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 unto him, See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
what profane sort of work the priests do in the temple on the sabbath-days, and yet are blameless?
Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. And they, that apprehended Jesus, led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled:
and saith unto him, See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy purification what Moses has commanded, for a testimony to them.
There was in the days of Herod king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, while he was in the order of his course performing the priest's office before God,
And He charged him to tell no one: but go, said He, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go and shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass as they were going, they were cleansed.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.
And Peter said 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 the young men coming in found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
and when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
crying out, and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things? we also are men subject to the like infirmities with you, and we preach the gospel unto you, that ye may turn from these vanities to the living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea,
but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite him on the mouth.
through whom also we have admission by faith into this grace in which we stand, and boast in hope of the glory of God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and well-pleasing to God, as your rational service.
and that He might reconcile both in one body unto God, by the cross, having thereby slain the enmity:
by whom we have freedom and access with confidence through faith in Him.
for we have not an high-priest who cannot sympathize with our infirmities, but was in all respects tempted in like manner with us, yet without sin.
for we have not an high-priest who cannot sympathize with our infirmities, but was in all respects tempted in like manner with us, yet without sin. Let us therefore come with freedom to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for our seasonable help.
For every high-priest taken from among men, is appointed for the sake of men in things relating to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins:
and for this reason he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifice for sins.
and for this reason he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifice for sins. And no one taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.
As He saith also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
As He saith also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him: having been declared by God an high-priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Whither Jesus our fore-runner is entered for us, being made an high-priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings,
Now if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?
And they were many priests, because they were by death hindered from continuing in their office; but He, because He abideth for ever, hath a priesthood that passeth not to any other: read more. wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost, those that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
who worship under the representation and shadow of heavenly things; as Moses was ordered by God, when he was about to finish the tabernacle. For see, saith He, that thou make all according to the model shewn thee in the mount.
Therefore the first covenant had also rites of worship and a worldly sanctuary.
But Christ being come an high-priest of the good things to come, hath entered once for all into the holy places, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building, nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us. read more. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purification of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works, that ye may serve the living God? And on this account He is the mediator of a new covenant, that undergoing death for the redemption of transgressions against the first covenant, they that are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there is a necessity of proving the death of the testator.
For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor to offer Himself often, as the high-priest entereth into the holy of holies every year with the blood of others;
so Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear the second time without sin, to those who are waiting for Him, unto salvation.
For the law having but a faint shadow of good things to come, and not the full image of the things, can never, even by the great annual sacrifices which they offer statedly, make the comers thereunto perfect.
For the law having but a faint shadow of good things to come, and not the full image of the things, can never, even by the great annual sacrifices which they offer statedly, make the comers thereunto perfect.
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever those that are sanctified.
Now where there is such a remission of these, there needs no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, free admission into the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Having therefore, brethren, free admission into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, the new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say,
the new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a great high-priest over the house of God,
his flesh, and having a great high-priest over the house of God, let us draw near with sincerity, in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
let us draw near with sincerity, in the full assurance of faith, having our hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
and precious, ye also are built up as living stones, a spiritual house, an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
and precious, ye also are built up as living stones, 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, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should declare the glories of Him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
and hath made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed with a long robe, and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle.
and hast made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall 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 might present it with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar, which was before the throne.
This is the first resurrection. Happy and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.