Jesus Our Great High Priest

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25

A priest represents man before God. There are three things that characterize the work of the priest: He is one with those whom he represents to God (Heb. 5:1), he offers sacrifices to atone for sin (Lev. 16:3-16), and He makes intercession for the people (1 Sam. 12:23. Therefore, Jesus Christ qualifies as our Great High Priest because He fulfills all those three aspects perfectly. He fully identifies with those for whom He would make atonement.

He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the atonement for sin. He perpetually represents us at the Father’s right hand as our Intercessor. We can summarize the great priestly ministry of Jesus in one verse: “And He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Is. 53:12).

Nine times in the book of Hebrews there is the mention of a man by the name of Melchizedek. Speaking of the coming Messiah, David says, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4). Hebrews 7 tells us very clearly how this priest typifies the perfect priesthood of Christ: The name “Melchizedek” means the “King of Righteousness.” As the king of Salem, his title literally means the “king of peace” (Heb. 7:1). Jesus Christ is both the King of Righteousness (Is. 32:1) and the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).

There are four reasons why the Melchizedek priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood: Firstly, Melchizedek was more than a priest, he was also a king. The Levitical priesthood was not good enough to be a type of Jesus. Besides, Jesus did not come from the tribe of Levi. He is “the Lion from the tribe of Judah” (Heb. 7:14).

Secondly, Melchizedek had no beginning or ending. He had no record of genealogy (7:3). Therefore, the priesthood of Melchizedek is perpetual. The Levitical priesthood was a temporary one installed for the Mosaic covenant. Jesus has a perpetual, unchanging priesthood.

Thirdly, Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham. Even without the law, Abraham, the great-grandfather of Levi, paid tithes to Melchizedek (7:4-6). In that sense, Melchizedek had a superior priesthood to the Levites. Jesus Christ as God is worthy to receive all glory and honor… and certainly our tithes.

Finally, Melchizedek was able to bless Abraham, making him greater than Abraham himself (7:6-7). The Levites, being the seed from the loins of Abraham, were all inferior to him. Was Melchizedek a supernatural being, a kind of pre-incarnate Christ? The Bible is silent about this. Melchizedek was certainly the earthly king of Salem. He was human, but his priesthood was divinely appointed by God and endless in nature.

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