Some of the early Christians left pagan idolatry to follow Christ. Some Christians left the old law and rituals of Judaism. Between the two groups, it seems that the desire to return to the Old Law of Moses was a strong temptation. The book of Hebrews addresses the problems of going back into the law and highlights the greatness of Jesus Christ, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

The theme of the superiority of Jesus continues until the writer starts to sum up the main point he is trying to make, namely, that Jesus is the High Priest that we all need in order to approach God. In the Old Testament, the high priest came from the tribe of Levi, particularly the family of Aaron. The high priest had a very special function as a mediator between the people and God. However, this work was done on the earth. The high priest was subject to temptation and sin (Leviticus 10:1, 2 with Nadab and Abihu). These were imperfect men offering imperfect sacrifices for the transgressions of their fellow people. But the sacrifice that was made for our sins was done by the Man, Jesus Christ. He is the High Priest that did not sin. He is the High Priest that offered a perfect sacrifice…His blood!

This High Priest established a better covenant than the Old Law, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second” (Hebrews 8:6, 7). 

And as our High Priest, He understands the emotions we have when it comes to temptation, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Our great High Priest offered Himself once and for all, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11, 12). 

Since we have a High Priest that gave Himself for us and knows us, what should our response be? Let the Hebrews writer answer, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1, 2). 

By: Justin Odom