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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And Jesus saith to him, See thou tell no one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
Or have ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
And they who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the highpriest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
saying to him, See that thou say nothing to any one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course,
And he charged him to tell no one: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
And when he saw them, he said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
And in their behalf I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth.
Peter said to her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so much.
And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired; and the young men, when they came in, found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
And having brought them, they set them before the council. And the highpriest questioned them,
And the highpriest said, Are then these things so?
And the highpriest said, Are then these things so?
and saying, Men, why do ye these things? We also are men of like nature with you, bringing to you glad tidings, that ye may turn from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea, and all things that are therein;
And the highpriest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
through whom also we have had admission into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory which God will confer.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, wellpleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship;
and might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain on it the enmity.
in whom we have our boldness and our access in confidence, through faith in him.
For we have not a highpriest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who hath in all points been tempted as we are, without sin.
For we have not a highpriest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who hath in all points been tempted as we are, without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
For every highpriest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
and by reason of this infirmity he must, as for the people, so also for himself, offer sacrifice for sins.
and by reason of this infirmity he must, as for the people, so also for himself, offer sacrifice for sins. And no one taketh this honor to himself, but when called by God, as was Aaron.
as also he saith in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
as also he saith in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
and being perfected became the author of everlasting salvation to all who obey him, being addressed by God as highpriest after the order of Melchizedek.
where as forerunner for us Jesus entered, having become a highpriest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,
If indeed perfection had been by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people hath received the Law,) what further need was there that a different priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called alter the order of Aaron?
And they indeed have been many priests, because they have been prevented from continuing by reason of death; but he, because he abideth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood; read more. wherefore he is able also to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, since he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
who serve the mere delineation and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle; for, "See," saith he, "that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shown thee in the mount."
The first covenant, then, had indeed ordinances of religious service, and a worldly sanctuary.
But Christ having appeared, as a highpriest of the good things to come, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, and obtained for us everlasting redemption. read more. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who by his everlasting spirit offered himself without spot to God, purify your conscience from dead works, for the worship of the living God! And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called may receive the everlasting inheritance which was promised. For where there is a testament there must of necessity be implied the death of the testator;
For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made with hands, which is only a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God in our behalf.
For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made with hands, which is only a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God in our behalf. Nor yet to make an offering of himself many times, as the highpriest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
so also Christ having been once offered up to bear the sins of many, will appear the second time, without sin, for the salvation of those who are waiting for him.
For the Law but shadowing forth the good things to come, and not having the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually make those who come with them perfect.
For the Law but shadowing forth the good things to come, and not having the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually make those who come with them perfect.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever those who are sanctified.
But where there is remission of these, there is no longer offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,
Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, a new and living way, which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh,
a new and living way, which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh, and having a great priest over the house of God,
and having a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and having had our bodies washed with pure water,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and having had our bodies washed with pure water,
Through him therefore let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name. But works of kindness and liberality forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
be ye yourselves also, as living stones, built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
be ye yourselves also, as living stones, built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light;
and made us a kingdom, priests to God his Father, to him be the glory and the dominion for ever. Amen.
and in the midst of the candlesticks one like to a son of man, clothed with a garment reaching down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle.
and hast made them a kingdom and priests, and they reign on the earth.
And another angel came, and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on these the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.