Jesus fulfills the role of High Priest for all humanity, not in Aaron's Levitical order but in the order of Melchizedek, entering heaven to present His own blood for our eternal redemption.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus' priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, who was the high priest of the Gentiles before Israel became a nation. Because Jesus came from Judah, He was not eligible to be a priest under the Levitical law of Aaron. Instead, He is a priest forever after the power of an endless life, and as our High Priest He has passed into the heavens, presenting His own blood in the heavenly tabernacle.
Hebrews 7:17 — This verse states that Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, which is the foundation of the answer.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is our High Priest, but not after the order of Aaron. Hebrews 7:14-16 explains that our Lord sprang out of Juda, and that this tribe was not the priestly tribe of Levi. Instead, the Bible says that Jesus is made a priest "not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." Hebrews 7:17 confirms that He is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 9:11-12 shows that Christ, as a high priest of good things to come, entered into a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, and not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood. Thus, He entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 4:14-15 adds that we have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, who is not one that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus' high priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. Melchizedek, who appeared to Abraham in Genesis, was the high priest of the Most High God and was not a priest of Israel or of the tribe of Levi. He was a high priest of all, covering the whole spectrum of the human race. Because we Gentiles could not approach God through a Jewish high priest, there had to be another priest after the order of Melchizedek. Les explains that Christ's priesthood rests on the power of an endless life, not on a carnal commandment. As our High Priest, Christ passed into the heavens and presented His own blood in the Holy of Holies in heaven, once for all time, obtaining eternal redemption for us. This also gives believers assurance that we have someone constantly aware of our moment-by-moment existence—a high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
Les Feldick explains that Israel's high priests had to come from the tribe of Levi, beginning with Aaron. But the Lord Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, so He was not eligible to serve as a priest in the Levitical order. Furthermore, since we Gentiles couldn't approach God through a Jewish high priest, there had to be another priest after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek appeared long before Israel became a nation and was the high priest of the Most High God, representing not just Israel but the whole Gentile world.
Christ entered a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, in heaven itself. He did not enter with the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, and He entered once—not once a year like the earthly high priest—into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. As Les explains, when Jesus told Mary not to touch Him after His resurrection, He had to immediately ascend to the Father to present His own blood in the heavenly Holy of Holies.
Since Jesus is our High Priest, we have someone who has passed into the heavens and who is constantly aware of our moment-by-moment existence. We have a high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Therefore, believers can hold fast their profession, knowing that Christ, the High Priest of all, is interceding for them at the throne of heaven.
Gentiles Need a Different High Priest
Les explains that every Jewish priest had to come from the tribe of Levi, but Gentiles couldn't approach God through a Jewish high priest, so a different priest after the order of Melchizedek was needed.
Melchizedek Was High Priest of All
Les teaches that Christ is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, who was not a priest of Israel but of all, making Jesus the high priest of every human being.
Christ as High Priest of Good Things to Come
Les connects Christ's high priesthood to the heavenly tabernacle, explaining that Christ entered God's presence after His resurrection as our high priest.
Melchizedek, Priest of the Most High God
Les points out that Melchizedek was the priest of the Most High God, covering the Gentile aspect, and that Christ's high priesthood is after that order.
Priest After the Power of an Endless Life
Les teaches that Christ is made a priest after the power of an endless life, not after the law of a carnal commandment, because Melchizedek had no genealogy, beginning, or end.
Our Great High Priest Passed Into the Heavens
Les teaches that after presenting His own blood as the High Priest of all, Jesus passed into the heavens, and we have a high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
Melchizedek Was High Priest Forever
Les recalls the Genesis encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek, showing that Melchizedek was a high priest forever and not under the law, covering the whole human race.
Christ Entered the Heavenly Tabernacle With His Own Blood
Les explains that Christ, unlike Aaron, entered a greater and more perfect tabernacle in heaven, presenting His own blood once for all and obtaining eternal redemption.
Hebrews 7:14-16: For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
This explains why Jesus, from the tribe of Judah, could not be a Levitical priest but instead is a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:17: For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
This directly confirms that Jesus' priesthood is eternal and after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 9:11-12: 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; 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.
This shows Christ's work as high priest: He entered the heavenly tabernacle with His own blood to obtain eternal redemption.
Hebrews 4:14-15: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
This assures believers that Jesus, our high priest, understands our weaknesses and intercedes for us in heaven.
Les Feldick explains that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, which was not the priestly tribe of Levi. Therefore, He could not be a priest under Aaron's order. Instead, His priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, who was a priest of the Most High God for all people before Israel became a nation.
Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who appeared to Abraham. He was not a priest under the law, not from the tribe of Levi, and he had no genealogy, beginning, or end. Jesus is a priest after this order, based on the power of an endless life.
Jesus, as our high priest, has passed into the heavens and is constantly aware of our moment-by-moment existence. We have a high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, so we can hold fast our profession with confidence.
Watch the Teaching: Jesus as High Priest: The Order of Melchizedek Explained