The term "high priest" usually refers either to an individual who holds the office of ruler-priest, or to one who is the head of a religious organisation.
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Jesus Christ the Great High Priest
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JEWISH HIGH PRIEST GARMENTS - By: Dr. Terry Harmon
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Jesus As Our High Priest | Part 7 | Sunday Bible Study With Derek | Hebrews
Transcription
One of the many titles given to Jesus Christ is that of the Great High Priest. To understand this Messianic title, we first must understand the role and significance of the High Priest in ancient times. During the exodus, as the Israelites were camped at the base of Mount Sinai, the Lord desired that all his children be able to enter into his presence within the walls of the Temple or Tabernacle. However, because of their sinfulness in creating a golden calf, God instead had the High Priest take the place of Israel, becoming the intercessory on their behalf. To help symbolize his important role as a mediator and as a type of Christ, each piece of the clothing of the High Priest pointed to the Messiah. "The high priest wore eight holy garments. Of these, four were of the same type worn by all priests, and four were unique to the High Priest." The four garments worn by all priests were, first, the priestly undergarments or breeches. These linen pants were made to "cover the nakedness" of the priests and covered them from the waist to the knees. Second, was the priestly tunic or robe, which was likewise made of white linen, was seamless, and covered most of the body of the priest. Third, was the priestly sash, made of white linen for the normal priest, and an embroidered sash made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white for the High Priest, and was used as a type of belt around the tunic or robe. Fourth, is the priestly turban, bonnet, or cap, which was a long strip of white linen wrapped around the head of the priest. The four golden garments worn by only the High Priest were, first the priestly blue robe, which was a sleeveless and seamless robe that was about a hand breadth shorter than the white full-length robe. On the bottom of the blue robe were alternating golden bells and pomegranate-shaped tassels made of blue, purple, and scarlet wool. Second, was the ephod, "a richly embroidered vest or apron with two onyx engraved gemstones on the shoulders, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel." Third, was the breastplate, which had twelve different stones in gold settings, fastened to the breastplate, each engraved with one of the names of the tribes of Israel. The breastplate was folded in half to create a pocket where the Urim and Thummim was stored. The fabric for both the ephod and the breastplate were woven from gold thread, blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and white linen. The breastplate was fastened on the top by gold-twisted chains attached to the two shoulder stones, and on the bottom by blue ribbons tied to the ephod. The last of the golden garments of the High Priest was the crown, worn over the front of the turban and attached to the forehead by two blue ribbons, the crown being inscribed with the words "Holiness to the Lord." Each of the pieces of clothing, including their materials and colors, pointed to Jesus the Messiah, the Great High Priest. First, we'll discuss the four white linen vestments. White in the Bible represents purity, while the Hebrew word that was often used for linen means 'separation.' Purity and separation from the world are both perfect symbols of the life of Christ. John, remembering the white seamless robe worn by the priests, tells us that at the cross Jesus likewise wore a seamless robe. On the blue outer robe were attached alternating bells and pomegranate tassels. As the High Priest would walk around the bells would ring, reminding everyone around him, that they were in the presence of the High Priest, the representative of the Lord. The pomegranate in the scriptures represents fruitfulness, posterity, and prosperity, as there are literally hundreds of seeds in a single fruit. It is through the atonement of the Messiah that we are all made children of Christ, and heirs of his kingdom. "In the scriptures ... the forehead represents what a person’s thoughts dwell on and therefore what he loves or desires. ... For the same reason, the Mosaic high priest wore an engraved gold signet on his forehead that read ‘Holiness to the Lord.' This was a reminder that his thoughts should always be holy, with the result that his actions would follow suit." Perhaps the most significant and expensive part of the High Priest's clothing was the ephod and the breastplate. According to the Bible, the stones on the two shoulders, engraved with the twelve tribes of Israel, were to represent that the High Priest was to symbolically bear or carry Israel upon his shoulders at all times. The twelve stones on the breastplate, likewise, represented that he was to carry Israel against his heart. As Christ atoned in the Garden of Gethsemane, and died on the cross of Calvary he literally carried all of the world on his shoulders and against his heart. The blue robe, the ephod and the breastplate were all made of linen and wool, and of the same five colors; gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and white. Linen again represents 'separation' from the world, while wool can be connected to the sheep that were used in so many of the temple sacrifices. Gold in the scriptures represents wealth, power, the celestial realm, and the divine. Blue represents all things heavenly, being the color of the sky. The priest's outer robe being entirely blue "emphasized the fact that his authority was of heavenly origin and his life was the typifying of God and Christ." The color purple represents royalty, power, wealth, and majesty. Producing purple dye in ancient times was extremely costly and difficult, meaning that only the wealthiest could afford to wear the color purple. It is interesting to note that Christ, according to Mark and John, was clothed in a purple robe by the soldiers before his crucifixion in an effort to mock him as the King of the Jews. The color scarlet, or red represents sin, mortality, death and resurrection. In the same account of the mocking soldiers, Matthew tells us that the robe was scarlet. In addition, the book of Revelation depicts Christ at His Second Coming wearing a robe dipped in blood, making it the color red. As was already mentioned, white represents purity and typifies the type of life that Christ lived. Just as the five colors were fully interwoven and united into one single piece of cloth, so too the attributes of Christ (typified by each of the colors), were combined into one, to demonstrate the saving grace of Christ, the number five representing God's grace in the scriptures. Each attribute on its own is powerful, but only when they are all interwoven together is the true power of the atonement realized. The fact that the twelve precious stones, representing Israel, were fastened to the breastplate, which symbolizing the attributes of Christ, teaches us that we, as Israel, are each bound to Christ and made one with him because of his perfect life and infinite atonement. As Paul wrote, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Ancient Egypt
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In ancient Egypt, a high priest was the chief priest of any of the many gods revered by the Egyptians.
