For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men 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 is called by God, just as Aaron was. (5) 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 author of Hebrews is unknown but his first audience was Jewish Christians who were contemplating reverting to Judaism to escape persecution from both Jews and Gentiles. The entire letter is Christological and in our verses today the author contrasts the qualities of the Jewish High Priest with the superiority of Jesus Christ as our once and for all High Priest – we need to understand and appreciate the importance of priests and their work.

The Old Testament provides us with the sense of the sovereignty of God and confronts us with the reality of human failure and does this by showing the need for Old Testament sacrifice. The High Priest offered gifts and sacrifices on behalf of men in things pertaining to God. He was called by God and the first High Priest, Aaron, the brother of Moses, is identified here by name; he was a fellow sinner and so therefore sympathetic. The fact that atonement was made once each year for sin points to the inadequacy of the Old Covenant and the need for a perfect High Priest – the point here is the Jewish priesthood is fulfilled in Christ Jesus who was called by the eternal purpose of God and offered Himself as the perfect once and for all sacrifice.

Jesus was appointed by God – not in the limited sense of Aaronic priests. In Him are the historical and united roles of king and priest. Because Jesus was true man who can sympathize with our weakness as He was tempted in all things but was without sin. The acceptable work of our perfect High Priest means He is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him – eternal salvation in contrast to the temporary forgiveness of the Old Testament – salvation not by works but by faith. If the wrath of God against sin is so dreadful that He should demand such a sacrifice of His Son, we need need to race to embrace our Savior.