Mar 16, 2022
The high priest was the supreme religious leader of the
Israelites. The office of the high priest was hereditary and was
traced from Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the Levite tribe
(Exodus 28:1; Numbers 18:7). The high priest had to be “whole”
physically (without any physical defects) and holy in his conduct
(Leviticus 21:6-8).
Because the high priest held the leadership position, one of his
roles was overseeing the responsibilities of all the subordinate
priests (2 Chronicles 19:11). Though the
high priest could participate in ordinary priestly ministries, only
certain functions were given to him. Only the high priest could
wear the Urim and the Thummin (engraved dice-like stones used to
determine truth or falsity). For this reason, the Hebrew people
would go to the high priest in order to know the will of God
(Numbers 27:21). An example of this is when
Joshua was commissioned by Eleazar, the high priest, to assume some
of Moses’ responsibilities (Numbers 27:21). In the New Testament, we find a
reference to the high priest having the gift of prophecy (John 11:49-52).
The high priest had to offer a sin offering not only for the sins
of the whole congregation, but also for himself (Leviticus 4:3-21). When a high priest died, all
those confined to the cities of refuge for accidently causing the
death of another person were granted freedom (Numbers 35:28).
The most important duty of the high priest was to conduct the
service on the Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month
of every year. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place
behind the veil to stand before God. Having made a sacrifice for
himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy
of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God’s “throne”
(Leviticus 16:14-15). He did this to
make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins
committed during the year just ended (Exodus 30:10). It is this particular service that is
compared to the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest (Hebrews 9:1-28).
In understanding the role of the high priest, we can better
comprehend the significance of Christ offering Himself for our sins
once for all (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10, 12). Through Christ’s sacrifice for us, we are
sanctified and set apart for Him. By entering God’s presence on our
behalf, Christ has secured for us an “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). As Paul has written, “For there is
one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).