davidbu@loowit.wr.tek.com (David E. Buxton) (04/03/91)
Patriarchal Priesthoods:
"Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And
the LORD respected Abel and his offering, " -- Gen 4:4 (NKJ)
"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal
and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. "--
Gen 8:20 (NKJ)
"Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will
give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had
appeared to him. " -- Gen 12:7 (NKJ)
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the
priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be
Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be
God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he
gave him a tithe of all." -- Gen 14:18-20 (NKJ)
"And He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt [offering]
on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." "-- Gen 22:2 (NKJ)
"But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he
said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Look, the fire and the wood,
but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" "-- Gen 22:7 (NKJ)
"Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind {him was} a
ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram,
and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. "-- Gen
22:13 (NKJ)
"Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and
make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the
face of Esau your brother." " -- Gen 35:1 (NKJ)
"So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job
would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning
and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job
said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their
hearts." Thus Job did regularly. " -- Job 1:5 (NKJ)
"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the pri-
est of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came
to Horeb, the mountain of God." -- Exo 3:1 (NKJ)
"And Moses built an altar and called its name, THE-Lord-Is-My- Banner;
"-- Exo 17:15 (NKJ)
Aaronic Priesthood:
"Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other
sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of
Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. "-- Exo
18:12 (NKJ)
""Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the
children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and
Aaron's sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar." -- Exo 28:1 (NKJ)
" "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the pri-
est, that they may serve him. "And they shall attend to his needs and
the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting,
to do the work of the tabernacle. "-- Num 3:6,7 (NKJ)
New Covenant Priesthood
"The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek."" -- Psa 110:4 (NKJ)
"And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied
greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to
the faith. " -- Acts 6:7 (NKJ)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which
is your reasonable service." -- Rom 12:1 (NKJ)
"and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiri-
tual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." -- 1 Cor 10:4
(NKJ)
"having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone," -- Eph 2:20 (NKJ)
"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preem-
inence." -- Col 1:18 (NKJ)
"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to
God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He
Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are
tempted." -- Heb 2:17,18 (NKJ)
"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was
faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all
His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than
Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the
house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all
things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a
servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken after-
ward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we
hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
"-- Heb 3:1-6 (NKJ)
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -- Heb 4:14-16 (NKJ)
"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God,
just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become
High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I
have begotten You." As He also says in another place: "You are a pri-
est forever according to the order of Melchizedek";" -- Heb 5:4-6
(NKJ)
"called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,""
-- Heb 5:10 (NKJ)
"where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become
High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. "-- Heb
6:20 (NKJ)
"without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither
beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God,
remains a priest continually." -- Heb 7:3 (NKJ)
"Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for
under it the people received the law), what further need was there that
another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and
not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being
changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of
whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no
man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose
from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek,
there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a
fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
For He testifies: "You are a priest forever according to the order of
Melchizedek."" -- Heb 7:11-17 (NKJ)
"for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the
bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And
inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have
become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to
Him: "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek' "), by so much more Jesus has
become a surety of a better covenant." -- Heb 7:19-22 (NKJ)
"And there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from
continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable
priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those
who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession
for them." -- Heb 7:23-25 (NKJ)
"who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacri-
fices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He
did once for all when He offered up Himself." -- Heb 7:27 (NKJ)
"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a
High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true
tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest
is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is neces-
sary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on
earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the
gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the
heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to
make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." But now He has
obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of
a better covenant, which was established on better promises." -- Heb
8:1-6 (NKJ)
"Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service
and the earthly sanctuary." -- Heb 9:1 (NKJ)
"the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All
was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still stand-
ing." -- Heb 9:8 (NKJ)
"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not
of this creation. " -- Heb 9:11 (NKJ)
"And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means
of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first
covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the
eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also
of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force
after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator
lives." -- Heb 9:15-17 (NKJ)
"For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are
copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the pres-
ence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high
priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another;"
-- Heb 9:24-25 (NKJ)
"For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which
they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers,
once purged, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in
those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not
possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offer-
ing You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure." -- Heb 10:1-6
(NKJ)
"Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and
offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which
are offered according to the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come
to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish
the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands min-
istering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice
for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time
waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering
He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." -- Heb
10:8-14 (NKJ)
"by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water." -- Heb 10:20-22 (NKJ)
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to
God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do
not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is
well pleased." -- Heb 13:15, 16 (NKJ)
"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen
by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a
spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained
in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect,
precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are
disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the
chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense."
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were
appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of
Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once
were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained
mercy but now have obtained mercy." -- 1 Pet 2:4-10 (NKJ)
"My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and
not for ours only but also for the whole world." -- 1 John 2:1,2
(NKJ)
"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the
dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us
and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and
priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and
ever. Amen." -- Rev 1:5,6 (NKJ)
"And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God
by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the
earth." "-- Rev 5:9,10 (NKJ)
"Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His
covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises,
thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." -- Rev 11:19 (NKJ)
"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every
nation, tribe, tongue, and people;" -- Rev 14:6 (NKJ)
"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say,
"Come!" And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely." -- Rev 22:17 (NKJ)
Dave (David E. Buxton)
From the Silicon RainForest of the Northwest