Doctrine: High Priest ministry of Jesus according to Hebrews

March 25, 2009

Tod Kennedy

1.      A high priest officiates for sacrifices and offerings, He intercedes for the people He is responsible for, and He sympathizes with people.

2.      There are three priesthoods related to the different ages or dispensations.

2.1.            Dispensation of Gentiles had the family priesthood, Abraham, Job, and Melchizedek.

2.2.            Dispensation of Israel had the Levitical priesthood. The high priest was from the one tribe, Levi.

2.3.            Dispensation of the Church has a universal priesthood. Every believer is a priest.

3.      Jesus Christ holds the office of eternal High Priest (Hebrews 3.1; 5.10; 6.20; 7.21-24). Jesus was qualified to be the eternal high priest.

3.1.            Jesus was true humanity and a man (Hebrews 2.17).

3.2.            Jesus was called, appointed, and made high priest by God’s oath (Hebrews 5.5, 6, 10).

3.3.            Jesus’ priesthood was like Melchizedek’s (Hebrews 5.10; 7.14-18).

3.4.            Jesus’ priesthood was an eternal priesthood (Hebrews 7.24-28).

3.5.            Seated at the right hand of the father (Hebrews 8.1).

4.      The high priest ministry of Jesus includes

4.1.            Sacrifice of Himself once for all time and all people. This was a past ministry for Him (Hebrews 7.27; 9.11-14; 9.25-28). Our salvation is secure.

4.2.            Intercessory prayer ministry. This is a present ministry (Hebrews 7.25). Christ prays for us before the Father.