INTRODUCTION
- Much of the book of Hebrews is given to a
discussion of the Priesthood of Christ.
- All of this is drawn from the High Priest
of the Old Testament.
- In order to understand and appreciate
Christ as our High Priest we must understand the
background of the office.
- By Definition:
- A priest is one who is duly
authorized to minister in sacred things.
- In particular to offer sacrifices
at the altar.
- Acts as mediator between man and
God.
- Through the ministrations of the
priesthood the people of Israel were instructed in the
doctrine of sin and its expiation, in forgiveness and in
worship.
Nature of Priestly
Office
- IMPLIES DIVINE CHOICE.
- Not only the office, but the
priest himself.
- "For every high priest,
being taken from among men, is appointed for men
in things pertaining to God, that he may offer
both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ....And no
man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is
called of God, even as was Aaron." (Heb.
5:1; 4).
- Our Great High Priest,
Christ..."He anointed me....He hath sent
me" (Luke 4:18).
- IMPLIES REPRESENTATION:
- The institution of the office was
God's gracious provision for a people at a
distance from Him, who needed one to appear in
the Divine presence in their behalf.
- "Wherefore it behooved
him in all things to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the
people." (Heb. 2:17).
- The High Priest represented the
whole people. All Israelites were reckoned as
being in him. (Exodus 28:12; 19)
- He bore all the tribal
names on his shoulders in the onyx stone.
- The tribal names were
engraved in the twelve gems of the
breastplate.
- IMPLIES THE OFFERING OF SACRIFICE:
- It was the chief duty of a priest
to reconcile men to God by making atonement for
their sins.
- He would be no priest who should
have nothing of offer.
- It was the High Priest who carried
the blood of the sin offering into the Most Holy
Place and the Mercy Seat.
D. IT IMPLIES INTERCESSION:
HIS QUALIFICATIONS
- Exodus 28:1.
- He was to be ceremonially pure and holy.
- *He must be physically perfect. Any defect
or deformity disqualified a member of the priestly
family.
- Nor was he to come in contact with death. For
he was the representative of Life.
- HIS CONSECRATION. Blood was placed on the
tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and
on the great toe of the right foot. Some one has made
this observation:
- He had a blood-stained ear that he
might hear and obey the Divine injunctions, that
he might understand the word of Jehovah and
interpret it to the people.
- He had a blood-stained hand that
he right execute, rightly and efficiently the
services of the sanctuary and the duties of his
great office.
- He had a blood-stained foot that
he might walk in the statutes and commandments of
the Lord blameless, and tread the courts of the
Lord's house as the obedient servant of the Most
High.
Duties of The High
Priest
- TO HIM ALONE IT PERTAINED TO REPRESENT THE
CONGREGATION BEFORE THE LORD.
- HIGH PRIEST AND DAY OF ATONEMENT:
- He must officiate at the ceremony
of the two goats, where one was sent into the
wilderness to Azazel, and the other slain to make
atonement for the sanctuary.
- He alone could make
atonement for the sins of the people, the
priests, and his own house (Lev. 4:3).
- When he carried the breastplate
with the names of the tribes inscribed thereon he
acted as mediator between Israel and God.
- To him alone it pertained
to enter the Most Holy Place and to sprinkle the
blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat.
C. READ FROM LEVITICUS 16:3;15;33.
CONCLUSION
- The priests of Israel were but dim
shadows, obscure sketches and drafts of the One Great
Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- SOME OF THE TYPE AND ARCHETYPE:
- Christ as Priest is appointed of
God (Heb. 5:5).
- He is consecrated with an oath
(Heb. 7:20-22).
- He is sinless (Heb. 7:26).
- His priesthood is unchangeable (
Heb. 7:23,24).
- His offering is perfect and final
(Heb. 9:25-28).
- His intercession is all-prevailing
(Heb. 7:25).
- As God and man in one Person He is
a perfect Mediator (Heb. 1, 2).
