The high priest was
the chief religious leader of Israel
and the only person permitted to enter
the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle
(and later the temple)
once a year on the Day of Atonement.
He represented the people before God
and offered the most important sacrifices for sin.
In the New Testament,
Jesus Christ is revealed as
the great and final High Priest.
God appointed Aaron, the brother of Moses, as the first high priest, and the office continued through his descendants (Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 8). The high priest was distinguished by special garments, including the ephod, breastpiece with twelve stones representing the tribes of Israel, the blue robe, the turban, and the gold plate inscribed “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28).
Key responsibilities of the high priest included:
The high priest had to be ceremonially clean and offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1-3).
The Old Testament high priests were themselves sinners and mortal. They had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, and their ministry could not bring lasting perfection or permanent access to God (Hebrews 7:23, 27; 10:1-4, 11). The whole system pointed beyond itself to a greater need.
The New Testament, especially the book of Hebrews, presents Jesus as the perfect and permanent High Priest:
Because Jesus is both the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice, the old priestly system has been fulfilled and set aside.
The office of high priest was a gracious provision that allowed a holy God to dwell among a sinful people. Yet it was always temporary and incomplete. In Jesus Christ, God has provided the perfect High Priest who needs no sacrifice for Himself, who offered Himself once for all, and who continually intercedes for those who draw near to God through Him. Because of this great High Priest, believers can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.