Thematic Bible: Inferior to Christ in


Thematic Bible




Nor yet was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the High Priest entered the Sanctuary with an offering of blood--but not his own blood; for then Christ would have had to undergo death many times since the creation of the world. But now, once and for all, at the close of the age, he has appeared, in order to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Every other priest stands day after day at his ministrations, and offers the same sacrifices over and over again--sacrifices that can never take sins away. But, this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, which should serve for all time, 'took his seat at the right hand of God,'

where Jesus, our Forerunner, has entered on our behalf, after being made for all time a High Priest of the order of Melchizedek. Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfJesus Christ, PriesthoodChrist, The High PriestNames And Titles For ChristChrist, Names ForForerunnersMessianic Titles, High PriestIn Order Of Rank

If, then, Perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood--and it was under this priesthood that the people received the Law--why was it still necessary that a priest of a different order should appear, a priest of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron? With the change of the priesthood a change of the Law became a necessity. And he of whom all this is said belonged to quite a different tribe, no member of which has ever served at the altar. read more.
For it is plain that our Lord ad sprung from the tribe of Judah, though of that tribe Moses said nothing about their being priests. All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek, and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death; for that is the meaning of the declaration-- 'Thou art for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.'

If he were, however, still upon earth, he would not even be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts as the Law directs. (These priests, it is true, are engaged in a service which is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly realities, as is shown by the directions given to Moses when he was about to construct the Tabernacle. 'Look to it,' are the words, 'that thou make every part in accordance with the pattern shown thee on the mountain.')

but into the inner only the High Priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the People. Verse ConceptsExpiationBlood Of SacrificesAtonement, Types OfAtonement, in OTDay Of AtonementMost Holy PlaceSin, God's Remedy ForSin OfferingTypesAaron, As High PriestTypes Of ChristEvery YearSecond ThingAtoning By SacrificesRiversignorancepriests


This was the High Priest that we needed--holy, innocent, spotless, withdrawn from sinners, exalted above the highest Heaven, one who has no need to offer sacrifices daily as those High Priests have, first for their own sins, and then for those of the People. For this he did once and for all, when he offered himself as the sacrifice. The Law appoints as High Priests men who are liable to infirmity, but the words of God's oath, which was later than the Law, name the Son as, for all time, the perfect Priest.

but into the inner only the High Priest goes, and that but once a year, and never without taking the blood of a victim, which he offers on his own behalf, and on behalf of the errors of the People. Verse ConceptsExpiationBlood Of SacrificesAtonement, Types OfAtonement, in OTDay Of AtonementMost Holy PlaceSin, God's Remedy ForSin OfferingTypesAaron, As High PriestTypes Of ChristEvery YearSecond ThingAtoning By SacrificesRiversignorancepriests


Nor yet was it to offer himself may times, as year after year the High Priest entered the Sanctuary with an offering of blood--but not his own blood; Verse ConceptsBlood Of SacrificesAaron, As High PriestDoing Repeatedly

Then again, the appointment of this new priest was ratified by an oath, which is not so with the Levitical priests, but his appointment was ratified by an oath, when God said to him-- 'The Lord has sworn, and will not change, "Thou art a priest for all time."' And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the Covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety.

Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office; but Jesus remains for all time, and therefore the priesthood that he holds is never liable to pass to another.