Our Great High Priest

 

One of the offices Messiah holds in the new covenant is that of High Priest, but it is not based on the position derived from Aaron, but rather after the order of Melchizedek. In Hebrews 7:1-2, “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.” This priesthood is different in that it is an eternal priesthood and not derived from the Law of Moses since Jesus, of the tribe of Judah and not Levi, had fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). Because Melchizedek is referred to as both king of righteousness and king of peace, this priesthood becomes the source for the righteousness and peace of the believer-priest. Romans 5:1 tells us that we have been justified [made righteous] by faith and therefore, we have the righteousness and peace belonging to Christ. 

In Hebrews 1:3, “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”. This position, at the right hand of His Father, is the place of authority, acceptance, and honor. David identifies it in Psalm 110:1 as the place where His Son is given authority over His enemies, thus acknowledging Him as Lord. This means that the mediator of the new covenant, our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) really cares when He sympathizes with our weaknesses since He also was tempted as a man, yet He remained sinless. Therefore, His throne is a throne of grace and He is able to dispense mercy and grace to help in our time of need when we approach Him with confidence. In Ephesians 1:19-20, “and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places”. This priesthood is capable of accomplishing everything asked of it since it is limited only by God’s unlimited power.

1 Peter 2:9-10 

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 

Peter acknowledges that as chosen ones (Ephesians 1:4), the believer is automatically part of “a royal priesthood” and a Holy Nation, meaning that he has been set apart for a divine purpose as “a people for God’s own possession”.  This divine purpose is “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” and this empowerment only happens to the one who has accepted his position as priest by receiving His mercy. The new covenant believer-priest recognizes that he belongs to God and derives his accountability from that position. New Testament believers have been commissioned into God’s army of servant priests.

No rest 

As a believer-priest, the new covenant believer acknowledges his accountability to the High Priest. In Colossians 2:13-14, “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross”. As a result of this greatest work, the believer-priest is tuned into the voice of God, unlike the Jews in the wilderness, who were not listening to God and became disobedient. The ten spies and the people refused to accept that God was greater than their enemies in the promised land and therefore they missed their rest. In Psalm 95:10-11, “For forty years I loathed that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My ways. “Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.”

The writer of Hebrews addresses this matter in Hebrews 3:18-19, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” There is a direct relationship between unbelief and disobedience. In Psalm 106:25, it says they grumbled in their tents and were not listening to God’s voice. When the High Priest speaks, the believer-priest not only listens, but also mixes faith with what he hears. The relationship to the Word of God is an essential element to the believer finding God’s rest (Hebrews 4:2). In verse 3, “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, ‘AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,’ although His works were finished from the foundation of the world”. The rest of the High Priest is available to each believer-priest who places his trust in His finished work (John 19:30) and His truth, the Word of God (John 17:17).

Sabbath rest

When Hebrews 4:9 says, “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God”, it was not just referring to the future kingdom age when Messiah would be in full control, but for all of His people who recognize His Lordship as High Priest in every age. The Greek word is sabbatismós and it means the keeping of the day of rest as a time when the believer ceases from labor. In verse 10, it suggests that this word, derived from the Hebrew shabbat, references the eternal rest that all believers will experience when God’s work is completed and he can enter God’s rest. It is different than the other word (katapausis) in this passage translated rest and speaks about a ceasing to work. Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving and know that I am God”. This Sabbath rest is the beginning of the believer finding an inner rest, where he learns to rest in the work of God. 

Matthew 11:28-30 

“28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn [mathete] from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The rest Jesus refers to here is that inner rest that each believer receives from Jesus through being “yoked up” with Him in His work. It happens when the believer becomes His student, His disciple (mathete) and prioritizes His words. He also places Himself under the authority of the Word of God, which is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). He allows the Word of God to become his judge so that his thoughts and intentions are disclosed and brought to light. It is a place of safety. 

God gave King David a glimpse of this eternal rest when he wrote Psalm 16. In verses 8-11, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” David refers to a present rest and a future rest. In either case, it is in God’s presence where his rest is found. Our great high priest is an ever-present reality to the one who makes His life and Word his priority.