For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26)

In our first post in this series (“A Better Word than Abel“), we talked about why a New Covenant was needed. Beginning with this post, we’re going to look closer at the “better” word that Christ’s blood speaks and why the New Covenant is so much better. In this post, we’ll look at how Jesus is a better high priest and mediator than Moses and Aaron.

Before we begin, we should note that Moses was called and appointed by God, as was Aaron. God said of Moses, “[He is] faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord” (Numbers 12:7-8). And Aaron, according to the text, was also a faithful high priest–except for the golden calf business and ganging up with Miriam to oppose Moses in Numbers 12. They weren’t bad, especailly compared to the later rulers of Israel and Judah. Yet, the people needed things that Moses, Aaron, and the Old Covenant could not give. Thus, they needed a better high priest and mediator. So what makes Jesus better? (I mean besides being the Son of God and all.)

A New Order of Priesthood

As we know, Aaron was the first high priest of Israel, appointed by God. His sons succeeded him, and the Aaronic line continued. No one could be appointed a priest unless he came from that line. According to the Bible, however, Jesus did not come from that line, since He descended from the tribe of Judah.

For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Hebrews 7:13-14)

If Jesus is not descended from Aaron, then how is He a priest? The author of Hebrews tells us that He has “become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:20). Melchizedek? Who is this guy? It’s a fair question. We don’t read much about him. Here’s the story.

We read in Genesis 14 that Abram’s nephew had been kidnapped. Abram (later called Abraham by God) gathered his 318 men and pursued the kidnappers, defeated them, and rescued his nephew Lot. Then we are told,

After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:17-20)

In terms of his story, that’s all we know about Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews gives us a little more information when he writes,

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. (Hebrews 7:1-3)

Notice that the writer says Melchizedek “resembled the Son of God.” He is calling this priest a type of Christ. He points forward to Christ. We’re also told that Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek. Well, look at what that means according ot the author of Hebrews:

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. (Hebrews 7:4-10)

His point here is that Levi, the ancestor of Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel, paid tithes (through his ancestor Abram) to a greater high priest.

In addition, the Aaronic priesthood terminates at death; a new high priest is chosen. The writer of Hebrews says that Melchizedek “is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life.” Now, he likely did have a mother and father, and did die. Yet what we know about him seems like he has no beginning or end. In that way he “resembles the Son of God [and] continues a priest forever.” In the same manner, the author tells us that Christ continues as a priest forever. He is of a greater order.

A Perfect Priest

Not only is Jesus from a greater order, but He, unlike the priest of the Old Covenant, is spotless and perfect. The author of Hebrews tells us this,

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:26-28)

Contrary to earthly high priests who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus had no sin to atone for. His sacrifice, as we will discuss later, was wholly devoted to our salvation. The Bible affirms that Jesus was sinless, and thus had no sins to atone for:

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9)

[Jesus is] one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (1 John 3:5)

So, unlike Levi, Aaron, and every other High Priest under the Old Covenant, Jesus was perfect; He was spotless. In fact, as we’ll discuss later, He was the spotless lamb, the fulfillment of every sacrifice made under the law.

Tempted but Blameless

We metioned Hebrews 4:15, which says that Jesus is without sin. Now we’ll look at the rest of that passage and why it’s important to us.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. . . . The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 4:15–16, 23-25)

Three things stand out here. First, Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we have been. He can say, “I understand; I know what it’s like.” Second, though He was tempted, at no time did He give in to the temptation. He remained fully and completely devoted in trust and obedience to the Father. Third, because Jesus is a priest forever, He always intercedes for us, and is able to completely save those call on His name (“save to the uttermost”).

So, we can come to Him without fear in our times of temptation, because He knows what it’s like. We can come to Him not only for understanding but also help. And what is it that helps us? Grace. Notice that the author says we “receive mercy and find grace to help.” It is God’s mercy and grace that helps us in those times of struggle. And He offers it freely, not begrudgingly. Thus, we can draw near in confidence. Not confidence in ourselves, mind you, but confidence in the love, grace, and power of the one who became the Greatest High Priest.