Hebrews 5.1
“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
Galatians teaches that the law was a schoolmaster that provided a foreshadowing of Christ and his kingdom. Therefore we are looking at the three pillars of the law: the temple, the sacrifices, and the priesthood. All three elements of the law were “shadows of the good things to come.”
Today we consider Pillar #3: the priesthood.
A priest is a mediator who stands between God and man. He offers sacrifice to God on behalf of people and administers other worship obligations. The presence of a priesthood has been a characteristic of virtually every society of man since the beginning of time. The ancient Assyrians had priests, as did the Babylonians.
When Abram was returning from the rescue of his nephew, Lot, he encountered Melchizedek, who was not only “king of Salem” but also a “priest of God Most High.” Abram acknowledged Melchizedek’s sacred office and paid tithes to him (Gen. 14:18ff). When Joseph was elevated to prominence in Egypt, he was given a wife who was the daughter of an Egyptian priest (Gen. 41:45).
When the law was given in the wilderness, Aaron (the brother of Moses) and his sons were appointed to the priesthood (Numbers 3.10). The role of high priest was given to the oldest qualified descendant of Aaron. All other male offspring of Aaron served as priests, except in the case of the physically impaired (Leviticus 21.17-23), or unless he became temporarily “unclean” (Leviticus 22.3). Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement each year (Leviticus 16.1ff).
In the NT, Hebrews 5.1-4 gives a summary of the role of the high priest: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.”
The priesthood established by the Law of Moses was not intended to be permanent. Like the other elements of the Law, the priesthood was a shadow — a picture — of the great High Priest to come … Jesus the Messiah.
Again, the book of Hebrews provides insight: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:26-28)
The priests of the Law of Moses served the earthly temple, which was, according to Hebrews, “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” The priests in the OT were the mediator between God and the people, but God intended they serve in this role only until the arrival of Jesus, the perfect Mediator and Priest.
“Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” (Hebrews 8:1-2)
Based on this truth, consider the following passage from 1 Peter, where the apostle provides instruction to NT believers, many of whom were Jewish and living in various places in Asia Minor: “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2.4-5)
This is an incredible passage of scripture that tells us that all three pillars of the Law of Moses are embodied in the followers of Jesus, the church, the Body of Christ.
Christians are the temple of the new covenant: “ …you yourselves are like living stones, being built up as a spiritual house.”
Christians are the priesthood of the new covenant: “…to be a holy priesthood.”
Christians offer the sacrifices of the new covenant: “…to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
A few verses later, Peter repeats the message that Christians are priests: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
This is a very important and extremely powerful message. In the new covenant through Christ, there is no priesthood class. Every Christian is a priest!
This has enormous implications for how we as Christians live our daily lives. Since every Christian is a priest, then every Christian is in a position of “full time ministry.” The role of the Christian mailman and accountant and bricklayer and stay-at-home mom is just as “spiritual” as the pastor or missionary.
Since every Christian is a priest, the priesthood goes out and engages the world every day. Indeed, the Bible teaches that “the church” isn’t a place, it’s a people. The building where Christians meet for worship on Sunday isn’t the church. Christians are the church.
The everyday work of a Christian is “the ministry.” When Christians go to work every day, they are functioning as priests who are representing God to the people with whom and for whom they work. When Christians go to work every day, they are ministering to the world. When Christians go to work every day, they are obeying the “have dominion” commandment of Genesis, and they function as agents of the kingdom of God.
In the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies. Today, we have the privilege of direct access to God through Christ. We can come boldly unto the throne of grace. According to Ephesians, it is because of Christ that “we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” The book of Hebrews tells us to have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus: “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” This is a tremendous privilege, and we should never neglect it. We should never take prayer and its power for granted.
As you go about your work today, keep in mind that you are a priest of the living God. The Lord called you to himself, redeemed you, and has anointed you through his Spirit to be his representative in the sphere of influence he has given to you. Be faithful.
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:6)
