Jesus Superior To Aaron

November 11th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 5:1-4 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

Previously, the author of Hebrews has associated Jesus with the high priestly office: “He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (2:17)… “Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (3:1)… “[Jesus] the great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (4:14-15). Now, here in Hebrews 5, the author espouses the deeper nature of the Jesus the Messiah as the believer’s heavenly High Priest.

As to the “things pertaining to God” (5:1), the earthly high priest stood between man and God, acting as man’s agent, representing humanity before God and God before the people. As man’s agent, the earthly high priest was also responsible for offering sacrifices for sins, to include his own (5:1-3) since he himself was a sinner. To worship God and to be brought into fellowship with God, one had to offer a gift, and it had to come through the high priest (5:1). This high priest was called by God from among weak, sinful humans. Hebrews 5:1-4 reveal that the high priest, though privileged to serve as he did, was only a human chosen from among humans; he was laden with human weaknesses; he was sinful, representing sinful people; and he had no innate honor other than being chosen by God. Even the first great high priest, Aaron, had been chosen from among the people as a weak man, sinful like everyone else, and having no innate honor. Dressing him up in fine garb, giving him a lofty title, and ordaining him with lofty tasks caused him to stand out among his peers, for sure. But he was still just a sinful man.

Of course the Hebrews author is making the case for Jesus as a better high priest, for the earthly priesthood was neither permanent nor perfect. God never intended a priesthood where a man would perpetually offer up blood sacrifices in an ongoing, imperfect system like the OT sacrificial system. It was always God’s plan through His Son to announce, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and to inaugurate the eternal priesthood with the eternal, perfect Priest—Jesus Christ.

According to Hebrews 5:2, the Jewish high priest, since he was a man, could sympathize with others in their weaknesses. He could “deal gently” with others in that he could relate to their struggles with sin because he himself was a sinner. Now Jesus, though a man, did not sin. He did, however, experience all the pains and struggles of being a human. So Jesus’ priesthood, like the Jewish high priest, is one of sympathy. But Jesus, unlike the Jewish high priest, was tempted in all things as men are yet was without sin. No Jewish high priest could claim that!

In vv. 3-4, the author is again revealing the purpose of the earthly high priest, acting as a mediator between God and man—just what Jesus does! (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5). But contrary to Jesus, the earthly high priest makes atonement for his own sins before he mediates for others. After all, the high priest, being a man, was a sinner! Jesus, however, as the writer will reveal, is no earthly high priest; He is the heavenly one. He never sinned, so His priesthood is superior to Aaron’s.

Food For Thought
Aaron was a sinner needing to make sacrifices on his own behalf; Jesus was (and is) perfect. Aaron offered a sacrifice external to himself, but Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all. Aaron offered temporary salvation; Christ offered eternal salvation. Aaron sacrificed for Israel; Jesus sacrificed for the entire world. Truly, Jesus trumps Aaron!