The Importance of the High Priest

Exodus 28:31–35 (ESV) “You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear. 33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. 35 And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.


Exodus 28:42–43 (ESV) You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs; 43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.

The job of the high priest was the most dangerous job in Israel. He took his life in his hands as he approached the Holy God of the universe. He was to be dressed exactly as described and covered in garments according to the plan from Moses which he has received from God himself. 

The interesting thing about Israel's order of worship is the amount of emphasis on the High Priest of the nation. Other nations had a priesthood but the king was in charge. Not in Israel. Before Israel had a king (which they would later ask for), God instituted a High Priest - which He commanded here.

This of it: This fledgling nation of former slaves were not to appoint a king but rather have a man who would stand before God on their behalf and intercede for their sins. He was to be royally and meticulously dressed, follow exact procedure and be set apart from among his brothers for this sacred and hallowed responsibility. 

Why? Because their confidence before their enemies was not rooted in a military strategist but rather in the acceptable offering for their sins before God! He would fight for them because He accepted because of the High Priests works on their behalf. His work in regards to their sin made possible their confidence before their enemies!

Secondly, they would have a priest who would make them right with God before they had a King to serve as leader... more on that in a moment.

Of course we know, the reason the Old Testament focuses so much on the High Priest of Israel is because He foreshadows the true and final High Priest, Jesus who bore the sins of the world on Himself before a holy God!

Notice the garment Jesus wore as He died:

John 19:2 (ESV) And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

John 19:23 (ESV) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,

Jesus on the cross fulfilled the High Priestly duties before God on our behalf so that we might be made acceptable before Him. The difference is that His sacrifice is final, once for all and need not be repeated year after year!

Now in Christ, we who were unfit and unacceptable can come to God boldly in Christ! We can have our consciences cleansed by His wonderful mercy toward us! We have no reason to fear for God in Christ endured the judgment for us! We come to God because Jesus took away the dividing wall of hostility between us.

Now we have confidence not just before God but before our enemies! What have we to fear! If God is for us, who can be against us!

The amazing thing is that just as Israel in the Old Covenant had a Priest before a crowned King, so too Christ became our great High Priest before He returns as Sovereign King. That means before we can expect people to obey the King, we need to introduce them to their High Priest. Only the heart changed by God's mercy in Christ can ever truly submit to the authority of Christ.

We know in Israel that under the leadership of Eli, the High Priesthood became utterly corrupted. It is no coincidence that once that office was defiled, the people searched for a King other than God! Losing sight of God's holiness and mercy was the fastest way for Israel to depart from His leadership and governance - subjecting them to their enemies!

Yet in Christ - we have a perfect High Priest who never fails and is never corrupted! Therefore we can rest assured our hearts will not fail before Him because He never casts us out! We are His heart and soul... forever changed and made His own.

Hebrews 7:24–25 (ESV) He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. 25 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.

Amen!