“The Messiah, is a priest who has “passed through the heavens” (4:14) yet who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He has been “tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin” (v.15). Hebrews says this because our priest is true human and true God. He has two natures, undivided, unconfused in one person (Definition of Chalcedon, 451 AD). Jesus is the greater than David and Solomon (Luke 11:31).”

In part 2 we considered Christ’s prophetic office. The second aspect of Jesus’ threefold office (triplex munus), of his saving work and office that we need to consider is his office and work as our priest. The first time the word priest appears in Scripture it is in connection to that mysterious figure Melchizedek. Genesis 14:18 records, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High)”(ESV). Abraham recognized Melchizedek’s two offices (king and priest) by receiving his blessing by giving him a tithe (a tenth) of everything (v.20). A king is a ruler (more about that in the next post) but a priest is an intercessor. Abraham was right to recognize Melchizedek as a priest “of God Most High.” In Scripture Melchizedek becomes the paradigm for an eternal priesthood. Yahweh says to Adon:

Yahweh has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4 revised from the ESV)

For the reader of Scripture who is aware of the extensive teaching about the Aaronic priesthood (e.g., Exodus 31:8; 40:11–15; Leviticus [all]) that Yahweh should confer upon Adon a Melchizedekian priesthood, rather than an Aaronic priesthood, might be a surprise. Still, we learn from Aaron what a priest is and does. He receives sacrificial offerings (Lev 1:5–9). He diagnoses ceremonial uncleanness and applies the appropriate stipulations (e.g., Lev 13:1–4). They minister at the tabernacle, i.e., the place of meeting with God (Nu 3:5–8). They were responsible for the ritual purity and holiness of the congregation (Nu 25:6–9; Lev 5; 13). He makes atonement for the sins of the people (Lev 4). He represents God’s people in the most holy place in the temple. The pastor to the Hebrew Christians reminds them (and us):

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was (Heb 5:1–4).

It was essential that a priest be like those whom he represented:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Heb 2:17–18).

According to Peter in Acts 2 and according to Hebrews 5, Jesus is our high priest but his was not an Aaronic priesthood, because all the Aaronic priests died and were replaced by a successor. Jesus has an eternal priesthood. He has no successor. Like Melchizedek, his coming and going were mysterious. Like Melchizedek his was also a king (more about this next time). When Yahweh said to Adon (Ps 110:4) “You are a priest forever” he was not speaking about David, who is dead and buried. He was not even speaking about Melchizedek, who was only a man. No, in Ps. 110 we’re given a window into an eternal covenant between God the Father and God the Son, two distinct persons. In which God the Father gave to the Son a people to redeem and represent and the Son accepted that people and pledged to conquer their enemies, to redeem them, and to represent them eternally (Ps 110). Melchizedek was a mysterious figure worthy of honor but he was not God the Son in eternal communion with the Father. That was someone else.

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Read Also: He Is The Savior And We Are The Saved Part 4