Chapter 18
THE PRIESTHOOD
Before we begin our study let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Father, we ask that You would please bless our study of the priesthood. Please open our eyes, our ears and our hearts so we can better understand the roles and functions of the Old testament priesthood. Lord we ask You to please reveal to us how these roles and functions were a foreshadowing that pointed to the roles and functions of Jesus Christ and His born again believer's, that is the church. For Your Names sake we ask.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
In chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17 we reviewed the construction and purpose of the Old Testament Temple and its furnishings. In addition, our study revealed to us that they were also foreshadowings pointing to the time when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would come to save His people from their sins and establish His church.
In this chapter we will study the roles and functions of the people God chose to serve in His Temple. As we do this we will also discover that these roles and positions were also foreshadowings to help us understand the various major functions or elements within the spiritual body of Christ, that is the church.
As we read the Old Testament we find that there were basically two groups of people associated with the Temple,
AARON AND HIS DESCENDENTS
The Bible teaches us that God chose Aaron and his male descendants to be His priests. In the Old Testament we find that these priests were the only people who were appointed and allowed to offer the sacrifices or enter into the Tabernacle. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 40:12-16
""[12] Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. [13] Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. [14] Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. [15] Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come." [16] Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him."
Let us notice the following verses,
13 … God commanded Moses to anoint and set apart Aaron as His priest.
15 … God also commanded Moses to anoint and set apart Aaron's sons as priests. Also notice that this call for Aaron and his sons to the priesthood was to extend throughout their generations. In other words, it was God's desire that Aaron and all his male descendents be priest unto Him.
This office was so sacred that if anyone other than the priest would enter into the Tabernacle or sanctuary, they were to be put to death.
Numbers 3:10
"[10] Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.""
THE HIGH PRIEST
Under the direction of God, once a year, the High Priest, Aaron (or after Aaron one of his offspring), was to enter the Holiest of Holies (sometimes called the Most Holy Place) of the Temple. The High Priest did this to intercede for the entire nation by making atonement for the priests, the people and the Temple itself. To see this, let begin by reading from,
Leviticus 16:2-5
"[2] The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. [3] "This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. [4] He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. [5] From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering."
From here on, that is verses 6-28, the Bible describes the various sacrifices that Aaron, the High Priest, was to make. Instead of reading them now, let us skip to:
Leviticus 16:29-34
""[29] This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work--whether native-born or an alien living among you-- [30] because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. [31] It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. [32] The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments [33] and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the people of the community. [34] "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites." And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses."
For this study let us notice the following verses,
2 … God's Presence was over the Atonement Cover. This is why the room in which it was placed was called the Most Holy Place or Holiest of Holies.
3 … Aaron also had to give a sin offering for himself, that is for the sins he committed.
32 … The above instructions were not only for Aaron but for all the High Priests that were to succeed him.
34 … This ritual was to be done once a year. As we read in verse 29 it was called the Day of Atonement. For a more in depth study of the Day of Atonement please see chapter7.
The Old Testament position and function of the High Priest was also a foreshadowing to teach us about the priestly function of,
JESUS CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST
As we read the New Testament we find that, our High Priest does not enter an earthly temple once a year to offer sacrifices for us. Instead, because of His death and resurrection, He always resides in the true Temple, that is the Tabernacle that is in Heaven. He is there to appear before God the Father for us.
Hebrews 9:24-28
"[24] For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. [25] Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. [26] Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27] Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, [28] so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Let us now expand upon these Scriptures a bit by reading the following:
Hebrews 8:1-6
"[1] The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, [2] and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. [3] Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. [4] If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. [5] They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." [6] But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises."
Let us notice the following verses,
1 … Jesus, our High Priest, is now sitting at the Throne of Majesty in Heaven. As we read in Hebrews 9:24 above, He is there appearing in God the Father’s Presence for us.
2 … The Tabernacle that Jesus is now in is the true tabernacle set up by God. It is not one that was constructed by man.
4 … The reason Jesus Christ would not be a priest if He were upon this earth is because He came from the tribe of Judah. Remember, in Exodus, we saw that God called the priests that were to serve in the earthly Tabernacle from the descendents of Aaron who were members of the tribe of Levi. The significance of this is that because through Jesus Christ a new covenant was ushered into the world. Thus, there had to be a change of the priesthood. Putting it another way, since the priesthood changed there was also a change of law. To see this let us read from,
Hebrews 7:11-14
"[11] If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? [12] For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. [13] He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. [14] For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests."
The key verses for this study is verse 11. As we will see in verse 6 of Hebrews, chapter 8, this new law or covenant is superior to the old one. For now let us return to Hebrews, chapter 8 and examine verse,
5 … The Old Testament priests served a copy or foreshadowing of what is in Heaven. In other words, as we saw in chapter 14, Moses was given an earthly pattern for the Tabernacle of Majesty in Heaven. This is why Moses was so careful to insure that the tabernacle built here on earth followed the pattern God gave Him.
6 … In Jesus Christ, the born again believer has a better covenant. We have much better promises from God than what was given in the Old Testament.
