Reference: Priest
Hastings
Priest' (Gr. hiereus) is employed in the NT to denote anyone whose function it is to offer a religious sacrifice. 1. It is used of a Gentile priesthood in Ac 14:15 ('the priest of Jupiter'), and also in Heb. as applied to the 'order of Melchizedek' (Ac 5:8,10; 7:1 ff.), for Melchizedek, it is evident, was not merely a pre-Aaronic but a Gentile priest.
2. It is constantly employed to denote the members of the Jewish priesthood in their various ranks and functions. The ordinary officiating priests of the Temple come before us discharging the same offices of which we read in the OT. They burn incense (Lu 1:5,8), present the sacrificial offerings (Mt 12:5, cf. Nu 28:9-10), effect the ceremonial cleansing of the leper (Mt 8:4 = Mr 1:44 = Lu 5:14; cf. Lu 17:14). The high priest (archiereus) appears as president of the Sanhedrin (Mt 26:57; Ac 5:27; 7:1; 23:2 etc.), and as entering every year on the Day of Atonement into the Most Holy Place with his offering of blood (Heb 9:25). Most frequently of all the word occurs in the plural form 'chief priests' (archiereis), an expression that probably designates a high-priestly party consisting of the high priest proper, the ex-high priests, and the members of those privileged families from which the high priests were drawn.
3. In the Ep. to the Hebrews Christ is described as both priest and high priest, but the fact that Melchizedek (wh. see), the chosen type of His eternal priesthood, is also described by the same two terms (cf. Heb 5:6 with Heb 5:10; 6:20 with Heb 7:1) shows that no distinction in principle is to be thought of, and that Christ is called a high priest simply to bring out the dignity of His priesthood. This conception of Christ as a priest is clearly stated in no other book of the NT, though suggestions of it appear elsewhere, and esp. in the Johannine writings (e.g. Joh 17:19; Re 1:13). In Heb. it is the regulating idea in the contrast that the author works out with such elaboration between the Old and the New Covenants. He thinks of a mediating priest as essential to a religion, and his purpose is to show the immense superiority in this respect of the new religion over the old. He finds certain points of contact between the priesthood of Aaron and that of Christ. This, indeed, was essential to his whole conception of the Law as having a shadow of the good things to come (Heb 10:1), and of the priests who offer gifts according to the Law as serving 'that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things' (Heb 8:5). Christ, e.g., was Divinely called and commissioned, even as Aaron was (Heb 5:4,6). He too was taken from among men, was tempted like His fellows, learned obedience through suffering, and so was qualified by His own human sympathies to be the High Priest of the human race (Heb 4:15 ff., Heb 5:1 ff.). But it is pre-eminently by way of antithesis and not of likeness that the Aaronic priesthood is used to illustrate the priesthood of Christ. The priests of the Jewish faith were sinful men (Heb 5:3), while Jesus was absolutely sinless (Heb 4:15). They were mortal creatures, 'many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing' (Heb 7:23), while Jesus 'abideth for ever,' and so 'hath his priesthood unchangeable' (Heb 7:24). The sacrifices of the Jewish Law were imperfect (Heb 10:1 ff.); but Christ 'by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are being sanctified' (Heb 10:14). The sanctuary of the old religion was a worldly structure (Heb 9:1), and so liable to destruction or decay; but Christ enters 'into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us' (Heb 9:24).
And this contrast between the priesthood of Aaron and the priesthood of Christ is brought to a head when Jesus is declared to be a priest
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Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be my own possession from among all peoples, for all the earth is mine,
And on the Sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering of it. This is the burnt-offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering of it.
And Jesus says to him, See thou speak to no man, but go, show thyself to the priest, and bring the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them.
Or have ye not read in the law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
And those who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scholars and the elders were assembled together.
And he says to him, See thou say nothing to any man, but go, show thyself to the priest, and bring for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded for a testimony to them.
It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, from the division of Abijah, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
But it came to pass during his service as a priest in the course of his division in the presence of God,
And he commanded him to tell no man, but, After going, show thyself to the priest, and bring concerning thy cleansing, just as Moses commanded for a testimony to them.
And when he saw them, he said to them, After departing, display yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, during their going they were cleansed.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they may also themselves be sanctified in truth.
And Peter responded to her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so much.
And immediately she fell down at his feet and expired. And after coming in the young men found her dead, and having carried her out, they buried her by her husband.
And having brought them, they placed them in the council. And the high priest demanded them,
And the high priest said, Are these things so?
And the high priest said, Are these things so?
and saying, Men, why are ye doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, proclaiming good-news to you, to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all the thi
And the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike his mouth.
through whom also we have access by faith for this grace in which we stand, and we take pride in hope of the glory of God.
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service.
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it.
in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through his faith.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who was tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who was tempted in all things in the same way, without sin. Let us therefore come near with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may take mercy, and may find grace for timely help.
For every high priest taken from men is appointed for men in things toward God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
And because of this he is obligated, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
And because of this he is obligated, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And not any man takes the honor to himself, but being called by God, just as also Aaron.
(And just as he says in another, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.)
(And just as he says in another, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.)
And having been fully perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
where the forerunner, Jesus, entered for us, having become a high priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, also blessed him.
If indeed therefore perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people had received the law), what further need is there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated
And of course those who have become priests are more, because of being prevented to continue by death, but he, because of his remaining into the age, has the priesthood unchangeable. read more. Whereupon he is able also to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, being always alive in order to intercede on their behalf.
who serve for an example and shadow of the heavenly things. Just as Moses who was divinely warned while going to complete the tabernacle, for he says, See thou make all things according to the pattern that was shown thee on the mou
Now indeed therefore the first had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
But Christ, having arrived a high priest of the good things that are coming, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, he entered in once into the Holy things, having found eternal redemption. read more. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling those who were defiled, sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself unblemished to God, will cleanse your conscience from dead works in order to serve a living God? And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, a necessity is to present the death of the man who made the covenant.
For the Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, representative of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
For the Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, representative of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. And not so that he might offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the Holy things each year with blood by another,
so also the Christ, having been offered once in order to take up the sins of many, will appear a second time, independent of sin, to those waiting for him for salvation.
For the law having a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the same substance of the events, with the same sacrifices that are offered continually each year, they are never able to fully perfect those who are approaching.
For the law having a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the same substance of the events, with the same sacrifices that are offered continually each year, they are never able to fully perfect those who are approaching.
For by one offering he has fully perfected forever those being sanctified.
Now where there is remission of these, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brothers, boldness for entrance into the holy things by the blood of Jesus,
Having therefore, brothers, boldness for entrance into the holy things by the blood of Jesus, which he inaugurated for us, a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh,
which he inaugurated for us, a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh, and a great priest over the house of God,
and a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a TRUE heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed in pure water.
let us approach with a TRUE heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed in pure water.
Through him therefore, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, fruit of lips acknowledging his name. But do not forget benevolence and fellowship, for God is well pleased with such sacrifices.
ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for an acquired possession, so that ye might broadly proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him is the glory and the dominion into the ages of the ages. Truly.
And in the midst of the seven lampstands, resembling a son of man, he who was clothed down to the foot, and girded about with a golden belt at the breasts.
And thou made them kings and priests to our God, and they will reign over the earth.
And another agent came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer. And much incense was given to him, so that he would give with the prayers of all the sanctified upon the golden altar before the throne.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. On these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will reign with him a thousand years.