Jesus Christ

Our High Priest

1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3.1

Jesus is our High Priest “Pontifex” = a bridge-builder Represents God before men, and men

before God “A High Priest that is not quite God is like a

bridge broken at the far end”

2

 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” Hebrews 4.14-15

Jesus Christ …

•Great High Priest

• Gone thro’ the heavens

• Tempted in every way,

as we are

• But – without sin

3

4

 1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.  4No one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. Hebrews 5

Human Priests

• Selected from among

men

• To represent men in

matters relating to God

• To offer gifts & sacrifices

for sins

• Deals gently with people

• He is also subject to

weakness

• Offers sacrifices for his

own sins too

• Must be called by God

5

5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,    "You are my Son;       today I have become your Father.”

6And he says in another place,    "You are a priest forever,       in the order of Melchizedek.“

Hebrews 5. 5-6 

Jesus Christ …

• God appointed him to this

glorious position

• Both “Son” and “Priest”

• In order of Melchizedek

(Psalm

110)

6

 7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Hebrews 5. 7-9

Jesus Christ …

• Offered up prayers &

petitions with loud cries &

tears

• Was heard – because of his

reverent submission

• Altho’ a Son – learned

obedience by what he

suffered

• Made “perfect” (complete)

• Source of ETERNAL

Salvation for all who obey

him

7

19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6. 19-20

Jesus Christ …

• He went before us

• Has entered the inner

sanctuary—the very Holy

Place

• Has become our High Priest

forever

• In the order of Melchizedek

8

1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.  4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Hebrews 7. 1-4

Melchizedek …

• King of Salem

• Priest of God most High

• King of Righteousness &

Peace

• Without father or mother

• No genealogy

• No beginning or end

• Remains a priest forever

• How great he was

• He blessed Abraham

• Before the priestly line of

Levi was formed

9

11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. Hebrews 7. 11-14

Human Priests …

• Could not bring perfection

• Need another priesthood

outwith Levitical line

• Jesus Christ …

• Descended from Judah, not

Levi

• So - Law needed changing

10

14Our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:    "You are a priest forever,       in the order of Melchizedek."  18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7. 14-19

Jesus Christ …

• Became priest not on

basis of ancestry

• But – on basis of an

indestructible life

• Old Law is set aside

• A better hope is

introduced

• By which we draw

near to God

11

20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:    "The Lord has sworn       and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.' " 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7. 20-22

Jesus Christ …

• The new order came in

with an oath from God

• “The Lord has sworn and

will not change his mind”

• Jesus is therefore a

guarantee of a better

covenant

12

 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7. 23-25

Levitical Priests …

• All die; so – many of them

Jesus Christ …

• Lives forever =>

permanent priesthood

• Able to save completely &

forever – those who come to

God thro’ him

• Because – he always lives

to intercede

13

26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7.26-28

Jesus Christ …

• He meets our needs!

• Holy; blameless; pure;

set apart; exalted

• No need to offer sacrifices

…

• Day by day

• For his own sins

• Offered himself once for all

as a sacrifice

• Been made perfect forever

14

 1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.  3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer… 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven… 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Hebrews 8. 1-3; 5-6

Jesus Christ …

• We do have such a High Priest

• Sat down at Throne of God in

Heaven

• Serves in that sanctuary

Levitical Priests …

• Serve at a man-made sanctuary

• A shadow of the real thing!

Jesus Christ …

•Ministry is infinitely superior

• Based on a better promise

15

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up…  6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance… 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. Hebrews 9. 1-2; 6-7; & 9

Levitical Priests …

• Regulations for worship in

earthly sanctuary

• Priests only into Most Holy

Place once/year

• Sacrifice/blood-shed

necessary

• Sacrifices – not able to

clear conscience of the

worshippers

16

11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 … he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption… 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9. 11-12; 14

Jesus Christ …

• Went through perfect tabernacle

• Not man-made

• Not by animal sacrifice

• Entered Most Holy Place

• Once for all

• By his own sacrifice

• Obtained eternal redemption

• Our consciences cleansed

• So we can serve the living

God

17

24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9. 24-28

Jesus Christ …

• Entered Heaven itself

• Represents us before God

• Appeared once for all has

suffered

• Doing away with sin

• Will appear once again …

• To bring salvation to

those waiting for him

18

12But when this priest had

offered for all time one

sacrifice for sins, he sat

down at the right hand of

God. 13Since that time he

waits for his enemies to

be made his footstool,

14because by one sacrifice

he has made perfect

forever those who are

being made holy.

Hebrews 10. 12-

14

Jesus Christ …

• Sat down at God’s right

hand

• Waits for enemies to be

conquered

• Made perfect forever

those who are being made

holy

19

 14Therefore, since we have a

great high priest who has gone

through the heavens, Jesus the

Son of God, let us hold firmly to

the faith we profess. 15For we do

not have a high priest who is

unable to sympathize with our

weaknesses, but we have one

who has been tempted in every

way, just as we are—yet was

without sin. 16Let us then

approach the throne of grace

with confidence, so that we may

receive mercy and find grace to

help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4. 14-

16

Let us …

• Hold firmly to the faith

• Approach the throne of

grace with confidence

• Receive mercy and grace

in our time of need

20

19We have this hope as an

anchor for the soul, firm

and secure. It enters the

inner sanctuary behind the

curtain, 20where Jesus, who

went before us, has

entered on our behalf. He

has become a high priest

forever, in the order of

Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6. 19-

20

We …

• Have this hope

• An anchor for the

soul

• Jesus has gone before us

21

Let us …

• Draw near to God

• Hold on to the hope we

possess

• Spur one another on

• Toward love

• Toward good deeds

• Keep on meeting

together

• Encourage one another

Since we have a great priest -- 22let

us draw near to God with a sincere

heart in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled to

cleanse us from a guilty conscience

and having our bodies washed with

pure water. 23Let us hold

unswervingly to the hope we

profess, for he who promised is

faithful. 24And let us consider how

we may spur one another on

toward love and good deeds. 25Let

us not give up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing,

but let us encourage one another—

and all the more as you see the

Day approaching.

Hebrews 10. 22-

25