This raises the questions of, "What is this better covenant? What are these better promises?" To answer these questions let us now read about,
THE NEW COVENANT
Our study of the new covenant begins by reading the following Scriptures from the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 8:7-13
"[8] For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. [8] But God found fault with the people and said : "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. [9] It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. [10] This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [11] No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. [12] For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." [13] By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear."
Let us notice the following verses,
8-10 … Because of the weakness of our flesh, that is our inability to comply with God's commands and laws, the new covenant is not one that is external. Namely, it is not one that is inscribed on stone or written on paper and parchment. Instead, the new covenant is written in our hearts and placed within our minds. In other words, God's laws and commands are now an integral part of our nature. This is what happens to us when we are born again, that is through the Holy Spirit living inside us, God’s laws and commands are written in our hearts and minds. When this occurs then God is our God and we are His people.
11 … All of God’s people, that is those that are born again, will know Him. Why? Because God the Holy Spirit will live and dwell inside them.
12 … When this happens, that is when we are born again, God says He will forgive our wickedness and no longer remember our sins. Since this is the case, there is no longer any need of a sacrifice for sin. To see this, let us read from,
Hebrews 10:18
"[18] And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin."
Let us now return to our discussion of Hebrews, chapter 8 and take notice of what the verse 13 has to say,
13 … As a result, He has made the old covenant obsolete.
Consequently, in the new covenant that God made with us, there is no longer a need for someone to offer sacrifices on our behalf. Jesus Christ did it for us once and for all. So now, in Jesus Christ, each member of His church, that is the body of Christ, can confidently approach the true Throne of God in Heaven in their time of need to receive His Mercy and Grace. To see this prayerfully read the following,
Hebrews 4:14-16
"[14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Seeing that in the new covenant Jesus Christ is our High Priest, who once for all made atonement for our sins, the question comes to mind as to, "What was the foreshadowing of the other priests, that is Aaron's sons? What were their roles pointing to?" The priesthood of Aaron's sons was a foreshadowing to teach us that,
ALL BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS BELONG TO THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
As we read the Old Testament we find that one of the priestly duties was to daily offer the whole burnt offerings. This requirement is recorded in,
Exodus 29:38-42
""[38] This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. [39] Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. [40] With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. [41] Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning--a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. [42] "For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;"
In reflecting upon the above, two points come to mind: (1) As we saw in chapter 12, the whole burnt offering was to symbolize Israel's total dedication to God and (2) This offering was a sweet aroma to God. In other words it was pleasing to Him.
This daily offering of the priests was a foreshadowing to illustrate to us that we, members of the church, are to daily offer our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to Him. To see this, let us read from,
Romans 12:1
"[1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."
In other words, each day and evening we are to totally dedicate ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13
"[13] Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."
As we reflect upon the above and recall that it was only the priest who were permitted to offer sacrifices unto God, we can begin to understand why the Holy Spirit describes the born again believers as a royal priesthood, To see this let us read from,
1 Peter 2:9
"[9] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
This now brings us to,
THE LEVITES
These people were from the tribe of Levi, but were not descendants of Aaron. The Levites were chosen by God to help Aaron, the High Priest, with the care and maintenance of the Temple. To see this, let us read what God said to Moses relative to the tribe of Levi,
Numbers 3:6-9
""[6] Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. [7] They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. [8] They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. [9] Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him."
God’s call upon the Levites was also a foreshadowing of His call on each and every born again believer. Specifically,
THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO SERVE OUR HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST
As the Levites were to serve Aaron, the High Priest, by taking care of the Old Testament Tabernacle, we, the born again believers, are to serve our High Priest, Jesus Christ, by caring for or ministering to the new tabernacle, that is His church. To see that all of us are called to serve the body of Christ, let us read from,
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
"[4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. [7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
Let us notice the following verses,
4-6 … Within the body of Christ there are different ministries, activities and gifts. However, all are from God.
7 … Each born again believer has been given a gift from the Holy Spirit. Also notice that the purpose of these gifts is for the common good. In other words they are given to minister to one another.
For a more in depth study of the operation of the church or body of Christ please see volume I, chapters 20 and 21.
ONE MORE OBSERVATION
It is noted that in the Old Testament to be a priest or to minister in the Temple you had to be born into the proper family or tribe. Specifically, the descendants of Aaron were born to be priests and the descendants of Levi were born to minister within the Temple. This too is a foreshadowing. It is another view of the blessing of the born again believer’s new birth. Specifically, to effectively serve or help our High Priest, Jesus Christ, and His body you must to be born into it. Namely, you must be born again of the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY
As we think back and reflect on all that we have covered in these past chapters of part III, we come to realize that the New Testament church is not a building made of wood, brick and mortar. No! It is a spiritual building composed of you and I, the born again believers. It is a holy habitation of God the Holy Spirit. The church that our Lord Jesus Christ came to build is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament Temple, its furnishings and the people who served it were pointing to. The church is that group of people He bought and paid for with His own body and blood. It is that body of people who have been set apart and anointed to be a royal priesthood through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Namely, the church, composed of all the born again believers of all time is the body of Christ. To see this, prayerfully consider,
1 Peter 2:4-5
"[4] As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
With this in mind, let us now close with the following exhortation,
Colossians 3:5-17
"[1] Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. [7] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. [8] But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [11] Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. [12] Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. [15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
AMEN and AMEN