What Was the Role of the High Priest?

The sacrificial system the Hebrew people practiced can seem distant and confusing to modern day Christians, but it holds many clues as to the identity of Jesus Christ, His importance, and salvation. From the way the tabernacle and the Temple were built, to the system itself, everything points to God’s plan of salvation for humanity through the death and resurrection of the Son. Even the role of the High Priest is a key part of this story.

The High Priest is not like a pastor or priest, though both do have the ability and knowledge of the Scriptures to teach them. In fact, unlike the other temple positions and religious roles that came to be through history, the High Priest seemed to exist even before the Law of Moses. It is a mediator position, someone who intercedes between man and God, and a role that Jesus took on after His death and resurrection. It was what He does now for all those who put their hope and faith in Him.

Understanding the history of the role of the High Priest in the Hebrew faith can help illuminate the Gospel, as well as deepen a Christian’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

What Is the High Priest?

The tribe of Levi in Israel was set apart from the others, not receiving land, but instead the duty of being priests. They conducted the religious rites and rituals for the nation.

The High Priest was the Levite whose job was to make the sacrifice for the people of Israel on the Day of Atonement. The first official High Priest was Moses’ brother Aaron. However, there were men named in the Bible who would make sacrifices of atonement, interceding on behalf of sinners, who served the function of a High Priest. In the Levitical Law, God ordained:

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering … Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself … Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses” (Leviticus 16:2-3, 6, 15-16).

Once a year, the High Priest would be able to enter the Holy of Holies, which no one else could do because it was where the presence of God came to rest on the Ark of the Covenant. Before he could enter, he had to atone for his own sins. He tied a rope with a bell around himself, so that if he did not properly atone and dropped dead from being unclean in the presence of God, his body could be removed. The High Priest would atone for all the sins of the people, and intercede on their behalf, and God would forgive.

Another way of looking at the High Priest is as the person who can go before God, present a substitute for the sins of others, and whose intercession pacified God’s wrath.

This position was meant to be lifelong, but became political after the Exile and during the Second Temple Period.

Who Were Some Famous High Priests?

Job

It is generally accepted that the account in Job is a record of events that happened before the days of Abraham, but after the flood. He had a relationship with the one God, and tried to stay obedient, even though he had friends trying to convince him to disavow the Creator. Eventually, God rebuked these friends, but says that if Job makes sacrifices and prayer on their behalf, He will forgive them.

Here, Job acts like a high priest, even though the position did not exist. He made prayers and sacrifices of atonement on behalf of sinners, serving as an intermediary between a sinner and a holy God. “‘Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.’ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer” (Job 48:8-9).

Melchizedek

There is a lot of mystery surrounding this individual, as he is only mentioned in one chapter in the Old Testament, and then once in the New Testament. After successfully defeating an enemy, Abraham was approached by two kings, the King of Sodom, and Melchizedek. “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!’” (Genesis 14:18-20).

Jethro

When Moses fled Egypt after murdering someone, he ran to the land of Midian. There, he met Jethro, also called Reuel. He was called the priest of Midian, and welcomed Moses into his family. It is generally believed that he served in a capacity like the High Priest, even though the title did not yet exist. After Moses freed the Hebrews, Jethro gave him wise council, “And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God” (Exodus 18:12).

Aaron

Moses’ brother became the first official High Priest to carry the title of High Priest, and carry out the duties as God would lay them out. He received the official garments and his bloodline was tasked with the responsibility of serving God and atoning for the sins of the people. God declared, “I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests” (Exodus 29:44).

Eli

When Samuel’s mother Hannah was crying in prayer to God for a child, Eli was there. He was the priest who raised Samuel - the prophet of Israel. Unfortunately, his sons were unworthy, committing sins in the Temple. God cut off the line of Eli because of this. “And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day” (1 Samuel 2:34).

Who Is the Great High Priest?

In the Bible, there are several promises that seemed to go unfulfilled – promises for a son of David who would reign forever. Another was a promise that God made before Eli when he was cutting off his order; “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever” (1 Samuel 2:35). This verse alludes to a priest who will go before the people for all time.

Some may see this as metaphoric or hyperbolic language. However, Jesus not only fulfilled the role of the heir of David, rightful King of all the earth, but as the great High Priest, whose foundation and house is sure, and will live forever. The writer of Hebrews identifies Jesus as that High Priest.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 14-16).

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn in two, because God no longer needed to be separated from His people. Jesus’ death made it possible for all people to approach God, lay the blood of Jesus at the altar, and repent from their sins. Because of Jesus, God’s wrath is satisfied. Jesus makes intercession for those who put their trust in Him.

The High Priest served a unique role in Israel’s culture, but whoever that man was, he was still a sinner. He had to atone for his own sins before he could carry out his ultimate responsibilities, and if he did it wrong, he paid with his life. Because Jesus was sinless, He could go to the cross, pay the price, and clear the way for all who have sinned to approach the throne of God. The sacrificial system became obsolete, as did the role of the High Priest, which is why Christians today do not keep the religious practices of the Jews.

Jesus is the Great High Priest, who knows the struggles of people, and is ready to forgive and embrace anyone who repents and turns to Him.

Sources

Day, John. Temple and Worship in Biblical Israel. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2007.

McIlree, Andy. Garments for Glory Types and Shadows of Israel’s High Priest. Independently Published, 2019.

Pentecost, J. Dwight, Faith that Endures A Practical Commentary on the Book of Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1992.

Slemming, C.W. These are the Garments The Priestly Robes of Ancient Israel. Fort Washington: CLC Publications, 1973. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/romaset

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.