… to be a holy priesthood…
What is the difference between a “priesthood” and a “holy priesthood?” That is the question that comes to mind today. Peter says that those who are chosen by God, who are being “built into a spiritual house,” are going to be a holy priesthood. What can he mean?
The answer to this question lies in the difference between what God intended the Old Testament priesthood to be and what it actually was.
Under the Mosaic Covenant, God established a priesthood that was intended to be holy. The priests were to serve God in his Tabernacle and serve the people by interceding for them with God.
“Holy” means set apart for God. A holy priesthood is not polluted by the world or the flesh. A holy priesthood keeps the covenant required by God. Of course, we know that the Jewish priests did not all adhere to the Old Testament laws they received from Moses. By the time Jesus walked the earth, the laws had been twisted so badly that they were barely recognizable. Jesus himself was considered an enemy of the priests because he objected to their perversion of God’s laws.
In Christ, we stand righteous before God, not because of our righteousness, but by the righteousness of Jesus. Standing with Jesus we become the “living stones” Peter referred to. As such, we are the ones who serve God. We also represent God to others who do not yet know him. This is the function of a holy priesthood: Serving God and serving others.
Application: As Christians, it is helpful to understand that we are to love God above all else and our neighbor as ourself.
Food for Thought: How does the worldly part of our nature see the role of being a priest?
A priest is a mediator between people and God. The passage in 1 Peter appears to be a quote of Exodus 19: 6. What was unique about that passage is it was not a reference to the Levite’s being priests but rather the entire nation of Israel was to be set apart for God to show others who He is.
Similarly, we are to be holy or set apart to tell others about Christ and glorify Him. We are called to be mediators that bring others into relationship with Christ Jesus.
Rich,
Thank you! Both the NIV and the KJV translate Exodus 19:6 as a “kingdom of priests.” That adds a great perspective to this passage.
Rich,
Great point on our calling by God. It’s refreshing to be with men who focus on outward verses inward.
How does the worldly part of our nature see the role of being a priest?
We can be ruled by our emotions or allow Christ to rule over our emotions.
We need to listen to our heart as it aligns with the will of God. Trust in God to bring our emotions into alignment with His reality rather than letting our flawed human perceptions create a distorted reality.
Jeremiah 17:9, The heart is more deceitful than all things and desperately wicked; who can understand it?
Colossians 3:15,
Let the peace of God call the shots in our lives.
Let the peace of God be the umpire in our life and actions.
Let the peace of God act as referee in our emotions and our decisions.”
We are not called to stuff our emotions away and not feel them. God created us with emotions, and they can be a gift. We should feel all of our emotions, and then lay them at the foot of the cross. Enjoy those which are approved.
Ron,
Thank you for this insight. As priests, or representatives of Jesus, we need to submit our selves, our emotions, and our pride to Him. Well said!
👍🏻
What Ron shared here ministered so strongly to me! I have always struggled w/ this balance & you framed this in a way that it was really low hanging fruit to understand, but with powerful and deep insights and connections that I NEEDED to hear; the part about peace especially. Here it is 2:49 AM and I am trying to press into God for peace, that I may sleep. I needed this. I need to learn how to let his peace rest in my heart, and be the center and control from which all my emotions and decisions flow.
Jeff, I wanted to ask, what do you see here? you asked about, “How does the worldly part of our nature see the role of being a priest?” This was a very interesting way to frame this, it is really making me think. I’m curious what led you to framing it in that light and what your own insights are? Really making me ponder (in a good way)…
NMOP3PISnd,
Thank you for asking! 🙂 Sometimes when I post a question, I have an answer in mind. Often I don’t, and I learn from those who comment here. In this case, I had something in mind.
In my experience, I have seen very secular people vie for the role of “priest” in a mainstream church. Their motivation seems to be the acquisition of money and power. I suspect that power is the greater motivation, the power to try and remake God’s church in man’s image. It is an ugly thing to watch.
There is Biblical precedent for this. In Numbers 16, Moses recounts the story of Korah’s Rebellion. Korah and his followers were blind to God’s purposes in having Moses lead the Israelites. All they could see was the power and position God had given Moses. The result of defying God was not pretty! It should be a warning to others who attempt to do the same.
So the answer I would give to the question is that the worldly nature sees opportunity for acquiring power and influence. Not to serve God, but to serve one’s self.
Jeff,
Thanks for following up & opening up on that bit for me. I completely agree. I think there is a natural pitfall in the heart of man that can be lured into straying here w/ any position that affords power, recognition, wealth, or even a chance to reshape the world according to our own desires.
You give a great example. I would even add that it runs deeper & broader. A large part of what I believe God was working in the OT was to show to man his insufficiency as a covenant holder (via the failure of the priesthood in the flesh).
In the NT, we are remade in Christ in the new birth where he is now the covenant holder on both ends. We are now, as you clearly stated prior, part of a new spiritual priesthood. The entire structure has been done away with. The former was only a shadow. So working any priesthood in the flesh is actually returning to something that has passed!
This is another issue I have w/ Catholicism; where they reinstate an earthly priesthood where those on earth supplant Christ as intercessors before God (even as his vicar)! But we know we have One high priest, even Jesus! Ron did a great job earlier in mentioning how he is constantly intercession for us!
I think Hebrews is an incredible read on this. Anyhow, thanks for sharing, this gave me even more to think about. I often like to take the time to frame my own thoughts in distinction with others. It helps me flesh out and work out what I believe, not that I disagree with them.
Thank you all. It was fun seeing these interactions and I learned a lot from all of them.