Topical Bible: The High Priest: Typified Christ in His Title

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Topical Encyclopedia

The role of the High Priest in the Old Testament is a profound typology of Jesus Christ, serving as a foreshadowing of His ultimate priestly ministry. The High Priest was the supreme religious leader among the Israelites, responsible for performing sacrifices, entering the Holy of Holies, and interceding on behalf of the people. This sacred office is richly detailed in the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

Old Testament Background

The High Priest was appointed from the tribe of Levi, specifically from the descendants of Aaron, Moses' brother. Aaron was the first to hold this office, as described in Exodus 28:1: "Now you are to summon your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." The High Priest wore distinctive garments, including the ephod, breastplate, and turban, each with symbolic significance (Exodus 28:4-39).

The primary duty of the High Priest was to conduct the annual Day of Atonement rituals, as outlined in Leviticus 16. On this day, he entered the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people, symbolizing the need for atonement and reconciliation with God.

Typology of Christ

The New Testament reveals that the High Priest's role was a shadow of the greater reality fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Epistle to the Hebrews extensively elaborates on this typology, presenting Christ as the ultimate High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 states, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess."

1. Mediator and Intercessor: Just as the High Priest mediated between God and Israel, Christ serves as the mediator of the New Covenant. Hebrews 9:15 declares, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance."

2. Sacrificial Role: Unlike the High Priests who offered animal sacrifices repeatedly, Christ offered Himself once for all. Hebrews 9:12 affirms, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption."

3. Sinless and Eternal: The High Priests were fallible and temporary, but Christ is sinless and eternal. Hebrews 7:26-27 describes Him as "holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people."

4. Access to God: Through Christ's priesthood, believers have direct access to God. Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages believers to "enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body."

Conclusion

The High Priest's role in the Old Testament serves as a profound typology of Jesus Christ, illustrating His unique and eternal priesthood. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Christ fulfills the High Priest's duties, providing believers with direct access to God and eternal redemption.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 3:1
Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Epistle to the Hebrews
... The tabernacle was only a temporary parable; Christ acts as High Priest in the holy
of holies, the actual presence of God typified by the tabernacle ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xviii the epistle to.htm

Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John
... The Old Testament, Typified by John, is the Beginning of ... Demiurge, the Agent of the
Good God, and as High-Priest. ... Of the Effects of the Death of Christ, of His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/

On the Offices of Our Lord Jesus Christ
... come under our consideration in the Priestly Office of Christ. ... x, 21.) For that is
properly typified by a ... might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, and be ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 14 on the offices.htm

Preface.
... The Great High-Priest, like the Levitical priest who typified Him,
did not sprinkle atoning blood indiscriminately. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/preface.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... also, as the most distinguished covenant sign, is his Son"the great high priest
of our ... Under the former, Christ and his work were typified and predicted. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

Index of Subjects.
... a new thing because foretold, [354]377; and typified, [355]ib ... 288; wist not that
Ananias was the high-priest, [698]289 ... 757]280; what he gave to Christ, [758]384 ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/index of subjects.htm

Messiah's Innocence vindicated
... The High Priest of our profession needed not, as those who typified His office of ...
And to this, we are called, by our profession; for thus Christ suffered. ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxiv messiahs innocence vindicated.htm

Symbolic Ornaments of the Church
... well-known heathen use of it, but typified still more ... symbol, suggested by His own
words, of Christ as the ... of the intercession of our great High Priest, and of ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolic ornaments of the church.htm

Index of Subjects.
... High priest, how, more than one, [787]477. ... the, given in terrors, [1023]2,
[1024]8; was typified in Phares ... for the gospel, [1037]121; respected by Christ in ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/index of subjects.htm

V. ...
... go hither and thither,"be monk and priest,"found churches ... also sweep about and move
high in Christendom ... gives forth water, preachers are typified in Scripture ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v 2.htm