Understanding the Priesthood
The biblical priesthood stands as one of Scripture's most profound institutions, revealing God's provision for sinful humanity to approach His holy presence. From the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the eternal ministry of Christ, the priesthood demonstrates the necessity of mediation, sacrifice, and intercession.
This study traces the Levitical priesthood through its garments, duties, and genealogy, culminating in Christ's superior priesthood "according to the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:17).
The High Priest's Garments
"And you shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and for beauty." — Exodus 28:2
Click on any garment piece to learn more
Select a Garment
Garments for the Common Priests
Aaron's sons (the common priests) wore simpler garments:
- Linen Tunics — White woven coats covering the body
- Girdles — Embroidered sashes around the waist
- Turbans — Linen head coverings (different from the high priest's miter)
- Linen Breeches — Undergarments "to cover the naked flesh, from the loins as far as the thighs"
Priestly Duties and Responsibilities
The priests served as mediators between God and His people, performing sacred duties that maintained Israel's covenant relationship with Jehovah.
Offering Sacrifices
The primary duty was to offer the various sacrifices prescribed by the Law: burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, and trespass offerings. Only priests could approach the altar and sprinkle the blood.
Leviticus 1-7
Tending the Lampstand
Priests maintained the golden lampstand (menorah) in the Holy Place, ensuring its seven lamps burned continuously from evening to morning, providing light in the sanctuary.
Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:1-4
The Showbread
Every Sabbath, priests placed twelve fresh loaves of bread on the golden table, representing the twelve tribes of Israel before God's presence. The old bread was eaten by the priests.
Leviticus 24:5-9
Burning Incense
Morning and evening, a priest burned fragrant incense on the golden altar before the veil, symbolizing the prayers of God's people ascending to heaven.
Exodus 30:7-8
Teaching the Law
Priests were responsible to teach Israel God's statutes and judgments, distinguishing between holy and common, clean and unclean.
Leviticus 10:10-11; Deuteronomy 33:10
Examining Leprosy
Priests examined persons and objects suspected of leprosy (infectious skin diseases), pronouncing them clean or unclean and overseeing purification rituals.
Leviticus 13-14
Pronouncing Blessings
Priests blessed the congregation with the Aaronic blessing: "Jehovah bless you and keep you; Jehovah make His face shine on you..."
Numbers 6:22-27
Blowing Trumpets
Priests blew silver trumpets for assembling the congregation, for war, and for appointed feasts, signaling God's commands to His people.
Numbers 10:1-10
The High Priest's Unique Responsibilities
Beyond the duties shared with all priests, the high priest alone performed certain sacred functions:
- Entering the Holy of Holies — Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
- Consulting the Urim and Thummim — Using these sacred objects in the breastpiece to inquire of God's will
- Making Atonement for All Israel — Offering the yearly sin offering for the entire nation
- Anointing New Priests — Consecrating his successors and the sons of Aaron
Levitical Genealogy
The tribe of Levi was set apart for service to God, with the family of Aaron designated specifically for the priesthood.
Duties of the Levitical Families
Gershonites
Camped west of the tabernacle. Responsible for the tabernacle coverings, the tent, its covering, the screen at the entrance, the hangings of the court, the screen at the gate of the court, and the cords.
Numbers 3:21-26
Kohathites
Camped south of the tabernacle. Most sacred duty: carrying the holy furniture — the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary, and the veil. Eleazar oversaw this family.
Numbers 3:27-32
Merarites
Camped north of the tabernacle. Responsible for the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, sockets, all its vessels, all its service, the pillars of the court, their sockets, pins, and cords.
Numbers 3:33-37
12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel in the place of every first-born opening a womb from the sons of Israel; and the Levites have become Mine.
13For every first-born is Mine, from the day I struck every first-born in the land of Egypt, I have set apart to Myself every first-born in Israel, from men to animal. They are Mine. I am Jehovah.
