When I was younger, I made a point that I was going to read the bible from cover to cover. I did, but when I got to the book of Leviticus, I got really bogged down. Reading Levitical law is like reading stereo instructions if you do so without purpose. By that, I mean that if you are just reading through the book, nothing is going to stick. Your heart isn't going to glean anything and hold on to what you've read. Why? Because you begin to read with the purpose of just getting through it, not to discover WHY God put these laws into place, what the deeper meaning of them are, how they tie to salvation through Jesus. Thank goodness for the grace of Christ that He fulfilled the law and that we no longer live under the old covenant.
There is a lot that my brain has been wrapping around concerning Jesus being our High Priest. His role, the role of the High Priest in the Old Testament, the role of the other priests and what it means for us. It's a rabbit hole of study that I hope in this writing does not get stagnant and boring. There is a lot of meat to this subject, so I hope you continue with me as we explore who He is in this facet.
Holiness
Holiness is a central topic throughout the book of Leviticus. It is spoken of 152 times in this book alone. Holiness means to be set apart. It is prominent theme in our praise and worship songs. It is not just an idea, it is a command. The entire foundation of Leviticus is that of holiness and all of the commands God laid out are built on that foundation. The priests were separated and set apart. They were the instruments of holiness. They offered the sacrifices, they settled civil disputes, every duty they performed centered around holiness.
For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:45
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 20:7
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. Leviticus 20:26
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16
The Priest
The priests were of the tribe of Levi and fulfilled many functions, some of which included:
They offered sacrifices for sin, including the sprinkling of blood and burning the portions of sacrifices. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. Leviticus 17:6
The priests were the mouthpiece of God and taught the law to the Children of Israel. And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. Leviticus 10:11
They oversaw the duties of the sanctuary. And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. Numbers 3:32
They resolved arguments and oversaw civil disputes and assaults. And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried: Deuteronomy 21:5
Were only allowed within the Holy of Holies for the sake of covering the holy furnishings and articles when the camp was to be moved. 4:5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 4:6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. 4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:4:8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.4:9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:4:10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.4:11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:4:12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:4:13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:4:14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 4:5-15
While the priests were used in multiple functions as spiritual teachers, there were things they weren't "qualified" to do. These were duties that only the High Priest could fulfill, or garments that only the Hight Priest could wear. It is another level of separation unto God. In 1 Peter 2:9 we are called a royal priesthood. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, We are called to be priests. It is why Jesus is our High Priest, not just our priest, and just as the High Priests, there are only roles that Christ himself can fill.
The High Priest
While the priests were spiritual leaders, the High Priest was THE spiritual leader of the people of Israel. He was the head of the church. The first High Priest was the brother of Moses, Aaron. Only the descendants of the line of Aaron could become a High Priest. It again shows of the separation, and being called apart.
Exodus 28 lays out in detail the garments worn by the priests. One of the items that separated the High Priest was that of the breastplate. 28:28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
28:29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. 28:30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
The High Priest wore and had access to the Urim and the Thummim. These were used to determine the will of God. (Please click the link to see a short description by Johnathan Cahn.)
The High Priest was responsible for offering sacrifices on the Day of Atonement. It was on this day that he was able to enter the Holy of Holies. 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. Leviticus 16:16-17
Jesus, Our High Priest
So, how does the old testament carry over to the new making Christ our High Priest? In my last post, I shared about Jesus being the Passover Lamb and our perfect sacrifice. Had He not first been the sacrificial lamb, He could not have become our High Priest. He laid down his life for us so that he could make intersession for us. When he said, "It is finished", he didn't mean for that day, he meant for all days. Finished once and for all. The final and ultimate sacrifice for sin was offered, and His act of sacrifice made it possible for us to come to the Father through him, the High Priest. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews7:23-25
Jesus broke the barrier and made us possible to come before the throne with boldness, allowing us to receive His perfect grace, no longer with the blood of animal sacrifice, but through the mediation of our perfect High Priest.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
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