Yes — Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron, which makes Him the high priest of all people.
Scripture says a priest arises after the similitude of Melchizedek, made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life. Les Feldick explains that Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God before Israel existed, so his order spans both Gentile and Jew. Christ entered heaven itself with His own blood and is now our interceding High Priest.
Hebrews 7:15-17 — The central passage identifying Jesus as a priest after the order of Melchizedek rather than the Aaronic order.
Hebrews 6:20 — Explicitly states Jesus was made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 9:11-12 — Describes Christ as high priest of good things to come, entering heaven with His own blood.
Genesis 14:18 — Introduces Melchizedek as king of Salem and priest of the most high God — the pattern for this order.
The Bible first introduces Melchizedek as "king of Salem" and "the priest of the most high God" (Genesis 14:18). Hebrews later uses him as the pattern for Christ's priesthood, stating that "after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Hebrews 7:15-16). Scripture also says Melchizedek was "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" and "abideth a priest continually" (Hebrews 7:3). Hebrews 6:20 says Jesus is the forerunner who has entered for us and was "made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Hebrews 9:11-12 then describes Christ as "an high priest of good things to come" who entered the holy place "by his own blood," having obtained "eternal redemption for us."
Les Feldick emphasizes that Christ's priesthood is not the Aaronic priesthood. Because Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, Les says He was not eligible to be a priest after the order of Aaron. Instead, Hebrews presents another priest who arises "after the similitude of Melchizedek" — made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life. Les explains that Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God at a time when Israel was not yet a nation. Melchizedek was therefore, in Les's words, "the high priest of all" — not just for the Jew, but for the Gentile world as well. Though Les identifies Melchizedek as a Gentile priest, he says this same Melchizedek was also the high priest of the Jew, so his order is universal. Because Christ is "made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:20), Les concludes that Christ is the high priest of every human being. Les connects this to Christ's actual work: Christ entered the very throne room of heaven with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us. Les then applies it personally, saying we can rest assured that we have a high priest interceding for us at the throne room of heaven — not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek.
Les Feldick explains that Jesus couldn't be a priest after the order of Aaron because He came out of the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The priesthood after Aaron was connected to the law of a carnal commandment, while the priesthood after Melchizedek is made after the power of an endless life.
Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God before Israel even became a nation, so Les says he was not just a priest of Israel but the high priest of all — both Gentile and Jew. In the same way, Christ is not merely Israel's high priest; He is the high priest of every human being.
Les points to Christ entering the very throne room of heaven with His own blood to obtain eternal redemption. He also connects Jesus' first ascension after His resurrection — when He told Mary, "I ascend unto my Father" — to His high priestly ministry. Because of this, Les says we can be confident that we have a high priest interceding for us at the throne room of heaven.
Les identifies Melchizedek as the king of Salem, the city of peace, and the priest of the Most High God. He was a Gentile priest because no Israel was on the scene yet. Les also describes him as a priest without beginning or end, without genealogy, without father or mother — the order after which Christ becomes our High Priest.
The First Ascension and Christ's High Priestly Role
Les shows Jesus telling Mary "touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father," calling this the first ascension — a necessary part of understanding Christ's high priestly ministry.
High Priest for Jew and Gentile
Melchizedek was king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, and the high priest of all — so Christ's priesthood after his order is not just for Israel.
Jesus Could Not Be an Aaronic Priest
Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, making Him ineligible for the Aaronic priesthood; He is made priest after the order of Melchizedek by the power of an endless life.
High Priest of Every Human Being
Melchizedek appeared long before Israel became a nation, so Christ as high priest after his order is the high priest of every human being, not just Israel.
The Endless Life Priesthood
Les connects Melchizedek's lack of beginning, end, and genealogy to the power of an endless life, which is the basis for Christ's eternal priesthood.
Melchizedek as Gentile Priest
Les calls Melchizedek a Gentile priest and representative of the Most High God, and cites Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus is made high priest forever after that order.
Entering Heaven's Throne Room With His Own Blood
Christ entered the very throne room of heaven with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption — showing He fulfilled the role of high priest of all.
Our Interceding High Priest Today
Les assures believers that we have a high priest interceding for us at the throne room of heaven — not after Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:18: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
The first introduction of the priest-king whose order Christ follows.
Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Explicitly names Jesus as high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:3: 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.
Shows the unique, eternal nature of Melchizedek's priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
The key verse showing a different priest arising after Melchizedek's pattern.
Hebrews 7:16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Contrasts the Aaronic law-based priesthood with the endless-life priesthood of Christ.
Hebrews 7:17: For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Scripture's direct testimony to the eternal nature of this priesthood.
Hebrews 9:11: 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;
Identifies Christ as the high priest of a heavenly, not earthly, tabernacle.
Hebrews 9:12: 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.
Shows Christ's high priestly work of entering heaven with His own blood.
John 20:17: Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Les connects this first ascension to Christ fulfilling His high priestly ministry.
No. Les Feldick explains that Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, so He was not eligible for the Aaronic priesthood. Instead, Hebrews says another priest arises after the order of Melchizedek, made not after a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life.
Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God before Israel even existed. Because his priesthood was not tied to Israel or the Levitical law, Christ's priesthood in that order makes Him the high priest of all people — both Jews and Gentiles.
According to Les Feldick, Jesus entered the very throne room of heaven with His own blood and obtained eternal redemption for us. He is now our interceding high priest at the throne of God.
Les Feldick says yes, so far as the symbolism is concerned. There was no Israel on the scene when Melchizedek served as priest of the Most High God, so he represents the Gentile aspect of the priesthood that Christ also fulfills.
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