Thematic Bible: Priesthood of


Thematic Bible







Nor does any one take that high office upon himself, till he has been called to do so by God, as Aaron was. Verse ConceptsAaron, As High PriestLeaders, SpiritualMinisters, Description OfGod Appointing His SonSeeking Honour

To sum up what I have been saying:--Such is the High Priest that we have, one who 'has taken his seat at the right hand' of the throne of God's Majesty in Heaven, Verse ConceptsGod, Majesty OfGod, Sovereignty OfRight Hand Of GodThroneHeaven, God's ThroneMessianic Titles, High PriestRight SidesChrist And HeavenRivers

But, when Christ came, he appeared as High Priest of that Better System which was established; and he entered through that nobler and more perfect 'Tabernacle,' not made by human hands--that is to say, not a part of this present creation. Verse ConceptsAtonementGod, Goodness OfTypes Of ChristThe Future AgeLiving Not For The MaterialThe Temple In Heaven

and, since we have in him 'a great priest set over the House of God,' Verse ConceptsNames And Titles For The ChurchGod's Dwelling


And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like 'his Brothers,' in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful High Priest in man's relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his People. Verse ConceptsAtonementAdoption, descriptions ofCompassion, Of ChristAtonement, Reconciliation To God ByMercifulnessPriesthood, In NtPropitiationSin, Deliverance From GodChrist, The High PriestChrist, Character OfMessianic Titles, High PriestFaithful In MuchChrist Like PeopleChrist AtoningChrist's True FamilyRiversReconciliation with GodReconciliation

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into the highest Heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the Faith which we have professed. Our High Priest is not one unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

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


In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honour of the High Priesthood upon himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him-- 'Thou art my Son; this day I have become thy Father'; Verse ConceptsJesus As The Beloved SonThe Beloved SonMessianic Titles, High PriestConceptionJesus Christ, Son Of GodSeeking HonourRivers


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


and on another occasion also-- 'Thou art a priest for all time of the order of Melchizedek.' Verse Conceptseternity, nature ofJesus Christ, Eternity OfHigh Priest, In NtKingsMelchizedekJesus Christ, PriesthoodChrist, The High Priest

All this becomes even yet plainer when we remember that a new priest has appeared, resembling Melchizedek, Verse ConceptsChrist, The High PriestChrist Like People

for that is the meaning of the declaration-- 'Thou art for all time a priest of the order of Melchizedek.' Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfRiversWitnessingpriests


For you, first, God raised up his Servant, and sent him to bless you, by turning each one of you from his wicked ways." Verse ConceptsChrist, The High PriestGod Raising ChristTo The Jew Firstservanthood

But Jesus, as we see, has obtained a ministry as far excelling theirs, as the Covenant of which he is the intermediary, based, as it is, on better promises, excels the former Covenant. Verse ConceptsCovenant, the newMediationMediatorUniquenessJesus Christ, PriesthoodChrist, The MediatorPreeminence Of ChristAdvocatesGreatness Of ChristPromises concerningPromisesMinistryExcellencecovenant

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? Verse ConceptsAaron, As High PriestHigh Priest, In OtMelchizedekRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanPriesthood, In NtRitual LawAaron, PositionChrist, The High PriestPeople Made PerfectThe Law Given To IsraelRoyal Priesthoodpriests

and that he was appointed, not under a Law regulating only earthly matters, but by virtue of a life beyond the reach of death; Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfGod, Power OfChrist's Life

To sum up what I have been saying:--Such is the High Priest that we have, one who 'has taken his seat at the right hand' of the throne of God's Majesty in Heaven, where he ministers in the Sanctuary, in that true Tabernacle set up by the Lord and not by man.

And the oath shows the corresponding superiority of the Covenant of which Jesus is appointed the surety. Verse ConceptsCovenant, the newGuaranteePast, Thecovenant

Therefore, Christian Brothers, you who, all alike, have received the Call from Heaven, fix your attention on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our Religion. See how faithful he was to the God who appointed him, as Moses was in the whole House of God.

Nor does any one take that high office upon himself, till he has been called to do so by God, as Aaron was. In the same way, even the Christ did not take the honour of the High Priesthood upon himself, but he was appointed by him who said to him-- 'Thou art my Son; this day I have become thy Father';

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,' Verse ConceptsAtonement, Made OnceSittingChrist, The High PriestOnceRight SidesOnly Once

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into the highest Heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the Faith which we have professed. Verse ConceptsMelchizedekPriesthood, In NtFaithful, Choose To RemainJesus Christ, PriesthoodChrist, The High PriestNames And Titles For ChristChrist, Names ForHolding FastStanding FirmChrist And Heavenempathy




For it was not into a Sanctuary made by human hands, which merely foreshadowed the true one, that Christ entered, but into Heaven itself, that he might now appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Verse ConceptsCopies Of AltarsAtonement, in NTSanctuaryJesus Christ, Love OfChrist, The High PriestAntitypesAdvocatesThe Presence Of ChristChrist And HeavenThe Temple In HeavenThe Presence Of Godreality

While, then, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly realities to be purified by such means as these, the heavenly realities themselves required better sacrifices. Verse ConceptsCopies Of AltarsRight Sacrificescleansing

For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, purify those who have been defiled (as far as ceremonial purification goes), how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through his eternal Spirit, offered himself up to God, as a victim without blemish, purify our consciences from a lifeless formality, and fit us for the service of the Living God!

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. Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfGod, Perfection OfPriesthood, In NtConsecrationUnblemishmentChrist Made PerfectRivers

Again, new Levitical priests are continually being appointed, because death prevents their remaining in office; Verse ConceptsAaron, As High PriestChrist, The High PriestHow Death Is Inevitablepriests

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. Verse ConceptsAbolitionLast DaysPriesthood, In NtEnd Of The AgesOnceChrist AppearingFrom The BeginningOnly OnceDoing RepeatedlyChrist AtoningRight SacrificesAppointments


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."'

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. Verse ConceptsJesus Christ, Eternity OfGod, Perfection OfPriesthood, In NtConsecrationUnblemishmentChrist Made PerfectRivers




We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into the highest Heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the Faith which we have professed. Verse ConceptsMelchizedekPriesthood, In NtFaithful, Choose To RemainJesus Christ, PriesthoodChrist, The High PriestNames And Titles For ChristChrist, Names ForHolding FastStanding FirmChrist And Heavenempathy

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. Verse ConceptsExpiationAtonement, Made OnceSacrifice, Nt Fulfilment OfSin, God's Remedy ForSin OfferingUniquenessAbolish, Fulfilled By ChristChrist, The High PriestOnceOnly OnceDoing RepeatedlyAtoning By SacrificesRivers

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. Verse ConceptsExpiationAtonement, Made OnceSacrifice, Nt Fulfilment OfSin, God's Remedy ForSin OfferingUniquenessAbolish, Fulfilled By ChristChrist, The High PriestOnceOnly OnceDoing RepeatedlyAtoning By SacrificesRivers


And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like 'his Brothers,' in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful High Priest in man's relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his People. Verse ConceptsAtonementAdoption, descriptions ofCompassion, Of ChristAtonement, Reconciliation To God ByMercifulnessPriesthood, In NtPropitiationSin, Deliverance From GodChrist, The High PriestChrist, Character OfMessianic Titles, High PriestFaithful In MuchChrist Like PeopleChrist AtoningChrist's True FamilyRiversReconciliation with GodReconciliation


See how faithful he was to the God who appointed him, as Moses was in the whole House of God. Verse ConceptsChrist, The High PriestTypes Of ChristGod's DwellingFaithful In MuchGod Appointing His SonGod's Faithfulness