Aaron – The High Priest Whose Ministry Foreshadowed Christ
He wore the breastplate bearing Israel’s twelve tribes over his heart. He alone entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. He burned incense, offered sacrifices, pronounced blessings, and mediated between sinful Israel and holy God. Aaron was the first high priest, establishing a line that would continue for over a thousand years until Christ came. Yet for all his glory, Aaron’s priesthood pointed beyond itself to a greater High Priest who would accomplish what Aaron’s ministry could only symbolize.
Called to Priesthood
Aaron appears in Scripture as Moses’ older brother, his spokesman before Pharaoh, his partner in the exodus. But Aaron’s distinctive calling came at Sinai: “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office” (Exodus 28:1). God chose Aaron, not Aaron himself.
The elaborate priestly garments described in Exodus 28 emphasized Aaron’s representative role. The ephod bore onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel’s twelve tribes. The breastplate contained twelve stones, each representing a tribe, worn over the heart. Aaron carried Israel’s names into God’s presence—on his shoulders (bearing their burdens) and on his heart (loving them). The high priest represented the people to God.
Aaron was consecrated through an elaborate ceremony involving washing, clothing, anointing, and sacrifice. Blood was applied to his ear, thumb, and toe—symbolizing that hearing, work, and walk were now dedicated to God. The consecration made Aaron holy—set apart for sacred service—though his personal holiness remained imperfect.
The ordination included a sin offering for Aaron himself. “And Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock… And thou shalt slay the bullock before the LORD” (Exodus 29:10-11). The high priest needed atonement before he could make atonement for others. His own sin required addressing first.
Aaron’s Failures
Aaron’s most notorious failure came while Moses was on Sinai. The people demanded gods they could see; Aaron complied. He collected gold jewelry, fashioned a calf, and built an altar before it. “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:4). The high priest-designate led Israel into idolatry.
When Moses confronted him, Aaron’s excuse was pathetic: “I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf” (Exodus 32:24). No ownership, no confession, no genuine repentance—just deflection. Aaron blamed the people and claimed the calf appeared spontaneously. The high priest who should have restrained sin participated in it.
Later, Aaron and Miriam challenged Moses’ unique authority. “Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” (Numbers 12:2). God vindicated Moses emphatically, and Miriam was struck with leprosy. Aaron escaped that judgment but had to plead with Moses for Miriam’s healing. Even the high priest’s faithfulness wavered.
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire” before the LORD and died under divine judgment. Aaron was forbidden to mourn publicly—the high priest’s composure must remain undisturbed, even in personal tragedy. The office was greater than the man; the ministry continued despite personal loss.
The Day of Atonement
Leviticus 16 prescribes Aaron’s most significant annual duty: the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Once a year, only on this day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place. The elaborate ritual addressed sin comprehensively—for the high priest, for his house, and for all Israel.
Aaron sacrificed a bull for his own sins before he could address the people’s sins. The blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat and before it. Incense filled the inner sanctuary, creating a cloud that protected Aaron from seeing God’s glory directly. He entered with blood, pleading life given in exchange for life forfeited.
Two goats were presented. One was slaughtered, its blood carried into the Most Holy Place. The other—the scapegoat—had Israel’s sins confessed over it, then was driven into the wilderness. One goat pictured atonement through death; the other pictured removal of sin far away. Together they illustrated what Christ would accomplish fully.
“And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins” (Leviticus 16:16). The tabernacle itself needed cleansing from Israel’s contamination. Sin polluted everything; atonement addressed everything.
Christ the Greater High Priest
Hebrews demonstrates Christ’s superiority to Aaron at every point. Aaron’s priesthood was temporary; Christ’s is eternal. Aaron needed sacrifice for his own sins; Christ “offered up himself” though sinless. Aaron entered the earthly tabernacle; Christ entered heaven itself. Aaron’s sacrifices were repeated; Christ’s sacrifice was once for all.
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27). Christ is the high priest we needed—perfect where Aaron was flawed.
Christ fulfills both goats of the Day of Atonement. He is the slain sacrifice whose blood secures atonement. He is also the scapegoat who carries sins away, never to return. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). What two animals pictured, one Savior accomplished.
Aaron carried Israel’s names on his breastplate; Christ carries His people’s names on His heart. Aaron represented Israel before God annually; Christ represents His people before the Father continually. Aaron emerged from the tabernacle to bless the people; Christ will emerge from heaven to bring eternal blessing. The ministry Aaron shadowed, Christ performs perfectly.
Our High Priest
Aaron’s priesthood reminds us that we need a mediator. We cannot approach God directly in our sin. We need someone to represent us, plead for us, offer sacrifice for us. The elaborate rituals of Leviticus were not arbitrary; they demonstrated the serious problem sin creates and the costly solution it requires.
Christ has solved that problem. “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” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Because Christ is our High Priest, we can approach God’s throne boldly—not in presumption but in confidence. Aaron entered the Most Holy Place once a year, in fear, with blood. We enter God’s presence at any moment, with boldness, through Christ’s blood. The veil that restricted access has been torn. The way is open.
Do you have a high priest? Not Aaron—his ministry ended. Not any human priest—none can accomplish what is needed. Only Christ can take your sins, carry your name on His heart, plead your cause before the Father, and secure your eternal access to God. Trust Him. He is the High Priest you need—and the only High Priest you will ever need.