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The Better Priest

Prologue

Last week, we examined the Genesis narrative of man’s vocation as king-priest. God created man in His image, and gave him the vocation to steward a sacred place. However, we see man rebel against God, and fall from His original vocation. How does this plot conflict get resolved in scripture?

Israel’s Priesthood

As we read the entire narrative of the Old Testament, we see that it presents to us a very critical assessment of the priestly role, and this sets us up with an expectation for a better priest who will come to correct the situation in Israel.

Aaron

Aaron, Israel’s first priest, is introduced to us in the story about Moses, his brother, resisting God’s call to bring the Israelites out of slavery.

Too long, please open your Bible Exodus 3-4

God’s description of Aaron in Exodus 4:14 is very telling. The narrator makes the explicit statement to let us know that this is the origin of Israel’s priesthood. We can already tell that even from the origin of this priesthood, something is amiss.

We are also informed of Aaron’s involvement in building the golden calf for the children of Israel when they were waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain (Exodus 32).

As we go further in the narrative, we see Aaron’s sons offering strange fire before God (Leviticus 10) on the first day on the job.

Eli

We see Eli the priest, failing to raise his sons right, and his son committing grievous sins in the temple.

Too long, please open your Bible 1 Samuel 2: 22-36

Samuel

Following the plot thus far, one would expect that Samuel would prove to be the ideal priest. It did look so for a while, until we see that just like Eli, he could not train his children right

Too long, please open your Bible 1 Samuel 8: 1-3

Corruption during the Time of the Prophets

Various prophets, such as Malachi, criticize the priests for their corruption and neglect of duty.

Too long, please open your Bible Malachi 1: 6-8
Too long, please open your Bible Malachi 2: 7-9
Too long, please open your Bible Isaiah 28: 7-8
Too long, please open your Bible Hosea 4: 4-9
Too long, please open your Bible Jeremiah 6: 13-15

Caiaphas

Joseph Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest during the time of Jesus’ ministry, who vehemently opposed Jesus, and was a key part of the plot to get Him arrested and killed.

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 26: 1-5
Too long, please open your Bible John 11: 47-53
Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 27: 11-21

Jesus and His Priesthood/Temple

When Jesus arrives on the scene, we see Him consistently rebuke Israel’s leaders and speaking about the destruction of the current temple system/structure, and it being replaced with the temple of His body.

Too long, please open your Bible John 2: 13-21

Mark gives us more details of the account

Too long, please open your Bible Mark 11: 15-18

In Mark’s account, Jesus quotes from Isaiah and Ezekiel to give a hint of what He is really doing.

A house of prayer

Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Isaiah 56:7

The quotation from Isaiah fits in the context of God regathering His people, and bringing gentiles into His covenant through the eschatological temple. Jesus was saying that God had activated that plan.

In the same context (Isaiah 56:9–11), the Prophet Isaiah also rebukes Israel’s leadership of the his day. In like manner, Jesus’ announcement of the new temple also paints Israel’s leaders of Jesus’ day in the same light, amounting to a serious warning against them.

A den of robbers

Just like Isaiah, Jeremiah rebukes Israel and pronounces judgement for the injustice and fake worship.

Too long, please open your Bible Jeremiah 7: 1-14

New priesthood

In the following chapter, we see Jesus telling them about the new priesthood in a parable

Too long, please open your Bible Mark 12: 1-12
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
Too long, please open your Bible 1 Peter 2: 4-10

What are the sacrifices that we are to offer as the Body of Christ?

  • Ourselves
    • Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
  • Thanksgiving & giving
    • Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 7: 15-16
    But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18
    But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18