Hebrews 8:1-3

Christ's priesthood is permanent-- Hebrews 8:1-3: The pre-eminence of our High Priest is seen in the fact that He, "is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." (Hebrews 8:1) The Christian system will never be destitute of a High Priest, because Christ is our High Priest forever. In the height of His glory He humbled Himself to discharge the office of High Priest in the behalf of His church.

The work of Christ was not in the Jewish tabernacle. He is, "a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Hebrews 8:2) The old tabernacle was pitched by man according to the commandments given by God. Jesus dwells in the sanctuary of heaven for us continually. He is our Mediator and Advocate, representing our case before the Father, by the power His blood whereby atonement was made for our sins.

A priest that has nothing to offer is no priest at all. Under the old covenant when the people brought sacrifices, or peace-offerings, or thank-offerings, these were offered by their priest. This is the only way their gifts were acceptable to God. Jesus also had something to offer, Himself! In Hebrews nine the writer discussed this thought in more detail saying, "Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:25-26) There was no sacrifice sufficient for man's atonement except Christ's death.