IN the New Testament the Jewish priests are often mentioned, and their high and chief priests too. The priest of Jupiter is spoken of, who would have offered sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods; Melchisedek and his priesthood also. Christ Himself is spoken of as a priest in general and as high priest. All this is simple enough and needs no particular comment for our present purpose.
But others also, men on earth, are spoken of as priests and a priesthood (1 Peter 2:5,95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)). The first passage says—
“Ye also as lively (living) stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
The latter—
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
These words are addressed, beyond all controversy, to the whole of the Christians to whom Peter addresses his epistle, and whom he is instructing and encouraging in their trials.
All Christians, therefore, are a holy and royal priesthood.
“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God and His Father.”
Here again all Christians are priests. This is in the introduction before the prophetic part of the book. In chapter 5:9 we read—
“Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wart slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests.”
In chapter 20:6 we read—
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
These passages tell us that all Christians are priests to God. Another verse, though the word is not used, alludes to it—
This calls on all Christians to exercise their priesthood, and shows how they are to do it. There is not in the New Testament one passage which speaks of, or alludes to, a priesthood upon earth, save that to which every Christian belongs, nor one that supposes the existence of a priesthood on earth other than that of all Christians. No one on earth is ever called a priest, except the Jewish priests, and once a heathen one, save when Christians in general are called so. A distinct class of priests on earth amongst Christians is totally unknown to the New Testament. Our great High Priest is gone to heaven, and all Christians are priests in a spiritual and heavenly way for praises and intercessions under Him. The New Testament does not know or own a class of Christians on earth who are priests in a distinct office from other Christians. Such a thought is unscriptural and false in every way.
If it be asked, then, Who are priests under the Christian revelation? I reply (because the Word of God replies) Christ is the great High Priest, and all Christians are priests, and no other priesthood than this is owned among Christian men in the New Testament.
Next we may inquire, What is a priest? and more exactly, What are the principles on which earthly priesthood, where it is established amongst men, is founded? A high priest from among men is thus described in the Epistle to the Hebrews—
“Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin.”
Other priests had the same office when priesthood was established upon earth. Certain functions belonged to the high priest only, but gifts and sacrifices for sin were offered by all the priests. Hence when priests are officially established now there is always either the formal institution of a sacrifice, as that of the mass — which is quite consistent — or the hankering after one, and the effort on the part of those calling themselves priests to turn the Lord’s Supper into one, from the sense of inconsistency and of what they ought to be about if they are really priests.
But this whole system denies the force and efficacious truth of Christianity altogether. The Epistle to the Hebrews carefully assures us that there remains no more sacrifice for sin now that Christianity is established, founded on the one perfect sacrifice of Christ, whose value and efficacy are eternal. But let the reader turn his attention to what the system of an earthly priesthood supposes, what it means, and he will readily see that the idea of a priesthood on earth acting for men in things pertaining to God is a denial of the whole truth of Christianity. I do not say every one that believes there are consecrated priests desires to do so, but the system he maintains does so.
The establishment of a class of priests to offer gifts or sacrifices or prayers is the public declaration that other worshippers cannot directly approach God with their gifts and sacrifices and prayers; they must stay at a distance and the more favored class approach for them. The character which God assumed in such an order of things was distance from men, shutting Himself up in a hidden sanctuary where none could approach freely. There was in the Jewish system one vail inside which the priests went to offer incense, then another inside which even the priests could not go, and where God’s glory was enthroned between the cherubim. Into this the high priest alone went, only once a year, with the blood of propitiation to put upon the mercy-seat, and even then enveloping himself in a cloud of incense lest he should die. Thus God was hidden within the vail. “The Holy Ghost,” the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us, “this signifying that the way into the holiest was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing.” Even to the altar, which was outside the two vails, the worshipper could not approach to offer his gifts or sacrifices. The priest received the gifts or the victim’s blood at his hand, and he offered them. All this system taught that men could not approach God: He dwelt in the thick darkness, and even those who were nearest to Him, His own priests, could not approach close to Him, they must remain without the vail.
Christianity is the opposite of all this, though beautiful figures of truths as to Christ are found in it. By it God has revealed Himself.