Scripture Focus: Numbers 25:10–13; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 7:11–28; Hebrews 9:11–15

One of the greatest blessings of the New Covenant is the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our perfect and eternal High Priest.

Under the Old Covenant, God established a priesthood to minister on behalf of His people.

The priests offered sacrifices, taught God’s Law, and maintained the worship of the tabernacle.

But the Old Testament priesthood had limitations.

The priests were imperfect human beings.

They sinned.

They grew old.

They died.

And their sacrifices had to be repeated.

All of this pointed toward humanity’s need for a perfect and eternal High Priest.

That High Priest is Jesus Christ!

THE PRIESTHOOD UNDER THE OLD COVENANT

Exodus 28:1 records God appointing Aaron and his sons to serve as priests.

The priesthood had sacred responsibilities.

The priests offered sacrifices.

They taught God’s commandments.

They ministered in the tabernacle.

And they represented the people before God.

The high priest had a particularly important responsibility.

Once each year, on the Day of Atonement, he entered the Most Holy Place with sacrificial blood.

Leviticus 16 describes this solemn event.

The high priest made atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people.

But the sacrifices had to be repeated.

The priesthood could not provide the complete and permanent redemption that Jesus Christ would eventually accomplish.

GOD’S COVENANT OF PEACE WITH PHINEHAS

Numbers 25 describes a time when Israel had fallen into serious sin and idolatry.

The people became involved in the worship of Baal of Peor.

God’s judgment came upon the nation.

In the middle of this crisis, Phinehas demonstrated zeal for God’s holiness.

Numbers 25:12–13 records God’s promise:

“Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood.”

God established a covenant of peace with Phinehas and promised an enduring priesthood to his descendants.

The event occurred in a particular historical context under Israel’s covenant law. It is not a model for Christians to use violence against those who sin.

Its significance for our study is that God established a priestly line associated with covenant faithfulness and holiness.

But even this priesthood was limited by human mortality and imperfection.

A greater priesthood was still to come.

A PRIEST FOREVER

Psalm 110:4 contains an extraordinary prophecy:

“The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’”

The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this promise.

Hebrews 7 explains that Jesus’ priesthood is not based upon His descent from Aaron.

Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.

His priesthood is according to the order of Melchizedek.

And unlike the priests of the Old Covenant, Jesus lives forever.

Hebrews 7:24 says:

“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.”

The Old Testament priests eventually died.

Jesus Christ lives forever.

The Old Testament priests had to be replaced.

Jesus Christ will never be replaced.

The Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated.

Jesus offered Himself once for all.

THE PRIEST WHO BECAME THE SACRIFICE

One of the most extraordinary truths about Jesus is that He is both our High Priest and our sacrifice.

Under the Old Covenant, priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people.

But Jesus offered Himself.

Hebrews 7:27 says:

“This He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

He was without sin.

He willingly gave His life.

He shed His precious blood.

And through His death and resurrection, He accomplished our redemption.

First Peter 1:18–19 reminds us that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient.

We do not need another sacrifice for sin.

We need to place our faith in the Savior who has already paid the price.

A HIGH PRIEST WHO UNDERSTANDS OUR WEAKNESSES

Hebrews 4:15 tells us:

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus understands suffering.

He understands rejection.

He understands temptation.

He understands grief.

He understands the difficulties of human life.

Yet He remained without sin.

And because He is our perfect High Priest, we can approach God with confidence.

Hebrews 4:16 says:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

What an incredible promise!

When we struggle, we can come to Jesus.

When we fail, we can repent and receive forgiveness.

When we face temptation, we can ask for strength.

When we feel overwhelmed, we can receive mercy and grace.

We don’t have to hide from God.

Through Jesus Christ, we have access to our heavenly Father.

JESUS IS INTERCEDING FOR US

Hebrews 7:25 declares:

“He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Jesus Christ is alive!

He is seated at the right hand of the Father.

And He continues His ministry of intercession on behalf of those who belong to Him.

Romans 8:34 confirms that Christ intercedes for believers.

And Romans 8:26 teaches that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and intercedes according to God’s will.

Consider this extraordinary truth.

Jesus Christ intercedes for us.

The Holy Spirit helps us pray.

And our heavenly Father invites us to approach His throne of grace.

We are not spiritually abandoned.

We have divine help.

We have a living Savior.

And we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

BELIEVERS ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

First Peter 2:9 describes believers as:

“A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”

Under the Old Covenant, priestly ministry was assigned to a particular family within Israel.

Under the New Covenant, every believer has access to God through Jesus Christ.

And every believer is called to serve Him.

First Peter 2:5 describes believers offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We offer praise.

We offer thanksgiving.

We offer prayer.

We offer worship.

We offer obedience.

And we offer our lives as living sacrifices.

The Holy Spirit equips believers with spiritual gifts for ministry.

First Corinthians 12 teaches that these gifts are given for the benefit of the Body of Christ.

Not everyone has the same calling.

Not everyone has the same ministry.

But every believer has a place in God’s Kingdom.

THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE COVENANTS

Consider these remarkable connections between the Old Testament priesthood and the New Covenant.

1. Priestly Mediation: Old Testament priests represented the people before God. Jesus Christ is our perfect Mediator.

2. Sacrifice: Priests offered animal sacrifices. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice.

3. Atonement: The high priest made atonement through repeated sacrifices. Jesus accomplished redemption once for all.

4. Holiness: The priesthood emphasized God’s holiness. Jesus is our sinless and holy High Priest.

5. Covenant Faithfulness: God’s covenant with Phinehas established an enduring priestly line. Jesus’ eternal priesthood is established through God’s oath in Psalm 110:4.

6. Intercession: Priests ministered on behalf of the people. Jesus continually intercedes for those who come to God through Him.

7. Access to God: Access to the Most Holy Place was restricted under the Old Covenant. Through Jesus, believers can approach the throne of grace with confidence.

8. Spiritual Ministry: The Old Covenant established a designated priesthood. Under the New Covenant, all believers are called to offer spiritual sacrifices and serve God through Jesus Christ.

OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 7:25 declares that Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through Him.

His sacrifice is sufficient.

His priesthood is eternal.

His intercession continues.

And His power to save never diminishes.

What does this mean for us today?

We can approach God with confidence.

We can receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We can find mercy and grace in times of need.

We can resist temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And we can serve God as members of His royal priesthood.

The Old Covenant had priests who died. The New Covenant has a High Priest who lives forever!

⸻

DECLARATION OF FAITH

Today, I declare that Jesus Christ is my perfect and eternal High Priest!

He is my Savior.

He is my Redeemer.

He is my Mediator.

He is my Advocate.

He is my Lord!

I declare that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient for my salvation.

His precious blood has provided forgiveness for my sins.

His resurrection has secured my hope of eternal life.

And His eternal priesthood gives me confidence to approach my heavenly Father.

I will not live under condemnation.

I will not allow guilt and shame to keep me from the throne of grace.

When I struggle, I will come to Jesus.

When I face temptation, I will seek His strength.

When I need mercy, I will approach His throne.

I declare that Jesus Christ is interceding for me.

The Holy Spirit is helping me.

And my heavenly Father hears my prayers.

I am part of God’s royal priesthood.

I am called to serve Him.

I am equipped by the Holy Spirit.

And I will offer my life as a living sacrifice to God!

In the mighty and victorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

⸻

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

I come before You today with thanksgiving and praise.

Thank You for revealing Your holiness and faithfulness through the Old Testament priesthood.

Thank You for establishing Your covenant of peace with Phinehas.

Thank You for showing us the importance of holiness, faithful service, and priestly mediation.

But most importantly, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to become our perfect and eternal High Priest.

Lord Jesus, I praise You because You are alive forevermore!

Thank You for offering Yourself as the perfect sacrifice for my sins.

Thank You for shedding Your precious blood.

Thank You for rising again in victory.

Thank You for sitting at the right hand of the Father.

And thank You for continually interceding on my behalf.

Lord, forgive me for the times I have allowed fear, guilt, or condemnation to keep me from approaching Your throne of grace.

Help me remember that I can come boldly because of what You have accomplished.

When I am weak, strengthen me.

When I am tempted, provide a way of escape.

When I am discouraged, renew my hope.

When I am burdened, give me peace.

When I fail, lead me to repentance and restoration.

Holy Spirit, fill me afresh today.

Help me pray according to the will of God.

Strengthen my faith.

Increase my spiritual sensitivity.

Equip me with spiritual gifts.

Give me boldness to proclaim the Gospel.

And help me fulfill the calling You have placed upon my life.

Father, I surrender my life to You as a living sacrifice.

Use my words.

Use my actions.

Use my talents.

Use my opportunities.

Use my ministry.

Let everything I do bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

I declare that Jesus is my High Priest.

Jesus is my Mediator.

Jesus is my Savior.

And Jesus is Lord!

In the mighty, powerful, and victorious name of Jesus Christ,

Amen!

⸻

COMING NEXT: PART 6

THE COVENANT OF DAVID: THE KING WHO REIGNS FOREVER

In our next Daily Walk, we’ll examine God’s covenant with King David and discover how God promised that David’s royal line would lead to an everlasting Kingdom.

We’ll explore the promise of an eternal throne, the prophetic significance of the Son of David, and how Jesus Christ fulfills God’s covenant promise.

We’ll also examine Luke 1:32–33:

“The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David… and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

David was promised a lasting dynasty. Jesus Christ is the King whose reign will never end!

⸻

STAY CONNECTED

Walking in the Word — Zeltman Ministries

Join Pastor Bill Zeltman for The Daily Walk as we continue exploring God’s covenants and discovering their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Website: ZeltmanMinistries.org

Prayer Requests: ZeltmanMinistries.org/prayer

Newsletter: ZeltmanMinistries.org/newsletter

Support the Ministry: ZeltmanMinistries.org/give

Keep walking in the Word, walking by faith, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit!