Let’s examine the Jewish priesthood. I want to show how it needed to be replaced by a more perfect sacrifice. That perfect sacrifice is the High Priest and King, Jesus, Who reigns in Heaven today and offers atonement for all—to both Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14–18).
Introduction: A.D. 70
It all began on the fourteenth day of Nisan, A.D. 70, the period the Jews called the Passover. The city was brimming with Jews and proselytes from all over the world. They had traveled to Jerusalem, the Holy City, for their once a year pilgrimage to partake of the Feast.
The city of Jerusalem came under attack by the Roman Empire during this time. The Zealots, a radical group of Jews who resisted Roman rule, were considered the primary cause of the invasion. By the seventy-second day of the siege, three of the remaining walls were taken, the Agrippa and the Antona being the chief of these. Twelve days later (84th day) the sacrifices in the Temple ceased. On the ninth day of Ab, the 105th day of the siege, the temple and lower city were burnt.
In the destroying of the temple by the Romans, two significant events occurred. First, prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus had said that not one stone would be left upon another (Matthew 24). Second, the lineage of the priesthood was terminated forever. Without the records to show lineage, no descendant of Aaron could prove his right to offer sacrifice or enter the Holy of Holies. God foreknew it would be necessary to destroy the records. He knew that the Jews would reject His Son and would continue to want to serve God as they had for thousands of years through the priesthood with its animal sacrifices. It was necessary that the Temple along with the priestly lineage to be destroyed.
It being known that God is Supreme, the Jews of the first century, as well as those Jews today, must search His Scriptures to determine their course. God had protected Israel and their records through much disobedience for many years. Now, after the destruction of the Temple and the records of the lineage of Aaron were destroyed, there must of necessity be a new (better) covenant with the people of God. God would not leave His people without a way of reconciliation (Hebrews 8:6).
Patriarchal System
In the beginning, God communed with man and all things were good (Genesis 1:28–3:7). After sin entered the world through Adam, we notice the necessity of sacrifice for man’s sake. This first sacrifice, God Himself made for man. God sacrificed animals to make coats for man’s cover (Genesis 3:21). This, no doubt, can be seen as a type of Christ who covers our sins today and makes us acceptable in God’s presence. As we continue in history, we are brought to see the unacceptable sacrifice of Cain (Genesis 4:5).
From the very beginning, we can note it was necessary for God to counsel and punish man in regard to his responsibilities concerning sacrifice and atonement. Throughout the patriarchal age, we can see that the head of each household was responsible for sacrifice to God in acknowledgment of their separation (Job 1:5). As households grew to be tribes, the head of each became the king. By virtue of their offering sacrifices and their kingship, they were viewed as a King-Priest.
Priest of the Most High God
In the person of Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest to the Most High God (Genesis 14:18), we get our first glimpse of a type of mediator. This King-Priest predated the Levitical priesthood by more than 600 years. Abram, in whose seed all nations would be blessed, gave the priest tithes of all (Genesis 14:20). The writer of Hebrews recorded that the Levite priest gave tithes to the King-Priest outside of the Law while still in the loins of their father Abraham (Hebrews 7:4–10). It is further noted that the priest offered Abram bread and wine, a type of memorial of sacrifice. Melchizedek, a Gentile King-Priest, a man without beginning of days or mother or father (Hebrews 7:3), was given reverence in a time when all evidence was that the manner of communion with God should be through the heads of families. This is even a clearer foreshadowing of a Savior to come (Hebrews 5:6–10). We will further look at the comparisons between Jesus and Melchizedek later in this study.
As God’s people grew into a nation, it became necessary to set up a sacrificial order. A hereditary order was established to supply the nation with priests. Later, it became necessary to set apart a different family to supply the kings.
Levitical Priesthood
The Levitical Priesthood of whom Aaron was the first High Priest was instituted by God as a way for His chosen people as a whole to be reconciled to Him through sacrifice and obedience (Exodus 28:1, 29–30). It was no longer necessary for the head of each household to offer sacrifice for his family. This priesthood was to bring God’s people to Him as a nation. The office of the priest was to follow in the family of Aaron from generation to generation.
The priest was to come from the tribe of Levi and from the family of Aaron. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites could be priests. The appointing of the tribe of Levi fulfilled prophecy. Jacob had prophesied that his son Levi would be scattered among his brothers (Genesis 49:5–7). This was shown true when the Levites were commissioned to perform priestly duties; the priests resided in 48 cities throughout Israel (Joshua 21). The first enumeration of the Levites was 22,000, which was nearly equal to all the first born of the other tribes. In the lineage of the High Priest, the first born son replaced the father. It was God’s purpose to make this a type of the Savior. The first born of the dead rose to reign and offer intercession for us today through His own sacrifice (Hebrews 1:1–3; 7:25; Romans 8:34).
