A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized

It was difficult, if not nearly impossible, for a writer to state that Jesus was High Priest. But even in the midst of these challenges, the book of Hebrews, appealing to Psalm 110:4, makes the bold declaration that God made Jesus a High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20).

The writer’s approach is to present instruction interspersed with exhortation throughout his epistle.

After the temple was destroyed in AD 70 and the priesthood came to an end, it was relatively safe to teach the doctrine of Christ’s priesthood in a place away from Israel.

except for the author of Hebrews, no writer of the New Testament speaks directly to the priesthood of Jesus.2