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INTRODUCTION

Much of the book of Hebrews is given to a discussion of the Priesthood of Christ.
All of this is drawn from the High Priest of the Old Testament.
In order to understand and appreciate Christ as our High Priest we must understand the background of the office.
By Definition:
- A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things.
- In particular to offer sacrifices at the altar.
- Acts as mediator between man and God.
Through the ministrations of the priesthood the people of Israel were instructed in the doctrine of sin and its expiation, in forgiveness and in

worship.

Nature of Priestly Office

IMPLIES DIVINE CHOICE.
- Not only the office, but the priest himself.
- "For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ....And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron." (Heb. 5:1; 4).
- Our Great High Priest, Christ..."He anointed me....He hath sent me" (Luke 4:18).
IMPLIES REPRESENTATION:
- The institution of the office was God's gracious provision for a people at a distance from Him, who needed one to appear in the Divine presence in their behalf.
- "Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Heb. 2:17).
- The High Priest represented the whole people. All Israelites were reckoned as being in him. (Exodus 28:12; 19)
- - He bore all the tribal names on his shoulders in the onyx stone.
  - The tribal names were engraved in the twelve gems of the breastplate.
IMPLIES THE OFFERING OF SACRIFICE:
- It was the chief duty of a priest to reconcile men to God by making atonement for their sins.
- He would be no priest who should have nothing of offer.
- It was the High Priest who carried the blood of the sin offering into the Most Holy Place and the Mercy Seat.

D. IT IMPLIES INTERCESSION:

HIS QUALIFICATIONS

Exodus 28:1.
He was to be ceremonially pure and holy.
*He must be physically perfect. Any defect or deformity disqualified a member of the priestly family.
Nor was he to come in contact with death. For he was the representative of Life.
HIS CONSECRATION. Blood was placed on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the great toe of the right foot. Some one has made this observation:
- He had a blood-stained ear that he might hear and obey the Divine injunctions, that he might understand the word of Jehovah and interpret it to the people.
- He had a blood-stained hand that he right execute, rightly and efficiently the services of the sanctuary and the duties of his great office.
- He had a blood-stained foot that he might walk in the statutes and commandments of the Lord blameless, and tread the courts of the Lord's house as the obedient servant of the Most High.

Duties of The High Priest

TO HIM ALONE IT PERTAINED TO REPRESENT THE CONGREGATION BEFORE THE LORD.
HIGH PRIEST AND DAY OF ATONEMENT:
- He must officiate at the ceremony of the two goats, where one was sent into the wilderness to Azazel, and the other slain to make atonement for the sanctuary.
- He alone could make atonement for the sins of the people, the priests, and his own house (Lev. 4:3).
- When he carried the breastplate with the names of the tribes inscribed thereon he acted as mediator between Israel and God.
- To him alone it pertained to enter the Most Holy Place and to sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat.

C. READ FROM LEVITICUS 16:3;15;33.

CONCLUSION

The priests of Israel were but dim shadows, obscure sketches and drafts of the One Great Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
SOME OF THE TYPE AND ARCHETYPE:
- Christ as Priest is appointed of God (Heb. 5:5).
- He is consecrated with an oath (Heb. 7:20-22).
- He is sinless (Heb. 7:26).
- His priesthood is unchangeable ( Heb. 7:23,24).
- His offering is perfect and final (Heb. 9:25-28).
- His intercession is all-prevailing (Heb. 7:25).
- As God and man in one Person He is a perfect Mediator (Heb. 1, 2).