IN a day like this, when the authority of Scripture is either questioned or not listened to, and error abounds on almost every hand, it is impossible that believers can overrate the value of acquaintance with the truth of God’s present order of Priesthood.
Like many other parts of divine teaching, it has been greatly lost sight of, because a false order of things has usurped its place. But the knowledge and enjoyment of Priesthood according to God greatly sustains our hearts, as well as draws us out into the most precious exercises of communion and worship; though no doubt Satan and men have sadly corrupted the truth in order to damage souls and dishonor the Lord Jesus, and thus rapidly bring about that condition of things which we know will end in apostasy and judgment.
On turning to the eleventh verse of Jude’s epistle, we perceive three principal ways in which men and Satan are acting so as to bring about that character of false profession which will end in judgment, and in the professing Church being spewed out of Christ’s mouth. (See Jude 14, 1514And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14‑15), and Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16).) We read, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” Thus we have Cain’s way, Balaam’s error, and Korah’s gainsaying, characterizing people professing Christianity.
“The way of Cain” was religiousness without the sacrifice of a life; “the error of Balaam,” ministering in divine things for reward; and “the gainsaying of Korah,” the despising of God’s order of priesthood, and setting up a false one. Now, if you look around, you can scarcely fail to see that the three characteristics of Christianity which have been, and still are being attacked by the enemy, are the infinite value of the one sacrifice of Christ, the divine order of ministry by gifts bestowed by Christ in heaven, and the present divine order of priesthood sought to be supplanted by another of human appointment.
The Gainsaying of Core
This warning voice of Scripture therefore as to “the gainsaying of Core” is most solemn, and shows that a true acquaintance with God’s present order of priesthood is one of the ways of escaping Satan’s wiles, and of living and acting more according to God’s mind. On turning to the sixteenth chapter of Numbers, we find that “the gainsaying of Core” was not an effort to set aside priesthood altogether, but to supplant God’s order by a false one; and we know how summary and severe the judgment of God was upon them for it. May we know God’s mind about this!
It is quite true that God had an order of priesthood in the past dispensation; but it was earthly in its character, that is, for service on earth, and successional; though it was divine in its appointment. It consisted of Aaron and his sons, which in some respects, as we shall see, remarkably shadowed forth God’s present order of priesthood, which is divine in its appointment too, but heavenly, and not successional. It consists of Jesus, the Son of God, gone into heaven itself — THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST, and those who believe in Him who are PRIESTS — an holy priesthood and a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:55Ye 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) .
The Great High Priest
It is an inquiry into Scripture teaching on the priesthood of Jesus, the Son of God, which we now propose to enter upon; and may God help us by His Spirit to approach this glorious subject with that reverence and godly fear which it demands.
In the fourth chapter of Hebrews, the priesthood of Jesus, the Son of God, is presented to us in connection with the sharp and powerful searching of the Word of God, by which the thoughts and intents of the heart are discerned. The great High Priest is therefore introduced to us there to sustain and comfort us before God as His creatures, while conscious of infirmities under the scrutinizing power of His written Word (Heb. 4:12-1612For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing 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. 15For 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. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:12‑16)).
In the eighth chapter of Hebrews, our High Priest is brought before us in relation to the throne of God — “set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Not only does He hold the highest place, but is seated there, because He hath perfected us forever by His one offering. Now, how could we think of approaching God’s throne, unless we knew One was there who had glorified God in the accomplishment of our redemption? (Heb. 8:11Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (Hebrews 8:1).)
In the tenth chapter of Hebrews, priesthood is again set forth concerning our being in the presence of God, our entering into the holiest. This is therefore specially connected with counion and worship. Thus “Jesus, the Son of God who is passed into the heavens,” is presented as a “High Priest,” which “we have” when exposed to the searching qualities of “the word of God,” when thinking of the infinitely holy claims of the throne of God, or entering into the holiest, the presence of God.
But observe the greatness of this Person. He is called a great High Priest, and He is declared to be Jesus, the Son of God. The eternal Son surely, and yet perfect Man, and gone into the very glory of God— “passed through the heavens” —
“Who knows what sore temptations are,
For He has felt the same.”
Perfect Man, made of a woman, who completely did the will of Him that sent Him; yet no less God, the eternal Son, who had glory with the Father before the world was; for “in Him dwelleth all the Fullness of the Godhead bodily.” What infinite glory, perfection, almightiness, and everlastingness therefore are in Him! What a Priest! How transcendently glorious is He! How the glory of a fallible, earthly, mortal priesthood, though in a former dispensation of divine institution, fades away before the eternal excellency of our great High Priest!
Interceding for Believers
Before entering further on the contemplation of this blessed Person and His precious ministry, there are some erroneous thoughts current among Christians which call for a few remarks. The common idea that Christ is now interceding in heaven for everybody, is entirely without Scripture authority. No doubt He is the one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; but mediation or standing between God and men for a time to avert the blow of divine vengeance, is very different from the activity of a heart going out in deepest interest toward God for blessing on the objects of His love, who have been reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Was Aaron a high priest for any but those who were standing in relationship with God, a people who had been delivered from judgment by the blood of the Lamb? Again, did not our Lord say, “I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine”? (John 17). On this point Hebrews 7:2525Wherefore 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. (Hebrews 7:25) is also very clear, for it clearly states for whom Jesus is interceding. We are told it is for “them that come unto God by Him,” which certainly includes all believers on Him, and excludes all others.
It is really unaccountable how Christian people have picked up the idea, that Christ is a High Priest and Intercessor for all men. But how precious is the fact that Christ sends the gospel to every creature, and that His heart in heaven is ever going forth in loving ministry on the behalf of those that believe; and about this there can be no doubt, because such “come unto God by Him.” Oh, the unutterable preciousness of this truth! An honored servant of the Lord once said, “If I heard Christ interceding for me in the next room, how happy it would make me! But distance makes no difference.” Let us, then, dear Christian reader, lift up our hearts with joy and thanksgiving for the precious fact, that the heart of Christ on high, who ever liveth, is ever active in loving ministry on our behalf.
There are some who speak of Christ’s intercessory work in heaven as necessary to appease God’s anger lest it should break loose upon us, and some who have received this error actually call on the Lord Jesus to pray for them. Such, however, have greatly mistaken God’s mind on the matter. The truth is that the same grace that moved the heart of God to give His only begotten Son, to deliver Him up for our offenses to the death of the cross, also appointed Him to the work of the priesthood. We are told that “Christ glorified not Himself to be made a priest,” and also that “the Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb. 5:5, 7:21).
Again, it is thought by not a few that it is by Christ’s sacrifice and priesthood put together that we are saved. If this were the case, then neither His work on the cross as Sacrifice was perfect, nor His work on the throne as Priest; but the truth is that both are perfect as His sitting there shows. It is because His work on the cross was finished according to the will of God, that we are “perfected forever by that one offering.” It therefore needs nothing to be added to it. And it is because of the everlasting efficacy of the work of the cross, never needing another offering to be added to it, that He sat down in perpetuity on the right hand of God. This Aaron could not do. He could never sit down because the same sacrifices needed constant repetition, and even then, however numerous, could not take away sins. The priesthood of Christ was not needed to add to the perfect efficacy of the sacrifice; for, as we have seen, “by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)).
The fact is that the priestly office of Christ is exercised on behalf of saved people, those who were far off, but now in Christ are made nigh by His blood — “for them that come unto God by Him” (Heb. 8:25). Both in the case of Aaron the typical priest, and Christ the Antitype, their functions were set in activity for the benefit of those who already stood in relationship with God.
(To be continued.)