest, HIS HUMILIATION Heb. 7: 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
D.G. 6 Paul said, Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. No High Priest ever had to undergo the humiliation Jesus had to suffer. None of them was ever pulled out of the Holy of Holies, None of them was ever told he was a liar, a blasphemer, a servant of Beelzebub. None of them was ever mocked and spat at and accused of deceiving the people, but Jesus was! None of them cried out in pain upon a cruel cross, but Jesus did! The High Priest was dressed in his special garments; they took the very robes of Jesus, they gambled to see who would they would belong to, and Jesus hung on a cross in absolute and deep humiliation. His holiness, His undefilement, His separateness from sin, and yet He hung in the place of the worst of sinners. He died as a ransom so that others would go free. Jesus, and the humiliation of the cross. Never had the High Priest of the Tabernacle to pass through such a valley of fire. From the cross to the throne. Jesus Christ, the High Priest, HIS EXALTATION Heb. 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; There is no doubt about it, the High Priest of Israel was an elevated position among God s people. How much more is the Saviour lifted far above flesh and blood, and principalities and powers! The cross is no longer on the hill of Calvary, for I ve been there.
D.G. 7 Jesus is no longer on a cross, He is seated upon the Throne of Heaven. I believe the nail scars are still in His hands, and when you enter Glory He ll take your hand with the same hands that suffered so much pain, and He ll lead you before His Father. You are part of His Bride, the Church, and He loves you with an everlasting love. You ll be home, - you ll never have to go away again, - the work of the High Priest is done and completed. All your sins have been washed away, - you never have to answer for them again, - for the Lamb upon the Throne was the Lamb that took your place on the Altar of Calvary. CONCLUSION. Jesus, the High Priest, HIS RECONCILIATION, HIS IDENTIFICATION, HIS ASSOCIATION, HIS HUMILIATION, HIS EXALTATION. In the Old Testament economy it was through the High Priest that the sins of the people would be dealt with on a day-to-day basis, Because of Sovereign Grace, in the electing will and plan of God our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone, became our High Priest in order that our sins would be dealt with and washed away for all eternity. Blessed be His most precious Name!