- While not regarded as a dynasty, the High Priest of Amun at Thebes, Egypt were nevertheless of such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c. 943 BCE[1]
- High Priest of Osiris. The main cult of Osiris was in Abydos, Egypt.
- High Priest of Ptah. The main cult of Ptah was in Memphis, Egypt.[2][3]
- High Priest of Ra. The main cult of Ra was in Heliopolis.
- God's Wife of Amun – the highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult
Ancient Israel
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The High Priest of Israel served in the Tabernacle, then in the Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritan High Priest is the high priest of the Samaritans.
Ancient world
- Archiereus, title of a high priest from Ancient Greece
- Dastur, a Zoroastrian high priest
- Hierophant, the chief priest of the Eleusinian Mysteries
- NIN (cuneiform) or EN (cuneiform), a high priest or priestess of a city-state's patron-deity in Sumer
- Pontifex maximus from Ancient Rome
- Pythia, high priestess of the Temple of Apollo (Delphi)
China
- Zhang Lu was the third generation of Celestial Masters lineage from Zhang Daoling, was a high priest and appointed as General of the Household Who Guards Civilians (鎮民中郎將) and the Administrator of Hanning (漢寧太守) by imperial government.
- Kou Qianzhi (365–448) was conferred as the high priest or Tian Shi by Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, which eventually established The Northern Celestial Masters.
India
- Vidyaranya was a high priest in the Vijayanagara Empire.
- Panditrao was a title of the appointed high priest that sat on the Council of 8 (Ashta Pradhan) in the early Maratha Empire.
- The title of high priest is used in the Śvētāmbara sect of Jainism.
Christianity
The Epistle to the Hebrews refers to Jesus as high priest.[4]
In Christianity, a high priest could sometimes be compared to the Pope in the Catholic Church, to a patriarch in the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Church of the East and the Eastern Orthodox Churches (the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is a primus inter pares) or to a primate in the Anglican Communion (the Archbishop of Canterbury is a primus inter pares), but it is traditional to refer to it only to Jesus Christ as the only high priest of Christianity. Throughout the episcopal body, except in the Anglican and Lutheran communions, bishops may also be referred to as high priests, since they share in or are considered earthly instruments of the high priesthood of Jesus Christ.
High priest is an office of the priesthood within the Melchizedek priesthood in most denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Mandaeism
A high priest in Mandaeism is known as a ganzibra.[5] The head of all of the high priests within a Mandaean community is known as a rishama.
Other religions
- The Celestial Masters was founded by Zhang Daoling in 142 CE, they have been the high priests and spiritual leaders in Zhengyi Order of Taoism until present days. The 63rd Celestial Master, Zhang En Pu eventually migrated to Taiwan in 1949.
- The 16th-century Maya priesthood was headed by a high priest who instructed the other priests and advised the king.
- Kahuna Nui, presides over the temple or heiau. Below the Kahuna Nui are various types and ranks of priests.
- In Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, the High Priest is considered to be successor to Nichiren, through the lineage of Nikko Shonin.
- In Shinto, a high priest, called a Guji, is usually the highest-ranking priest (Kannushi) in a shrine.
- In Ásatrú, the high priest is called a goði (or gyða) and is the leader of a small group of practitioners collectively referred to as a Kindred. The goði are collectively known as the goðar. Some countries use the term Allsherjargoði for national multi-kindred organizations, most notably Iceland's.
- In both the Yoruba religion and a number of its various New World sects, such as Santeria, a high priest is called a Babalawo. The term means wise man, and comes from the Yoruba language of West Africa. A female holder of the title is known as an Iyanifa.
- In Wicca, High Priest and High Priestess are the roles of the man and woman who are leading a group ritual. High Priest and High Priestess are also titles sometimes conferred on the members of a Wiccan coven when they have completed their third, or fifth year of study and practice. Sometimes called Third degree, depending on path or tradition.
- The High Priest and High Priestess are the two highest positions of leadership and administration within the Church of Satan.
- In some Rodnover organisations in Russia, the volkhv is the title used for the high priest, or priests in higher ranks.
Non-religious usages
The phrase is also often used to describe someone who is deemed to be an innovator or leader in a field of achievement. For example, an 1893 publication describes ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes as having been "the high-priest of comedy".[6]
See also
- Neal Boortz often refers to himself on air as the "High Priest of the Church of the Painful Truth".[7]
- The High Priestess is the second trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks.
- In Royal Arch Masonry the Excellent High Priest serves as leader of the chapter.
- Singer Nina Simone is often referred to as the High Priestess of Soul.
References
- ^ Dodson, Aidan; Hilton, Dyan (2010). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-28857-3.
- ^ Dodson and Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
- ^ Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000, Thames and Hudson, p. 83.
- ^ see Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 4:14–15, Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 9:11–10:39
- ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2005). The Mandaeans and the Jews. Edensor Park, NSW: Living Water Books. ISBN 0-9580346-2-1. OCLC 68208613.
- ^ Maurice Maeterlinck, Charlotte Endymion Porter, Poet Lore: Volume 5 (1893), p. 246.
- ^ Eagleton, John. "Neil Boortz's Commencement Speech". Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
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