All items of worship in the priesthood foreshadowed the Christ (purifying of the High Priest, the sacrificial shedding of blood for remission of sin and the sprinkling of the blood on the Mercy Seat for atonement). The Levitical priesthood, however, was to have an end (Hebrews 7:18–19, 23–28). Even David (Psalm 110:4) foreshadowed the necessity of a priest after the order of Melchizedek (apart from the Law). When all was fulfilled and the Messiah had come, there would no longer be the need for the sacrifice of animals for atonement. A perfect sacrifice and perfect priest would come and replace the former priesthood (Hebrews 9).
New Testament Priesthood
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the perseverance of the lineage of the priesthood. As we enter the New Testament, we see some definite changes taking place in regard to Temple activities. Annas, the former High Priest, had been replaced by his son-in-law, Caiaphas. These men were put into position, not according to their rights by lineage, but by the Roman government. The Sanhedrin and the inception of the synagogue began to play crucial roles in refocusing the Jewish mind on the idea of a Priest/Ruler. The Sanhedrin was seen as the supreme political, religious and judicial body in Palestine during the time of the Roman Empire. The High Priest was both the leader of the Sanhedrin and the presiding authority over the Temple. In light of this, we see the Temple in the first century not only as the dwelling place of God but also the center of His civil law. Even though the Sanhedrin was limited in power by the Roman government, it was not without certain Roman corruptions to include taxation, empirical worship pressures and the exercising of traditions of culture.
After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, the influence and the authority of the priesthood began to decline. Even though the priests could still collect the heave offering and tithes, their income was greatly reduced. The synagogue soon became the place of refuge and study for the Jews. After the destruction of the Temple, the sages (rabbis) interpreted the law of the Pentateuch, as well as the traditional oral laws called the halakoth. Even though we have evidence that the Jews continued to teach the Law, we have no evidence that they continued to offer sacrifices. Atonement had ceased for the Jews.
Jesus: High Priest and King
It was approximately forty years after the death of Jesus that the Temple was destroyed. During this time, the church had grown throughout the regions of Judea, Asia and points west. The church preached everywhere that the same Jesus whom the Jews handed over to the Gentiles (wicked/unclean hands, Acts 2:23) was the Christ Who now reigns in Heaven with God. The Jews would not listen to this (what they considered to be blasphemy), for they perceived Jesus not to be equal with God and persecuted Christians for suggesting such.
Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets of God delivered the message of a coming Messiah. Isaiah was considered the Messianic prophet, for he prophesied that from the nation of Israel a great leader would come to rule over the people. It is surprising, however, that with the shadow of forgiveness in the priesthood that the Messiah was never viewed as High Priest. It was not until the Christian era that God purposed to deliver to the people, through the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, that this Messiah was indeed the greatest of all priests.
In Jesus, we see the perfect Sacrifice; He knew no sin. In Jesus, we see the perfect Mediator; He endured the hardships of the flesh as we do. In Jesus, we see the perfect Priest; He lives forever, offering atonement to God. It was the writer of the Hebrews letter who best settles the issue of the purpose and the function of the risen Jesus (Hebrews 7:19–28).
Jesus is perfect, unlike those who try to keep the Law. Therefore, He is qualified to enter in and make purification for the people. Because of His descent, He is unable to offer atonement on the earth according to the Law, and therefore, He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20; 7:14; 8:4).
Jesus typifies Melchizedek in that He had no earthly father, and He is the High Priest of God outside the Law. Since Jesus is the High Priest, He calls all men, even of the Law, to come to Him for atonement. Melchizedek was also called the king of Salem (Peace). Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). He sits on the right hand of God on High (Hebrews 1:1–3). He has all authority in Heaven and on the Earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus’ covenant is, indeed, better in that it has true forgiveness of sins, whereas, the Law could only expose sin.
With the sacrificial death of Jesus on earth, we see the end of the earthly priesthood, because now, we have a more excellent sacrifice in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 9:15–17).
To the Jew, I say, “We have the end to animal sacrifices.” To the heathen I say, “You may now enter into reconciliation with God.” To the righteous of God, I say, “Stand fast in the ways of the Lord, for He will return. And with Him He brings salvation to those who watch and pray.”
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:27–28). This passage is a beautiful likeness drawn from the procedure of the high priest of the Mosaic system. While he was in the Tabernacle (or Temple) performing the services for the people, they were on the outside waiting for him. After the services were complete, he would come out and bless the waiting throng. Likewise, the faithful servants of God who are looking for Christ will see Him come again; without sin means He will not come to make another sacrifice for sin. When He comes it will be unto salvation, that is, to complete the salvation of those who will be faithfully looking for Him.
May God continue to bless you in your studies of His Word. Each day, we are to watch and wait, knowing that our Lord has ascended into the heavens and continues to intercede when we sin, covering us before God.
