The Priesthood

Part 2

 By Corina Medina

The third point is the duration of the priesthood. Let’s look a little more about how long it continued. Heb. 7:23-27: “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death” They were human, so they died. We see they did not have an eternal priesthood. Heb. 7;24-28: “but this man, (Jesus Christ) because he continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Concerning the eternal priesthood, Heb. 10:12-14 says: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from hence forth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." So there it is, one perfect offering. He sat down at the right hand of the Father. How marvelous! We have an eternal heavenly priest. It is finished! He lives always. He IS eternal life. . .

Lastly, consider the garments of the great High Priest in the book of Exodus. This is a beautiful type of our Lord Jesus Christ. It shows His character, compassion, care, and responsibility for his own. Ex. 28:9-12: “thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the SHOULDERS of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.” This would be nationally and collectively as a nation. And you see them in Malachi 3:16-17 they are living stones and jewels: “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and the thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.”

I Pet. 2:5: “Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” From verse 1 to 10 we see that they were carried on his shoulders, in that he took responsibility for these children. This was written to believing Jews and now for all that believe. Shoulders speak of responsibility.

The second point in Ex. 28:15-21 “thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.” Verses 29 & 30: “And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.” The stones upon his shoulders were a national, collective responsibility, but this breastplate carried the responsibility personally, individually, tribe by tribe. It was born on his heart in love, the love the High Priest has for us.

The third point about this clothing that he wore is in Ex. 28:36-38 “thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.” On the forehead – the all-knowing, all-wise God. And we know we are accepted in Him, and that He loves us and knows us. He is responsible for us.

This is such a beautiful portion of Scripture. Living Stones! God is responsible. “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Aaron’s forehead, upon his heart and on his shoulders speaks of the work of Jesus Christ our Savior. And because we know this, and believe this, and have accepted this and have embraced this and know His great care and concern for us. He gave Himself for us. He was out sacrifice once for all, the great perfect sacrifice. Seeing that he loves us, he is our mediator. There is no other man under heaven able but Christ Jesus. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Heb. 4:14-15. Believe. Hold Fast. Testify. “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He was certainly not like Eli, or Annanias. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, the sinless, perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Verse 16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. We can put our trust in and dependence on Him, on His shoulders and trust in his loving heart and His wise all-knowing ways as head. Jesus Christ, Better than the Old Testament priests. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.
The Lord bless you with His Word.