Growing up Protestant, and Southern Baptist at that, I had very little understanding of what it meant to be a priest. My limited knowledge was based on the depiction of Roman Catholic priests in popular media. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was quite a bit different. Priests were assigned to offer sacrifices on behalf of God’s people and teach the people His law. These priests were descended from Aaron, the first high priest. And, in the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is the ultimate high priest (Heb. 4:14–16). Through Jesus, all believers are priests: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).
God’s people had been exiled from the promised land for their sin, which included improperly worshiping the Lord. So, as they prepared to return from exile, it was essential that they worship God in the way He said they should worship Him. These few verses highlight the necessity of only allowing people qualified to serve as priests for that role. In fact, it was so imperative that if a family could not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were in the family tree of Aaron, then they “were excluded from the priesthood as unclean” (v. 62) and forbidden from eating the sacrifices offered to the Lord. Following God’s commands to the letter was that important.
Obeying God fully remains an important part of our relationship with Him today. He is still holy and still demands that we obey Him with our whole hearts. Jesus is our great high priest, and all believers in Jesus are priests with direct access to the Father. Hallelujah!
Go Deeper
What do you think is the significance of God extending the priesthood to all His followers in the new covenant? How does that access to God impact your relationship with Him?
Pray with Us
Holy God, thank You that we have direct access to You through Jesus Christ. May we never take it for granted. You are a loving God.
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.1 Peter 2:5
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