Was Jesus a priest? He wasn’t a descendant of Aaron, as were the priests of Israel. The Gospels
and the New Testament Letters do not speak of Him as a priest, with one exception, which is the
Letter to the Hebrews. The Letter to the Hebrews describes Christ’s work as a mediator between
the Father and us as not only with the actions of a priest but with the actions of a high priest:
“We have a great high priest” (Heb 4:14).
Thomas Aquinas thinks that the title “high priest” is very appropriate for Jesus. The high priest
entered the Holy of Holies with blood once a year: “Christ through His own blood entered into
the heavenly holy of holies.” Hebrews declares that Jesus “passed through the heavens” (Heb
4:14).
The high priest was expected to be a descendant of Aaron but Christ has an even higher origin.
He was the “Son of God.” At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared “This is my beloved Son” (Mt.
3:17). The words that were once applied to the newly inaugurated king of Judea, can be applied
most certainly to Jesus: “You are my son; this day have I begotten you” (Ps. 2:7).
Since Christ is our high priest, Hebrews urges us, “Let us hold fast to our profession of faith”
(Heb 4:14). Thomas echoes this appeal: “let us cling with all our heart.”
St. Paul encourages us: “With the heart we believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is
made unto salvation” (Rom 10:10). Jesus announced: ‘Everyone that shall confess me before
men, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven’ (Mt. 10:32).
Thomas reflects that this “profession” is a “confession of faith,” but it is also about our hope in
Christ. Faith leads to hope, as Thomas explains: “Faith is the source of hope… For no one can
hope or should hope for anything but what he can obtain. But the fact that we can obtain eternal
things is due to faith” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, 234). We know that we can
hope in eternal life through faith.
Even though Jesus is great high priest, He has compassionate to us: “For we do not have a high
priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness” (Heb 4:15).
Thomas comments: “There is mercy and compassion in Him, lest perhaps anyone suppose that
He cannot do anything but what His justice requires. Here it should be noted that Christ does not
merely have the power, but is most ready to have compassion on our infirmities, because He has
experienced our wretchedness” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, 235).
Before the Incarnation, Jesus, as God, knew our wretchedness from all eternity: ‘The Lord has
compassion on them that fear him: for he knows of what we are made’ (Ps. 102:13).
Hebrews states that Jesus was “one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned”
(Heb 4:15). Thomas says that we are tempted to prosperity and tempted by adversity.
According to Thomas, there are three types of temptations to prosperity. The First Letter of John
speaks of the lusts, the desires for prosperity that come from the world: “… the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 Jn 2:16). The first is the flesh lusting against the
spirit. Thomas explains: “This was not in Christ; hence, he as, without sin, i.e., without the

slightest movement of sin: ‘Who did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth’ (1 Pt. 2:22).
Therefore, He is called the Lamb of God” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, 236).
Yet Jesus was tempted by the flesh in that the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread (Mt
4:3). The devil also tempted Him to vainglory: “All these things will I give you, if falling down
you will adore me” (Mt. 4:9). Luke tells us: “When all the temptations were over, the devil left
him for a time’ (Lk. 4:13).
Jesus was also tempted by adversity. The Pharisees laid snares for Him and He was insulted. He
was scourged and tormented. These difficulties are temptations to give up. Thomas concludes:
“Therefore, outside of being tempted without sin, he has been tempted as we are” (Commentary
on the Letter to the Hebrews, 236).
Thomas notices that Hebrews says that Jesus’ temptations were like ours: “He was tempted in
order to give us an example how to handle temptation: ‘Christ also suffered for us, leaving you
an example, that you should follow his steps’ (1 Pt. 2:21)” (Commentary on the Letter to the
Hebrews, 237).
Thomas explains that Jesus was both tempted but did not sin: “He was tempted in order that He
might be like as we are in all things, except sin. For if he had existed without temptations, He
would not have experienced them, and then He could not have compassion. But if He had sinned,
He would not have been able to help us, but would need help” (Commentary on the Letter to the
Hebrews, 237).
Because Jesus has experienced our difficulties, Hebrews invites us to approach Him: “Let us
confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of
need” (Heb 4:16). Thomas comments: “… to have confidence in Him, is as if to say: Since He
can have compassion, let us go with confidence: ‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not
be afraid’ (Is12:2).” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, 238).
Hebrews welcomes us to “the throne of grace.” Thomas notes that a king sits on a throne. This
applies to Christ, who is the king. Thomas explains: “But this throne has a twofold state: one, of
justice in the future: The other throne is that of grace, which is meant here; hence, he adds, of His
grace, namely, in the present, which is the time of mercy” (Commentary on the Letter to the
Hebrews, 238).
The grace of Christ frees us from sin and misery, as Thomas affirms: “By the grace of Christ we
are freed of all misery, because we are freed from sin, which makes people wretched; hence, he
says, that we may obtain mercy” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, 238).
The grace of Christ enables us to do good: “Furthermore, by the grace of Christ we are aided in
doing good; hence he says, ‘and find grace’; ‘You have found grace with God’ (Lk. 1:30); and
this to find help in time of need, i.e., to do good” (Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews,
238).
God helps us: ‘My help is from the Lord’ (Ps. 121:2). This help comes through grace: ‘But by
the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked
harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.’ (1 Cor. 15:10). But
this grace comes at a seasonable time: ‘There is a time and opportunity for every business’ (Ec.
8:6). This is the present time, which is the time of mercy.

Denis Vincent Wiseman, O.P.