LESSON 2 The Priesthood of Israel

 

LESSON 2

The Priesthood of Israel

Bible Portion: To learn that the priesthood given to Israel was only a shadow for the high priestly office of our Lord Jesus Christ and that we can enter the presence of God boldly and receive blessings.

: Exodus Chapters 28, 29;

Heb. 4:14 - 5:10;7:1-8:6

Memory Verse: Heb. 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was, at all points, tempted as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in times of need.

Introduction

Have you seen Priests? How do you recognize them? What is their work? In the Old Testament period, Israel had priests. It was through Moses, at Mount Sinai, that the Israelites were given specific instructions on priesthood (Ex. 28:1-4; 30:18). Before that it was the firstborn of each household who did the priestly duties (Ex. 29:22). The Aaronic priesthood was established by the law given through Moses.

The Priests

During the Old Testament, there were two types of ministers - the priests and the prophets. There is a big difference between the two ministries. The priests are the ones who stand between God and man and intercedes to God on behalf of man. On the other hand, a prophet is a person send by God to proclaim to them the will of God.

When God gave his commandments at Mount Sinai, he also fell into idolatry, Moses gave a summons to all those who are on God's separated the tribe of Levi for his service (Deut. 10:8). When the Israelites side to come to him. The tribe of Levi came forward to Moses. On the command of Moses, they drew the sword and worked the zeal of God on the idolaters (Ex. 32:25-27; Deut. 33:8-11). And so, Aaron and his sons, of the clan of Kohath, of the tribe of Levi, were appointed as priests (Ex. 29:44; 1 Chr. 6:1-3). The other Levites were appointed to help the priests in matters of worship. There was to be only one High Priest at the time. Aaron was the first High Priest. When a High Priest died, his authority, position, and dress were passed on to his eldest son. The rest were priests. But if there was a handicapped, or a leper, or a person suffering from other diseases in the family of Aaron, they could not become priests. The high Priest represents our Lord Jesus Christ, while the ordinary priests represent us believers in Jesus Christ.

The Ministry of the Priests

The tabernacle/temple has three parts - the outer courts, the holy place and the holy of holies. The ministry of the ordinary priests were only at the outer courts and the holy place. In the outer courts was the altar for sacrifice and the bronze basin containing the water for religious cleansing. In the holy place was the golden candlestick, the table of show bread and the golden altar of incense. It was the duty of the priests to take the sacrificial blood to the holy place.

All New Testament believers are priests (1 Peter 2:4-6; Rev. 1:6). We have to offer sacrifices pleasing to God every day. We come into the presence of God on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We enter into the Holy Place, the Church, through the cleansing of both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Just as the lamp stand is lighted using pure oil of crushed olives and shines in the dark, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and gives forth light. We experience Jesus Christ, the bread of life and through prayer and thanksgiving, we offer up an aroma pleasing to God. This is how, as New Testament priests, we have to please God. We need to examine ourselves daily to see if we are truly pleasing God

in our life.

The Ministry of the High Priest

Every year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, on the Day of Atonement, the Aaronic High Priest shall go into Holy of Holies, carrying with him the blood of the sacrifice (Lev. 16:1-28; 23:26-32; Heb. 9:3-8). He offers the blood for the atonement of his sins and the people's sins and burn the incense in the fire on the altar of incense.

"For every high Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins" (Heb. 5:1-3).

This is the shadow of the work of Jesus Christ. Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for us on the cross of Calvary. He has gone to the holy of holies, the presence of God, the Father, carrying with him, his own blood for the atonement of the sins of mankind, and is the mediator of the New Testament.

We must carefully study our High Priest's qualities (Heb. 3:1; 4:14- 5:10; 6:19, 20; 7:1-28; 8:1-6; 9:11-28). He is our High Priest, and there is no one else. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). So, now we can go to the throne of grace boldly and receive blessings. What a great privilege!!!

Questions:

1. When was the Aaronic priesthood established? Under what circumstances? 2. What were the special functions of the high priest of Israel? Explain its New Testament truth.

3. Compare the ministry of a High Priest with the ministry of Jesus Christ.

4. Whom do the ordinary priests of Israel represent? Explain the duties of the priest with the duties of the New Testament believers

5. How can we prove that Jesus Christ alone is our only High Priest?