A High Priest Forever

December 15, 2019

A High Priest Forever

In the Old Testament, the High Priest of Israel was a revered position in the Levitical Priesthood, as he would enter into the Holy Place every year to make intercession for the nation of Israel and animal sacrifices to cover their sins. The High Priest would have to be covered by animal sacrifices to enter the Holy Place where the Spirit of Yahweh was, or he would be killed on the spot. No sin can be present before the LORD.

Yet, it appears that Jesus is also a High Priest after the Order of Melchizadek forever, which appears to be a part of the New Covenant Priesthood (Jeremiah 31:31).

The Nature of Yeshua Jesus

This scripture indicates Jesus existed before He was born by Mary in the virgin birth. Holy scripture seems to confirm this idea that Jesus was in the beginning, before all things:

Colossians 1:13-17 KJV - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

What is interesting is that Jesus seems to be the mysterious High Priest Melchizedek/Melchisedec:

Hebrews 7:1-3 KJV - For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; [2] To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; [3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

This scripture shows us that Melchisedec is the King of Peace and has no father, mother, nor beginning or ending. Let us draw a comparison with these scripture passages:

Isaiah 9:6 KJV - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The above passage shows us that Jesus is the Everlasting Father, meaning He has no beginning nor ending, nor Father or Mother, just as YHVH is without beginning. Jesus is also the Prince/King of Peace. Now in Revelation 1, we see that Jesus is the Everlasting One:

Revelation 1:7-8 KJV - Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. [8] "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

New Covenant Priesthood

In Hebrews, it clearly shows Jesus is the High Priest of the new covenant between man and God after the Order of Melchizedek:

Hebrews 5:4-10 KJV - And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. [5] So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. [6] As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. [7] Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; [8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; [9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; [10] Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV - But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The Chief Cornerstone

We know Jesus is the High Priest of the new covenant, and will smite the nations with a rod of iron when He returns (Jude 1:14-15) to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4) on earth:

Psalm 110:4-6 KJV - The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. [5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. [6] He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

Jesus Himself says that He is the Lord that David is referring to in Psalms 110, which is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek:

Matthew 22:41-46 KJV - While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. [43] He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, [44] The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? [45] If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? [46] And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

The Word "Melchizedek" is translated from the root word Strong's Number H4442 and means:

"King of Salem and priest of the Most High God to whom Abram paid tithe after the battle he fought to free Lot; 'the order of Melchizedek' the order of the priesthood to which Christ belongs."

Would it be safe to say that Jesus/Yeshua appeared unto Abram (Abraham) as the King of Salem long long ago? See this passage from Genesis:

Genesis 14:18-20 KJV - And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. [19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: [20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Jesus Himself told us He knew Abraham, even though He was born in the flesh centuries afterwards:

John 8:56-58 KJV - Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

For more information regarding the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and Old and New Testament paralles, please see some of these articles:

• Glimpses of Salvation

• Crossing The Jordan

• Chief Cornerstone

• A Christophany?
• Father, Son, Holy Spirit
• The Serpent Bite
• Lamb that was Slain
• Unleavened Bread
• Moedims - Appointed Times
• Water and Spirit
• Holy of Holies
• A Shepherd Boy
• Victory at Golgatha
• Stone of Help

• The Food of Death

Covenant Parallels

God YHVH is the Most High God of the Old Testament (same as the Jewish Tanakh). God YHVH is three in One (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) as written in Deuteronomy 6:4 and 1 John 5:7.

God used Moses to begin a covenant with the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and brought them out of Egypt through the good of the Passover Lamb just as Jesus brought us out of the captivity of our sinful flesh and the deceptions of the world through the new birth of the Holy Spirit (John 3, 17).

Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the commandments of the LORD God, just as Jesus (God the Son) came down from the bosom of the Father, the Mountain of the LORD, to give us the new commands under the New Testament (covenant) sealed by His own blood atonement sacrifice (Isaiah 53).

God used a High Priest under the Levitical Priesthood under Moses in order to make intercession for the Children of Israel every year as well as atonement of sins through animal sacrifices. Likewise, Jesus in Heaven makes intercession for us as the High Priest forever and died for our sins on the cross after the Order of Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness. Please read Hebrews chapter 5 through 13 for more information on this.

Just as Aaron, the first High Priest of the Old Covenant, wore a gold breastplate with 12 stones that represented the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel) and the 12 tribes of Israel... So are we shining jewels in the Crown of Jesus the New High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek where He is an eternal High Priest over us forever. Hallelujah!

Malachi 3:16-18 KJV - Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. [17] And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. [18] Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

It is said that coal under great pressure and heat is transformed into a diamond. Likewise, as the Christian is surrounded on all sides, and the weight of the world seems to crush us, and the heat of fiery trials nearly consumes us, we begin to shine bright and be transformed by the Holy Spirit in us so that we may glorify our Father in Heaven.

Just as Jesus (God embodied) surrendered His will to the Father, so are we to be Holy as He (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is Holy and follow the New Testament commands. We must study to show ourselves to be approved unto God, and be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer of the Word! We must endure until the end and be offered as a Bride without spot, wrinkle, or blemish to the Bridegroom Jesus! Unspotted by the sins of the flesh, the desires of the world, and the will of man, but sanctified by the Bible and His Spirit!

The Bride is the Church of Christ and the Old Testament Saints and Prophets who have accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior:

Revelation 21:9-14 KJV - And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. [10] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, [11] Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; [12] And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: [13] On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. [14] And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.