Heb.7:26,27 – For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.
Have you ever thought about the perfect nature of God and the perfection of His plans? I was reading through Leviticus recently and was struck by the details in the law. The sacrifices are offered precisely in a certain way and the precision of the priests work was critical. In all their effort and striving to get it right for hundreds of years it was still imperfect and served only as a reminder of our sinfulness, our need of a savior, and the spectacular nature of our perfect God. The ministry of Old Testament priests pointed us to a better priesthood, a better covenant with better promises. Jesus was the perfect priest and also became the perfect offering for sin. The Old Testament priests offered animal sacrifices daily, Christ offered Himself once and for all as the spotless and perfect Lamb of God. Here is how Murray describes this passage.
“For the law, this is the conclusion of the whole, appoints men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointed a Son, perfected for evermore. The law was a preparation, to waken the need and the hope, of that true, supernatural, heavenly communion with God, which should be, not in words or wishes, but in the power of the eternal life. What the law could not do, God hath done, appointing as High Priest, the Son, perfected for evermore.”
Paul said that the law existed to reveal our sinfulness and point us to the only solution, Jesus Himself. It is quite amazing if you consider the extremes the Lord went to to give us the Old Testament law with all of its amazing sacrifices and detail pointing us to Christ. The ark points us to Christ, also the mercy seat, the burnt offerings, the sin offerings, the scapegoat, and even the doves and the heifer all point to our perfect high priest and His perfect offering for sin. The altar of incense, the brazen altar, the laver, the candlestick, and even the veil are shadows or emblems of our heavenly priest. Take advantage of His priesthood, draw near with confidence enter into His glorious presence.
