Priests hold a significant role throughout the Bible, serving as mediators between God and His people. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, their responsibilities and spiritual importance are highlighted. These Bible verses offer insight into the calling, duties, and blessings associated with the priesthood. Let’s explore the Word of God to understand the sacred role of priests.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Pastors Being Shepherds
The Calling of Priests
Priests were chosen by God to represent His people, offering sacrifices and guiding them in His ways. Their calling was not a personal choice but a divine selection, emphasizing their sacred duty. These verses reveal the spiritual significance of being called to serve as a priest and the holiness required of them.
Exodus 28:1
“Call for your brother Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests.”
Hebrews 5:4
“And no one can become a high priest simply because they want such an honor. They must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.”
Leviticus 8:30
“Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar, and he sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. In this way, he made Aaron and his sons and their garments holy.”
Numbers 18:7
“But you and your sons, the priests, must personally handle all the priestly rituals associated with the altar and with everything behind the inner curtain. I am giving you the priesthood as your special privilege of service. Any unauthorized person who comes too near the sanctuary will be put to death.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
The Duties of Priests
Priests were tasked with various responsibilities, including offering sacrifices, teaching the law, and interceding for the people. Their service was an act of obedience and devotion to God. The following verses describe the duties entrusted to priests and their role in maintaining spiritual order among God’s people.
Leviticus 6:12-13
“Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”
Malachi 2:7
“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Numbers 18:5
“You yourselves must perform the sacred duties inside the sanctuary and at the altar. If you follow these instructions, the Lord’s anger will never again blaze against the people of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 33:10
“They teach your regulations to Jacob; they give your instructions to Israel. They present incense before you and offer burnt offerings on the altar.”
Hebrews 7:27
“Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.”
The Holiness of Priests
God required priests to live lives of holiness, reflecting His purity and righteousness. They were to be set apart, consecrated for their sacred work. These verses emphasize the importance of holiness in the life of a priest and how it symbolized their dedication to God.
Leviticus 21:6
“They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. They must be holy because they are the ones who present the special gifts to the Lord, gifts of food for their God.”
Leviticus 22:9
“The priests must follow my instructions carefully. Otherwise, they will be guilty and die for their disrespect of my requirements. I am the Lord who makes them holy.”
1 Timothy 3:2-3
“So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.”
1 Corinthians 9:13
“Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings?”
Titus 1:7-8
“An elder is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.”
Jesus as Our High Priest
Jesus Christ is the ultimate High Priest, fulfilling and surpassing the role of priests in the Old Testament. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin and continues to intercede for us before the Father. These verses highlight the profound significance of Jesus as our eternal High Priest.
Hebrews 4:14
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.”
Hebrews 7:24-25
“But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
Hebrews 9:11
“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.”
Hebrews 9:28
“So also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About the Church
The Priesthood of All Believers
In the New Testament, believers are called to be a royal priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices and proclaiming God’s praises. This concept emphasizes the personal relationship each Christian can have with God and their responsibility to serve Him. These verses encourage all believers to embrace their role as priests in God’s kingdom.
1 Peter 2:5
“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”
Revelation 1:6
“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 5:10
“And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”
Romans 12:1
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
Isaiah 61:6
“You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches.”
God’s Covenant with Priests
The priesthood was established through God’s covenant with His people, particularly with the family of Aaron and the Levites. This covenant signifies God’s faithfulness and His expectation of unwavering service from His priests. These verses remind us of the sacredness of this covenant and its eternal value.
Jeremiah 33:21
“But this is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Numbers 25:12-13
“Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priesthood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he purified the people of Israel, making them right with me.”
Ezekiel 44:15
“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord.”
Psalm 132:16
“I will clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy.”
Malachi 2:4
“Then at last you will know it was I who sent you this warning so that my covenant with the Levites can continue,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Priests as Intercessors
Priests served as intercessors, standing in the gap between God and His people. They prayed on behalf of the nation and sought God’s mercy. This role foreshadowed Christ’s ultimate intercession for humanity. These verses illustrate the priestly role of intercession and its spiritual significance.
Exodus 32:11
“But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. ‘O Lord!’ he said. ‘Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?'”
Leviticus 16:17
“No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with the Lord.”
1 Samuel 7:9
“So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.”
2 Chronicles 30:27
“Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.”
Romans 8:34
“Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”