Yom Kippur — The Day of Atonement
"For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; you shall be clean from all your sins before Jehovah." — Leviticus 16:30
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was the most solemn day of the Israelite year, occurring on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri). It was the only day when the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and the only day designed for national atonement of all sins.
Preparation — Washing and Linen Garments
The high priest bathed his entire body in water and dressed in simple white linen garments — not his ornate golden garments. This symbolized purity and humility before God.
Bull for His Own Sin
The high priest offered a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. Even the high priest was a sinner needing atonement before he could represent the people.
The Two Goats and the Lots
Two goats were presented before Jehovah. Lots were cast: one goat "for Jehovah" (to be sacrificed) and one "for dismissal" (the scapegoat, to be sent into the wilderness).
First Entry — Incense in the Holy of Holies
The high priest took a censer full of burning coals and two handfuls of fragrant incense behind the veil. The cloud of incense covered the mercy seat so "he shall not die."
Second Entry — Blood of the Bull
He brought the blood of the bull and sprinkled it with his finger on the mercy seat eastward, and before the mercy seat seven times, making atonement for himself and the priests.
Third Entry — Blood of the Goat
The goat for Jehovah was killed, and the high priest entered a third time with its blood, sprinkling it on and before the mercy seat as he had done with the bull's blood — this time for the people's sins.
Cleansing the Holy Place and Altar
He made atonement for the Holy Place because of Israel's uncleanness, then went to the bronze altar and applied blood to its horns, sprinkling it seven times to cleanse it.
The Scapegoat — Sins Sent Away
Aaron laid both hands on the live goat's head, confessing all Israel's iniquities, transgressions, and sins. The goat was then sent into the wilderness by a chosen man, bearing all their sins "to a land cut off."
Changing Garments and Final Offerings
The high priest removed the linen garments, bathed again, put on his golden garments, and offered burnt offerings for himself and the people, completing the day's ceremonies.
Christ's Perfect Fulfillment
Every element of the Day of Atonement pointed forward to Christ's greater sacrifice
No Sin Offering for Himself
Hebrews 7:27
His Own Blood
Hebrews 9:12
Once for All
Hebrews 9:12, 26
True Holy of Holies
Hebrews 9:24
Christ Our High Priest
"Therefore having a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession." — Hebrews 4:14
The Order of Melchizedek
Christ's priesthood transcends the Levitical order, being "according to the order of Melchizedek"
Who Was Melchizedek?
Melchizedek appears briefly in Genesis 14:18-20 as "king of Salem" and "priest of the most high God" who blessed Abraham after his victory over the kings. Abraham gave him a tenth of all the spoils. The name means "King of Righteousness," and Salem means "Peace."
18And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God.
19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram by the most high God, possessor of Heaven and earth.
20And blessed be the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tithe from all.
Why Melchizedek's Order Is Greater
King-Priest
Melchizedek was both king and priest — something impossible under the Mosaic law, where priests came from Levi and kings from Judah. Christ unites both offices.
Hebrews 7:1-2
Without Genealogy
"Without father, without mother, without descent, nor beginning of days, nor having end of life" — Melchizedek's priesthood was not based on lineage, foreshadowing Christ's eternal nature.
Hebrews 7:3
Greater Than Abraham
Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek and received his blessing. "Without contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better" — showing Melchizedek's superiority.
Hebrews 7:4-7
Levi Paid Tithes Through Abraham
Since Levi was "in Abraham's loins" when Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, the entire Levitical priesthood is subordinate to this greater order.
Hebrews 7:9-10
The Superiority of Christ's Priesthood
23And, indeed, the many are become priests, because of being prevented to continue by death;
24but He, because of Him remaining unto the age, has a non-transmissable priesthood.
25And from this He is able to save to the end completely the ones coming near to God through Him who is always living to intercede on their behalf.
