For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for me in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. (2) He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. (3) Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. (4) And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”
(6) As He also says in another place:
“You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek“
The main theme of the Book of Hebrews is that the knowledge of the superiority of Jesus Christ as our High Priest should shore up the drifting believer in his/her Christian faith. Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who wanted to reverse their course to escape persecution from their countrymen.
Christ is superior over the Judaic system. The center of Judaism was the divinely appointed priesthood. Now Jesus Christ is the High Priest, appointed by God. Jesus once and for all time has atoned for us through His sacrifice of blood. He alone and forever makes intercession for us to God.
To understand the significance of this central theme of the Book of Hebrews we need a clearer understanding of the absolute holiness and majesty of God and the sinful nature and depravity of man. This understanding is provided by the Old Testament which enables us to understand the New Testament. The O.T. confronts us with the reality of human failures and needs while providing us with the sense of the sovereignty, majesty and power of God. When considering these two points, the importance of sacrifices and priests emerges. Jesus is the eternal High Priest who entered the Holy Place with His own blood. Our High Priest fulfills the requirements of the priesthood in His work; His identification with the people as He was also true man; and His appointment by God.
If men are not sinners separated from a Holy God, then there is no need for priests. Every Jew knew that he desperately needed a mediator between himself and God and the High Priest was that God ordained mediator. Christianity has to do with our fundamental alienation from God because of our sins and the work of Jesus Christ who offered Himself as the perfect final sacrifice for our sins. The whole priesthood of Jesus is to lead us boldly and joyfully to draw near to God and live in fellowship with Him.