What is a priest, biblically speaking?

Now I think we all have a general idea of what a priest does or is supposed to do - there are many false priests in this world. He is a mediator, a go-between, someone who is able to bring a person to God. It is useful in some ways to think about prophets and priests together.

What is a prophet? He is a person who speaks to us on God's behalf. He is, as it were, the mouth of God to us.

What is a priest? He is a person who speaks to God on our behalf. He is, as it were, our means of coming to God.

More specifically, in Hebrews 5:1-4 we read these words

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So there are a number of things here.

1. He has to be a human being. It can't be an angel or an animal for that matter. It has to be one of the people. Every high priest is selected from among the people.

2. You cannot choose to be a priest. It is an appointment made by God. And no one takes this honour on himself, says the writer to the Hebrews but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

3. He is chosen to be the people's representative in anything to do with God. He is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God.

4. He offers gifts and sacrifices designed to remove sins. To offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

5. The Old Testament priests were involved in teaching the people about the law. In 2 Chronicles 17:9 we read of how in the reign of Jehoshaphat he sent out Levites who taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. This comes out in other places and here the writer talks about the priest being able to deal gently with those who are ignorant suggesting a teaching role.

6. The Old Testament priests sought to turn the people to God and here it speaks of the people not only being ignorant but going astray.

7. Two other things come out of an examination of the Old Testament priesthood that we ought to note.

Firstly, the Old Testament priests had a duty to keep the Temple holy. This comes out in 2 Chronicles 23:6 No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the LORD's command not to enter. Or think of how in 2 Chronicles 29:5 Hezekiah says Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.

8. Secondly, it was also the privilege of the Levites and the priests to come regularly into the direct presence of God in the Temple.

Eight things then – firstly, qualifications: being a human being and being appointed by God, then the role itself - being in a representative capacity, and thirdly what is involved - giving gifts and making sacrifices, teaching people the law and turning them to God, maintaining holiness and being in the presence of God.

What is a priest and who are true priests today? Intro

1 Peter 2:5, 9

I would like us to look at two related questions in this post and ones that follow. The first is, “What is a priest?” and the second is “Who are true priests today?”

They are perhaps quite basic questions but important questions to be able to answer certainly. There are plenty of people who claim the title priest today or sometimes priestess. Roman Catholics claim to have priests among them, as do Hindus and Buddhists and many other religions. Mormons claim to have priests too as do pagans.

Now if you look at the Bible then it is clear that in the Old Testament Scriptures there are priests. These priests are all drawn from the same tribe in Israel – the Levites. Before Israel was properly established you see non-Levites acting as priests – people like Melchizedek and Job and Noah and Abraham. However, a system was later instituted whereby the family of Aaron stood in for the first born in Israel and took on the responsibilities of priesthood with the assistance of the members of the Tribe of Levi. 

his comes out, for example, in Numbers 3:10-13 where God says Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death. The LORD also said to Moses, I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD. A little later in Numbers 3 we read (41-48) God saying to Moses Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the LORD. So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him.

The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273. The LORD also said to Moses, Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the LORD. To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.

When we come to the New Testament, however, there is clearly a great change and at this point every true believer becomes a priest to God. This comes out in verses such as 1 Peter 2:5 where Peter tells believers they like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In verse 9 he says But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, ….

This is how we should understand Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 which say the same thing. God has made believers to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God. That is how we should understand Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection a reference to being born again. The second death (hell) has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years (throughout the time between his first and second comings). 

This is what is prophesied in the Old Testament. This lies behind the prophecy in Isaiah 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Zechariah 14:20, 21 points in the same direction On that day it says HOLY TO THE LORD the phrase that was inscribed on the gold plate that the High Priest wore will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. …. We have really begun to answer our questions in part by way of introduction but we will go back to our original questions and ask them again in the posts that follow.