26For such a High Priest was fitting for us: holy, guileless, undefiled, and having been separated from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens;
27who has no need, as do the high priests, to offer sacrifices according to a day, firstly for His own sins, then for the ones of the people, for this He did once for all, having offered up Himself.
28For the Law makes men high priests who have infirmity, but the word of the oath-taking after the Law appoints the Son having been perfected unto the age.
Christ's Present Ministry
Minister of the True Tabernacle
"Minister of the Holy of Holies, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man." Christ serves in heaven itself, not an earthly copy.
Hebrews 8:1-2
Always Living to Intercede
Christ continually intercedes for believers at the Father's right hand. His advocacy is based on His completed sacrifice and His perfect righteousness.
Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34
Sympathetic to Our Weakness
"We do not have a high priest not being able to sympathize with our infirmities, but One having been tried according in all things according to our likeness, apart from sin."
Hebrews 4:15
The New and Living Way
Through His flesh (the torn veil), Christ opened access to the Holy of Holies for all believers. We may now "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace."
Hebrews 10:19-22; 4:16
Mediator of a Better Covenant
Christ established the New Covenant through His blood
6But now He has gotten a more excellent ministry, also by so much as He is a Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
10Because this is the covenant which I will bequeath to the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be for God to them, and they shall be for a people to Me.
11And they shall no more teach each one their fellow-citizen, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; because all shall know Me, from the little one of them to the great one of them.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses, and I will not at all remember their sins and their lawlessnesses.
Levitical vs. Melchizedek Priesthood
A comprehensive comparison showing how Christ's priesthood supersedes and fulfills the Levitical order.
| Aspect | Levitical Priesthood | Christ's Priesthood | Scripture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal Origin | Tribe of Levi only | Tribe of Judah (Melchizedek's order) | Heb. 7:13-14 |
| Basis of Office | Physical descent, fleshly command | Power of an indestructible life | Heb. 7:16 |
| Duration | Ended by death; many priests | Eternal; non-transferable priesthood | Heb. 7:23-24 |
| Confirmation | Without oath | With divine oath (Psalm 110:4) | Heb. 7:20-21 |
| Sinfulness | Had to offer for own sins first | Holy, guileless, undefiled | Heb. 7:26-27 |
| Sacrifices | Blood of bulls and goats, daily | His own blood, once for all | Heb. 9:12-14 |
| Effectiveness | Could not take away sins | Perfects those being sanctified | Heb. 10:1-4, 14 |
| Access to God | High priest only, once yearly | All believers, anytime | Heb. 10:19-22 |
| Place of Ministry | Earthly tabernacle/temple | Heaven itself | Heb. 8:2; 9:24 |
| Covenant | Old (obsolete) | New and better | Heb. 8:6-7, 13 |
| Result | Covered sins temporarily | Sins remembered no more | Heb. 10:3, 17 |
| Current Status | Priests stand daily | Sat down at God's right hand | Heb. 10:11-12 |
The High Priest's Garments and Their Fulfillment in Christ
| Garment | Description | Symbolism in Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Plate | "HOLINESS TO JEHOVAH" on forehead | Christ's perfect holiness; He is "the Holy One of God" |
| Miter | White linen turban | Purity; Christ's sinless mind and thoughts |
| Ephod | Gold, blue, purple, scarlet vestment | Christ's divine-human nature and kingly glory |
| Shoulder Stones | 12 tribes' names borne on shoulders | Christ bears His people by His power |
| Breastpiece | 12 stones over the heart | Christ carries His people on His heart in love |
| Urim & Thummim | "Lights and Perfections" for guidance | Christ reveals God's will perfectly; He is the Light |
| Blue Robe | All blue, heavenly color | Christ's heavenly origin and nature |
| Bells & Pomegranates | Sound heard when ministering | Proclamation of Christ's intercession; fruitfulness |
| Girdle | Embroidered sash | Service and readiness; Christ came to serve |
| Linen Coat | White inner garment | Christ's inherent righteousness and purity |
Test Your Knowledge
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