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 that you tell no one: but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
Or did 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 scribes and the elders were gathered together.
and saith to him, "See that you say nothing to any one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses directed, for a testimony to them."
There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest, Zacharias by name, of the course of Abija; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Now it came to pass, that, while he was doing priestly service in the order of his course before God,
And He charged him to tell no one; but, "Departing, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."
And, when He saw them, He said to them, "Going your way, show yourselves to the priests." And it came to pass that, as they went, they were cleansed.
and in their behalf I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
and Peter made answer to her, "Tell me, if ye sold the place for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much."
And she immediately fell at his feet, and expired; and, coming in, the young men found her dead; and, carrying her forth, they buried her by her husband.
and, having brought them, they set them before the Sanhedrin. And the high priest asked them,
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"
and saying, "Men, why do ye these things? We also are men of like nature with you, proclaiming to you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God, Who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them;
And the high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by, to smite him on the mouth.
through Whom also we have had access by faith into this grace in which we have been standing; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I beseech you, therefore, brethren, through the mercies of God, to present, your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your rational service;
and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;
in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through the faith of Him.
for we have not a High Priest, unable to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who hath been tempted in all points like as we, apart from sin.
for we have not a High Priest, unable to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who hath been tempted in all points like as we, apart from sin. Let us, therefore, come with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.
For every high priest, taken from among men, is appointed in behalf of men in the things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
and, on account of it, he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to make offering for sins.
and, on account of it, he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to make offering for sins. And no one takes the honor to himself, but, when called by God, as was also Aaron.
as also, in another place, He saith, "Thou art a Priest forever according to the rank of Melchizedek";
as also, in another place, He saith, "Thou art a Priest forever according to the rank of Melchizedek";
and, having been made perfect, He became the Author of eternal life to all who obey Him; having been addressed by God as "High Priest according to the rank of Melchizedek."
where, as Forerunner in our behalf, Jesus entered, having become a High Priest forever, according to the rank 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, therefore, there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there, that another Priest should arise according to the rank of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned according to the rank of Aaron?
And they, indeed, have been made priests many in number, because by death they are hindered from continuing; but He, because of His abiding forever, hath His priesthood unchangeable. read more. Whence also He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, since He is ever living to intercede in their behalf.
who, indeed, serve in the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses has been divinely warned, when about to make the tabernacle; for "See," saith He, "that you make all things according to the pattern which was showed you in the mount";
Verily, therefore, the first covenant used to have ordinances of divine service, and the sanctuary pertaining to the world.
But Christ, having come as a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hand (that is, not of this creation), nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered, once for all, into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. read more. For, if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctifies to the purification of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve 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 against the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there is a necessity that the death of the testator be brought in.
For Christ entered not into holy places made with hand, patterns of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God in our behalf;
For Christ entered not into holy places made with hand, patterns of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God in our behalf; nor yet, that He should many times offer Himself, as the high priest enters into the Holies every year with blood not His own;
so also Christ, having once for all been offered to bear the sins of many, will, to those who are eagerly waiting for Him; appear a second time apart from sin, unto salvation.
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very likeness of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, perfect those who come to them;
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very likeness of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, perfect those who come to them;
For by one offering He hath perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
But where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Having, therefore, brethren, boldness for the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Having, therefore, brethren, boldness for the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is, His flesh;
which He dedicated for us, a new and living way, 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 approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water,
let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body washed with pure water,
Through Him, therefore, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips making confession to His name. But, of well-doing, and contributing, be not forgetful; for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.
ye yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
ye yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
and made us a kingdom, and priests to God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
and, in the midst of the candlesticks, One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle.
and didst make them, to our God, a Kingdom and priests, and they reign on the earth."
And another angel came, and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Happy and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.