Bible Verses About The High Priest

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.

That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.