“We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him” (Hebrews 4:14 ESV).
21st century readers who are unfamiliar with the Old Testament sacrificial system may find it difficult to grasp the position held by Jesus as our High Priest. The following excerpt offers a valuable summary of the High Priest’s role in the Old Testament sacrificial system and how it relates to our passage from Hebrews 4:14…
“Leviticus 16 describes the most important work of the high priest, which he accomplished on the annual Day of Atonement. On that day, after elaborate purification rituals, he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, the throne room of God. On that day blood was put on the ark and mercy seat to atone for all the sins of the nation.
There were two aspects to the atonement. Two goats were set apart as sin offerings. The first was slain and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. Aaron then took the other goat and laid his hands on it. He confessed over it ‘all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head’ (Lev. 16:21). Then this second goat would be sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of Israel away.
Before Aaron could offer these two goats for the sins of the people, however, he had to offer a bull for his own sins. The Great High Priest, by way of contrast, did not need to offer a preliminary sacrifice for his sins (Heb. 7:27). He was sinless. Moreover, the Great High Priest was not only the priest offering sacrifices to God, but he was the sacrifice himself. He was both the slain goat whose blood atoned for sin, and the scapegoat who carried away our sins forever.
An additional contrast is most important. Leviticus 16:34 states that on the Day of Atonement sacrifices had to be performed once a year. The blood of bulls and goats were only ceremonial, incapable of permanently removing the sins of the people. The atonement of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was not ceremonial. This perfect sacrifice literally was made once for all time.” (1)
So, unlike a high priest who could only approach God once a year at a specified time, we have a great High Priest in Christ “…who has gone to live with God in heaven” and thus “…is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34 HCSB).
(1) Sproul, R. C. (1994). Before the face of God: Book 3: A daily guide for living from the Old Testament (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House; Ligonier Ministries. Page 48.