The Priesthood..

Part 4 of 10

Most believers easily understand the concept of New Covenant temples. The Bible plainly states that we "are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). No longer does God dwell in a structural temple, He dwells in mankind: "for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor 6:16).

But we cannot accurately talk about a temple without discussing it's priesthood - and for some reason, this seems to confuse us! Every tabernacle or temple in Scripture had a priesthood to minister there. If there was no priesthood, then the temple itself was insufficient. And it's no different for the New Covenant. Now, there is a superior priesthood. We've seen this in part here, but today I want to examine this priesthood in a bit of a different light: the light of the New and Old Covenants.

Old Covenant Priesthood?

What was the Old Covenant priesthood? Basically, under the operation of all old covenants, from Genesis to Malachi, we see the unfolding of priesthoods: the Patriarchal priesthood, the Melchizedekian priesthood, and the Aaronic, also known as the Levitical priesthood.

The Patriarchal priesthood, as one author has called it, concerns men such as Adam, Job, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These men were priests in their households and exercised priestly functions long before the more recognized Levitical priesthood came into existence. Adam performed priestly functions (Gen 3; Heb 11:4), and so did Job (Job 1), and Noah (Gen 8-9), Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 12, 13, 15, 28, 35). These priestly functions simply consisted of worship, building altars, offering sacrifices, and calling upon the name of the Lord - this is what a "priest" does.

The Melchizedkian priesthood is briefly mentioned in Genesis. Melchizedek (a mysterious king-priest) appears to Abraham. He ministers bread and wine to him, and receives tithes. His significance is taken up in the epistle to the Hebrews.

The Levitical priesthood was the dominant priesthood in the Old Testament. This priesthood is related to the tabernacles of Moses and David, the temple of Solomon, and the Levitical tribe that ministered there, as priests. This priesthood belonged to the Mosaic Covenant, with Aaron and his sons as high priests (Num 18; Exod 28-29; Lev 8). It continued on into the time of Christ. At His coming, this priesthood would change (Heb 7:12)

Was it to be Everlasting?

The reason some people believe and cling to the Levitical order (or the coming restoration of the Levitical order) is because Scripture promised Phineas an "everlasting priesthood" (Num 25:10-13). How could this be if Phineas was of the order of Aaron, and of the tribe of Levi? Furthermore, Jeremiah tells us "Neither shall the priests the Levites lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually" (33:18). But how could this be? The Levitical priesthood simply could not be everlasting, for the Bible tells us it's been disabled (Heb 7:18-19), done away with (Heb 10:9), and changed (Heb 7:12). The ONLY way for the priesthood to be everlasting is for it to be elevated to a higher, greater and spiritual plane. When this happened, the priesthood became known as the Melchizedek priesthood, and was far different than any preceding priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood is the only priesthood that is eternal (Ps 110:4). We will see this in more detail soon.

New Covenant Priesthood?

What is the New Covenant priesthood? Is there one? YES!

Basically, every covenant has a priesthood. The New Testament clearly shows that there is to be a change of priesthood for New Covenant believers. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was rent (Matt 27:50-51). The high priest at the time (Annas or Caiaphas) also rent his garment, which was against Levitical Law (Lev 21:10). When the veil of the temple was rent, and when the high priest rent his garment, this was, in essence, pronouncing the end of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood. The Old Covenant priesthood has been fulfilled and forever abolished (Heb 8:7-13)! It will never be reinstituted again.

"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Heb 7:18-19).

"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second" (Heb 10:9).

Under the New Covenant, Jesus has become eternal High Priest: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:14-16).

The Priesthood of Believers:

At the Cross, there arose a great change of order for God's people too. No longer are we under Aaron as high priest, but Christ Jesus (Heb 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-15). No longer are we under the order of Aaron, but rather the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:15-17, 21; Ps 110:4). No longer is it solely the tribe of Levi. Now, Christ Jesus is King-Priest of the tribe of Judah (Heb 8:8).

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ... But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Pet 2:5, 9).

Under the Old Covenant, only one tribe was chosen to be priests: the tribe of Levi (Deut 10:8-9). We've seen in an earlier blog how this event was simply typical of God choosing an eternal bride for Himself, as she endures His sanctifying fire. This bride, however, will not be solely from the tribe of Levi. This bride will be a chosen company of believers, out of all nations (not only the chosen nation, as was so with the Old priesthood), out of both Jews and Gentiles, out of all believers in Christ. The bride of Christ will be composed of the Melchizedek priesthood of believers, the New Covenant priesthood. This is an eternal priesthood, and is the substance of the mere shadow found in Levi: "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Ps 110:4).

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever" (Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-10).

Priestly Potential?

Did you know that Jesus is beckoning us to share His mercy seat? Of Jesus, Scripture tells us He "entereth into that within the veil", as a "forerunner...after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb 6:19-20). The word "forerunner" in the Greek is "prodromos", and means, "a runner ahead; a scout; one who comes in advance to a place where the rest are to follow". What an astonishing thought that Jesus actually wants us to follow Him though the veil, into the Most Holy Place, as king-priests, sharing in His mercy seat ministry! You see, under the Levitical order, kings could not intrude into the priestly office, and priests could not sit on the kingly throne. Levi produced the priests, and Judah produced the kings. But a new and living order has arisen in Jesus! He is a King-Priest, and has made His sons a "royal priesthood" in His glorious image (1 Pet 2:9).

But why? What is the purpose of this new-found glory and authority? Again, it's to share in His mercy seat! We find this glorious truth elaborated upon in Genesis chapter 14.

Here, Melchizedek (of whom this New Covenant priesthood is named after) is found bringing forth bread and wine and blessing Abraham, whose name means "the father of many nations". The bread and wine are the elements that speak of the body and blood of Jesus, and are the very things that He gave His disciples at the last supper: "Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt 26:26-28).

These glorious elements were never brought forth during the 3 and a half years of Jesus' earthly ministry. Only at the time of Calvary were these elements ministered to the disciples. This tells us that this ministry of Melchizedek's priesthood will be likewise ministering the LIFE of the crucified and resurrected Christ! Hallelujah!

Friends, Jesus could never bring forth sons of God in His own glorious image until after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. For until He ascended, He could not pour out His Spirit upon them: "For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" (Jn 7:39). The amplified version of Romans 8:15 tells us, "But you have received the Spirit of adoption - the Spirit producing sonship"! You see, everything brings forth after it's own kind: cattle brings forth more cattle, birds bring forth only more birds, etc. Adam could only bring his own nature into being upon the earth: "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth" (Gen 5:3). And it was for this reason that Jesus came: to bring into being a new race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. He was "the beginning of the creation of God" (Rev 3:14). And if any man be in Him, he too is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

But Jesus did not choose to have this race in the image of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of man in His limited humanity. Rather, He chose to wait until after His glorification before pouring His Spirit upon us to produce sons. Thus He brings "many sons unto glory" (Heb 2:10). But these are "sons of God", conformed to the image of the Son of God. Sons of His resurrection, sons of His eternal glorified state! In Revelation 21:7, Jesus says that "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son". A Son of God! Who? He that overcometh!

And Oh what a ministry these overcoming sons will have! As king-priests, they will deliver the resurrected life of God to a dying and broken creation. They will possess the New Covenant "more excellent ministry" of Melchizedek (Heb 8:6)! How interesting then that the "order of Melchizedek" can also be translated the "rank of Melchizedek".. Hallelujah!

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God... Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Rom 8:18-19, 21-22).

To be continued...