Our Self-Appointed High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-4 

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Our High Priest is the one making an eternal sacrifice, similar to the priests Israel chose from among themselves to serve in the things of God, especially of the ritual sacrifices and the yearly ones to cover the people’s sins.  These offered prescribed gifts with the sacrifices to appease God’s wrath on sin, but the sacrifices had to be repeated year after year; they had no lasting effect as Christ’s sacrifice and offering of Himself.  But our high priest Jesus can know our state and exercise compassion when we wander off into sin, much more so than a human priest ever could.  Human priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sin as well because they also were as we are, and do not choose this honorable role themselves, having been chosen by God as all those of Aaron’s descendants.  Jesus was man, but also God, and willingly took on the role, appointing Himself to sacrifice and be sacrificed for us, once for all His people whom He called.