FOOD FOR TEENS :KINGS AND PRIESTS (ROYAL PRIESTHOOD)part 3
Our Priesthood office As continuation and conclusion on this series, let us look at our roles as priests under the new covenants and to do this, we must see the roles and job functions of Jewish priests under the old covenant. During the Old Testament era in Israel, priests had several important job functions. Here are some of the key responsibilities and roles they held:
1. Offering sacrifices: Priests were responsible for offering various types of sacrifices, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. They would perform these sacrifices on behalf of the people to atone for their sins and maintain their relationship with God. Under the New Testament, though Jesus through His death, burial and resurrection has paid the sacrifice for our sins once and for all, scripture tells us explicitly that we too have an altar: Heb 13:10, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” Under the new covenant, the kinds of sacrifices we offer are different. Some of which are stated in Heb 10:15-16, “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.” Here we can see that we must continually offer the sacrifices of praise, the fruit of our lips, in Hosea 14:2, the Bible referred to it as the calves of our lips. It is a very important sacrifice that we must continuously offer because God inhabits the praises of His people. To do good and give those in need for the purpose of the kingdom is another sacrifice that God is very pleased with
2. Teaching and interpreting the Law: Priests were responsible for teaching and interpreting the Law of Moses to the people. They would instruct the people in matters of religious observance, ethical conduct, and the proper understanding of God’s commandments. In the new covenant the Bible told us in Heb 5: 12, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God” As believers, one of our key responsibilities as priests unto God is to become teachers of God’s word. No wonder Jesus commanded us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”
3. Maintaining the tabernacle or temple: Priests were in charge of the upkeep and maintenance of the tabernacle or temple. They would ensure that the sacred space was clean, the altar was properly prepared, and the holy objects and vessels were handled with reverence. Under the new covenant, we are the temple of God (1st Corinthians 3:16, 1st Corinthians 6:19) God dwells in us, therefore Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Now we must live a life of holiness and sanctification because the temple of God must be holy; 1st Corinthians 3:17 says, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are”
4. Blessing the people: Priests had the authority to bless the people of Israel. They would pronounce blessings upon the congregation, individuals, and even the nation as a whole. This blessing was seen as a means of invoking God’s favor and protection. Likewise under the New Testament, we are expected to speak only blessings over the lives of others; 1st Peter 3:9 says, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
5. Mediating between God and the people: Priests acted as intermediaries between God and the people. They would represent the people before God, offering prayers, intercessions, and petitions on their behalf. They would also convey God’s messages, instructions, and laws to the people. 1st Timothy 2:1-3 says, ”exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” The service of standing in the gap for all men through prayers is one of our key functions as priests unto God under the new covenant and we cannot not afford to take it lightly
6. Judging and settling disputes: In some cases, priests were involved in settling disputes and rendering judgments. They would apply the principles of the Law to resolve conflicts and provide guidance on matters of justice and righteousness. In the New Testament, as priests this job function has not changed, we much also judge and settle disputes amongst the brethren. 1st Corinthians 6:1 says, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.”
These and so many more priestly duties are expected of us under the New Testament, please do these, (not neglecting your royal office also) as act of worship unto the Lord and He’ll reward you in this world and in the life to come.
God bless you and see you next month
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