PRIESTHOOD
priesthood prior to the Mosaic law:
of certain patriarchs
♦ Noah
♦ Abraham
♦ Isaac
♦ Jacob
♦ Jethro
• Exodus 2:16 (cf. 2:18; 3:1)
♦ Job
• Job 1:5)
of Melchizedek
♦ his office of king-priest
♦ his blessing of Abraham
♦ His blessing of God
♦ his reception of tithes from Abraham
♦ his typical relationship to Christ
♦ his perpetual priesthood
♦ his superiority to Abraham
priesthood in Israel:
(See PRIESTHOOD, of Aaron)
♦ ideal of all Israel as a kingdom of priests:
• Exodus 19:5-6 (cf. Isaiah 61:6)
♦ function of certain Israelitish priests before the law was given:
♦ limitation of official priests to the family of Aaron within the tribe of Levi:
• Exodus 27:21; 28:1; 29:9, 44; Numbers 18:7; 2 Chronicles 13:9 (cf. 1 Kings 12:31; 13:33); Ezra 2:61-62
♦ special place for Zadok and his descendants:
♦ periods when priests were lacking:
♦ conversion of many priests to the Christian faith:
• Acts 6:7
priesthood of Aaron:
primary features
♦ had Aaron as the first high priest
♦ wore divinely specified garments
• Exodus 28:2-43 (cf. Ezekiel 44:17-19)
♦ consecrated to the Lord
• Exodus 29:1-9; 40:12-16; Leviticus 8-9
♦ given divine regulations
♦ received various sources of support
• Leviticus 5:11-13, 15-16 (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:13; 10:18); 23:20; 24:5-9 (cf. Matthew 12:3-4); Numbers 3:46-51; 5:8-10; 18:8-19; 31:25-29; 2 Chronicles 31:4-19
♦ included priests who failed
• Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22, 27-36; 1 Kings 2:27, 35; 2 Chronicles 36:14; Ezra 9:1-2; Nehemiah 9:34; 13:4-9, 28-29; Isaiah 28:7; Jeremiah 1:18-19; 5:31; 23:11-12; Ezekiel 22:26; Hosea 5:1; 6:9; Micah 3:11; Zephaniah 3:4; Malachi 1:6-2:9 (cf. Luke 10:30-31)
♦ assisted by the Levites in the service of the tabernacle
♦ involved punishment for illegal intrusion
♦ had no allotted territorial inheritance in the promised land
♦ had the Lord as their inheritance
♦ included priests who were faithful to God
♦ inherited certain cities for residences
♦ led the procession in the miraculous crossing of Jordan
♦ placed in divisions for their ministry by David
♦ involved in religious reforms
♦ returned from the captivity
♦ supervised the rebuilding of the temple
♦ exempted from taxation
♦ taken into exile to Babylon
♦ opposed and condemned Jesus
♦ persecuted the apostles and other believers
♦ could not make people perfect
♦ set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
♦ required replacements because of death
♦ appointed by the Law as men who are weak
♦ ministered in the earthly tabernacle and temple
♦ subservient to the faulty Old Covenant which became obsolete
• Hebrews 8:7-8, 13
♦ had access to the holy place only by the high priest once annually
• Hebrews 9:7, 25
♦ related to temporary, external, physical forms
primary functions
♦ to minister to the Lord
♦ to perform the duties of the sanctuary
♦ to burn fragrant incense on the altar of incense
♦ to offer sacrifices to the Lord for themselves and for the people (see also OFFERING, OFFERINGS)
♦ to teach people the law
♦ to examine suspected cases of leprosy
• Leviticus 13-14 (cf. Luke 17:12-14)
♦ to confess the sins of the people in prayer
♦ to valuate things vowed
♦ to serve as leaders over the Levites
♦ to invoke blessing on the people
♦ to blow the trumpets for assembling the congregation and in battle
♦ to render judgments in legal matters and disputes
♦ to encourage the people before battle
♦ to transport the ark of the covenant on special occasions
♦ to serve as scribes
♦ to serve as treasurers for tithes and gifts
♦ to pray for the people
♦ to collect tithes from the people
priesthood of Christ:
♦ typified by Melchizedek: (See also PRIESTHOOD, priesthood prior to the Mosaic law, of Melchizedek)
♦ involves His role as merciful and faithful great high priest:
♦ required His identity with humanity:
♦ qualified Him to make propitiation for the sins of the people:
♦ enabled Him to aid those who are tempted because of His own experience of temptation in suffering:
♦ fulfilled with perfect faithfulness:
• Hebrews 3:2, 6
♦ involved His entrance through the heavens into the Father's presence:
• Hebrews 4:14; 9:24
♦ allows Him to sympathize with the weaknesses of believers:
♦ included His being tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin:
♦ typified at certain points by Aaron:
♦ appointed by God:
♦ provides a better hope than the Aaronic priesthood:
• Hebrews 7:19; 8:6
♦ Established by a divine oath:
♦ provides eternal salvation:
♦ includes continual intercession for believers:
♦ based on His perfect qualifications:
• Hebrews 7:26, 28
♦ included Himself as a sacrifice once for all:
♦ guarantees a better covenant:
♦ includes his seated position at the Father's right hand:
• Hebrews 8:1 (cf. 1:3)
♦ ministers in the sanctuary of the true tabernacle in heaven:
♦ concerns good things to come:
♦ involved entering the holy place with His own blood:
• Hebrews 9:12 (cf. Leviticus 16:15)
♦ resulted in obtaining eternal redemption:
♦ involved His mediatorship of the New Covenant:
♦ includes appearance in the presence of God for believers:
♦ gives believers confidence to enter the holy place by His blood:
• Hebrews 10:19-22 (cf. 4:16; Matthew 27:51)
priesthood of NT believers:
universality of
privileges of
♦ direct access by faith to the Father through Christ
♦ availability of divine mercy and grace to help in time of need
spiritual function of
♦ to be a holy priesthood
♦ to offer up spiritual sacrifices
♦ to be a royal priesthood
♦ to proclaim the excellencies of Christ
spiritual offerings of
♦ a broken spirit and heart
♦ one's living body
♦ Gentile converts
♦ praise and thanksgiving
♦ doing good for others
• Hebrews 13:16 (cf. Galatians 6:10)
♦ giving one's substance (see also GIVING)
• Hebrews 13:16 (cf. Exodus 35:21-36:7; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:17-18; Titus 3:14)
intercession of
(See also PRAYER, kinds of, intercession)
♦ for believers in particular
♦ for people in general
priesthood outside of the biblical order:
♦ of idolatrous priests in the northern kingdom:
♦ of Baal:
♦ of idolatrous priests in Judah:
♦ various other significant uses of
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.