The Great High Priest

The heart of the Epistle to the Hebrews is the priesthood of Christ. The old covenant had its priests, sons of Aaron, who offered unceasingly sacrifices for sin. The letter shows in Jesus the true high priest, whom these priests announced without equalling him.

A high priest who understands us

Jesus, entered into heaven as into a sanctuary, is the perfect high priest, able to bring us to God: “since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Hebrews 4:14 And this high priest is not distant: having shared our condition and known trial, he has compassion on our weaknesses: “he was tested in every way, as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 We may therefore draw near to God with confidence. His compassion is not a sympathy from afar: he paid for it in his own anguish. In the days of his mortal life, at Gethsemane, he offered his prayer with loud cries and tears, and, Son though he was, he learned obedience through what he suffered. “Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings.” Hebrews 5:8 The high priest who understands us first passed through the trial to the very end.

A priest according to the order of Melchizedek

The priesthood of Christ comes not from the line of Aaron, but from an older and higher order. The letter joins it to Melchizedek, that mysterious king and priest who, in Genesis, blessed Abraham and offered him bread and wine, without his origin or his end being known, a figure of a priesthood without beginning or term: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:17 Christ is that eternal priest, whose priesthood does not pass to successors. The letter reads the figure of Christ even in his name. Melchizedek means first “king of righteousness,” and he is king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” “His name means first "king of righteousness," and then he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace."” Hebrews 7:2 The priest who blessed Abraham already bore the twofold title of Christ, who gives righteousness and peace.

Ever living to intercede

Because he dies no more, Christ remains priest for ever, and his intercession never ceases: “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25 Where the ancient priests died and were replaced, one priest remains, living for ever before the Father, bearing his own in his prayer.