High Priest

Starting in Chapter two of Hebrews, and throughout the book, the author refers to Jesus as our High Priest. If you're not exactly sure just what the high priest was under the Mosaic law, here's a brief refresher course, with Bible citations for those who want to explore deeper.

HIGH PRIEST — Aaron was the first who was solemnly set apart to this office (Ex. 29:7; 30:23; Lev. 8:12). He wore a peculiar dress, which on his death passed to his successor in office (Ex. 29:29, 30). Besides those garments which he wore in common with all priests, there were four that were peculiar to himself as high priest:

(1.) The “robe” of the ephod, all of blue, of “woven work,” worn immediately under the ephod. It was without seam or sleeves. The hem or skirt was ornamented with pomegranates and golden bells, seventy-two of each in alternate order. The sounding of the bells intimated to the people in the outer court the time when the high priest entered into the holy place to burn incense before the Lord (Ex. 28).

(2.) The “ephod” consisted of two parts, one of which covered the back and the other the breast, which were united by the “curious girdle.” It was made of fine twined linen, and ornamented with gold and purple. Each of the shoulder-straps was adorned with a precious stone, on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved. This was the high priest’s distinctive vestment (1 Sam. 2:28; 14:3; 21:9; 23:6, 9; 30:7).

(3.) The “breastplate of judgment” (Ex. 28:6–12, 25–28; 39:2–7) of “cunning work.” It was a piece of cloth doubled, of one span square. It bore twelve precious stones, set in four rows of three in a row, which constituted the Urim and Thummim (q.v.). These stones had the names of the twelve tribes engraved on them. When the high priest, clothed with the ephod and the breastplate, inquired of the Lord, answers were given in some mysterious way by the Urim and Thummim (1 Sam. 14:3, 18, 19; 23:2, 4, 9, 11,12; 28:6; 2 Sam. 5:23).

(4.) The “mitre,” or upper turban, a twisted band of eight yards of fine linen coiled into a cap, with a gold plate in front, engraved with “Holiness to the Lord,” fastened to it by a ribbon of blue.

To the high priest alone it was permitted to enter the holy of holies, which he did only once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, for “the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest” (Heb. 9; 10). Wearing his gorgeous priestly vestments, he entered the temple before all the people, and then, laying them aside and assuming only his linen garments in secret, he entered the holy of holies alone, and made expiation, sprinkling the blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat, and offering up incense. Then resuming his splendid robes, he reappeared before the people (Lev. 16). Thus the wearing of these robes came to be identified with the Day of Atonement.

The office, dress, and ministration of the high priest were typical of the priesthood of our Lord (Heb. 4:14; 7:25; 9:12, etc.).

It is supposed that there were in all eighty-three high priests, beginning with Aaron (B.C. 1657) and ending with Phannias (A.D. 70). At its first institution the office of high priest was held for life (but comp. 1 Kings 2:27), and was hereditary in the family of Aaron (Num. 3:10). The office continued in the line of Eleazar, Aaron’s eldest son, for two hundred and ninety-six years, when it passed to Eli, the first of the line of Ithamar, who was the fourth son of Aaron. In this line it continued to Abiathar, whom Solomon deposed, and appointed Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, in his stead (1 Kings 2:35), in which it remained till the time of the Captivity. After the Return, Joshua, the son of Josedek, of the family of Eleazar, was appointed to this office. After him the succession was changed from time to time under priestly or political influences.

Old Testament quotations in Hebrews Chapter 2

Psalm 8:5-7--------------------------------------Hebrews 2:6-8

Psalm 22:22-------------------------------------Hebrews 2:12

Isaiah 8:17 Isaiah 12:2 2 Samuel 22:3-----------Hebrews 2:13

Isaiah 8:18---------------------------------------Hebrews 2:13

Isaiah 41:8-9-------------------------------------Hebrews 2:16

Hebrews 2

We started chapter 2 of Hebrews on Wed. and only got through the first two verses. (They were very deep verses. LOL)

Next Wed. on October 28th, we will take up in  Hebrews 2 where we left off. Hope to see you there.

More on Angels

Here is a good article on how angles were understood by first century Jews.

Angels In Judaism
Angels were the object of much discussion among Jews between 200 bc and 400 ad. Although some of what they believed was rooted in the Old Testament, a great deal of speculation also went into the writings of the rabbis.

First-century Jews believed that angels were the highest beings in creation next to God (who was thought to be surrounded by innumerable angels). The Jews were convinced that such angels were the primary instruments of bringing God's Word to men and of working out His will in the physical universe. Both the Hebrew and Greek words for "angel" simply meant "messenger" and were used as such in secular contexts (a military courier was called an angelos in Greek).

Many Jews believed that the angels acted as God's "senate" or "supreme council," and that God did nothing without consulting this council. These Jews interpreted the "us" in "Let us make man in our image" (Genesis 1:26) as a reference to the deliberations of the angelic council.

According to Jewish thought, God assigned to angels various tasks as operators of the universe. Two hundred angels controlled the movements of the stars. Another mighty angel managed the seas, while others superintended the frost, dew, rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning. Still others were the wardens of hell and torturers of the damned. There were even recording angels who in order to assist God in His future judgment of humanity—wrote down every word men spoke.

It was commonly believed that the Law of Moses was brought from God to Israel by angels. This was the primary reason why the Jews so revered them. They believed that the angels were actually the mediators of their covenant with God, and that the angels were charged with ministering the blessings of the covenant to them. It was in this context that the writer to the Hebrews set out to prove Christ's superiority over angels.

What are these Angels you speak of?

One cannot help but be intriqued by the attention paid to Angels in the first two Chapters of Hebrews.

No other NT book seems to give angels the attention or significance these chapters in Hebrews do. In order to brush up a bit on their background in scripure and understand these opening verses of Hebrews better, I've created a document with the entries for "Angels" from some very good Bible encyclopedias. This should tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Angels.  Check it out.

Intro to Hebrews

We introduced ourselves to the book of Hebrew's last meeting. It you haven't already, you can review our online introduction to Hebrews summary at the link listed on the right. Next week we will be starting Chapter 1 of Hebrews. Focus on the first 4 verses and consider if it doesn't remind you of the poetic introduction and testamony to Christ of one of the other NT books. There is an awful lot in those first four verses so study them a bit. Ask:

• What has occured long ago?
• What has occured "in these last days?
• What is the relationship between Jesus and God?
• What is the relationship between Jesus and the Universe?
• Where is Jesus now?