The Royal Priesthood

In the Old Testament, it is a gracious blessing from God to set apart the Levites exclusively for His service. In the New Testament, service to God is expressed through various roles, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The purpose of these roles is to guide people toward God, equip believers for ministry, and strengthen the body of Christ. As these servants of God dedicate themselves to building the body of Christ, they often identify with one of these roles as their “title.” However, just as the Israelites once rejected God’s direct governance through His prophets by demanding a king, many today overlook the voice of God in His living Word, instead focusing on His servants and their titles.

The Levites

Prior to God choosing the Levites, the firstborns were consecrated unto the LORD God (Exodus 13:12). Later God chose the tribe of Levi to take that place in His service.

The LORD also said to Moses, “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD.” – Numbers 3:11-13 (NIV)

The Levites were further divided into families, with the most notable being the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, each given specific responsibilities based on their lineage. Although they were closely associated with the priesthood, the Levites themselves were not priests and did not carry out the primary sacrificial duties.

Their roles included:

• Watching over sacred spaces, maintaining cleanliness, and guarding holy objects.
• Assisting with sacrificial rituals and other priestly functions.
• Leading congregational singing and playing musical instruments during worship.
• Guarding the entrances to the temple complex.
• Performing purification rituals for people or objects considered unclean.
• Transporting and assembling the components of the Tabernacle during the Israelites’ travels.

The Book of Ezra also highlights the Levites’ involvement in constructing the Second Temple and their role in translating and explaining the Torah during its public readings.

The Priests

It was only later, when Moses and Aaron emerged as prominent leaders of Israel, that the Levites gained significance. Both brothers belonged to the tribe of Levi and played vital roles in guiding the Israelites. While Moses served as the primary leader of the people, Aaron assumed responsibility for religious duties.

The priests carried out daily tasks in the Holy Place and the Tabernacle’s court. For instance, the high priest maintained the Golden Lampstand by trimming its wicks and replenishing its oil. They offered sacrifices on behalf of Israel, applied the blood of the sacrifices to the altar, proclaimed God’s blessings over the people, and taught the covenant community. Their role fostered communion and peace with God. Priests instructed the Israelites in the Law, purified the house of God, and inspected individuals who were ceremonially unclean.

In essence, the priest served as the sinner’s representative before God. They acted as a mediator, fulfilling God’s requirements on behalf of others, securing forgiveness and favour, and enabling offenders to enjoy fellowship with God.

Similarities Between Melchizedek And Jesus

The first priest mentioned in the Bible is Melchizedek, a priest of the Most High and a contemporary of Abram. Abram demonstrates his reverence by giving Melchizedek a tenth of the plunder he recovered from the four kings of the East. In doing so, it could be said that Levi, the forefather of all Jewish priests who received tithes, also paid tithes to Melchizedek through their forefather Abraham. Although Levi was not yet born, the seed from which he came was present in Abraham when he offered his tithe to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:9-10). Additionally, the author of Hebrews draws a connection between Melchizedek and Jesus, highlighting their similarities in the verses that follow.

First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever – Hebrews 7:2-3 (NIV)

The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as our ultimate High Priest, who made atonement for our sins (Hebrews 2:17). Just as the blood of the sin offering and the scapegoat removed the sins of the community on the Day of Atonement, Jesus, our High Priest, removes our sins through His own blood. Scripture encourages believers to approach this High Priest with confidence. To fully grasp the transition from the repetitive actions of priests offering gifts and sacrifices to the singular, perfect sacrifice of Jesus, one must read the relevant passages of Scripture with careful attention.

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”- Hebrews 5:1-6 (NIV)

The Priests And Jesus

During Jesus’ ministry, the priests, consumed by jealousy, plotted to kill Him. The Bible records the words of Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, as follows:

You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. – John 11:50 (NIV)

Caiaphas, in the context of Jesus’ approaching death, implied that the sacrifice of one man was necessary for the benefit of all. While he did not explicitly say, “It is good for a man to die,” his statement aligned with God’s plan—one individual’s sacrifice would bring salvation to humanity. John explains that, as the high priest that year, Caiaphas unknowingly spoke prophetically about Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for mankind.

This demonstrates how God’s authority overshadowed the ego-driven words of the high priest, affirming that God holds supreme power over all. Despite their elaborate robes, prestigious thrones, and manipulative use of authority, the priests attempted to assert dominance over the ultimate High Priest—Jesus—only to reveal their own limitations in the face of God’s sovereignty.

Present Day Priests

Even after the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ego-driven attitude persists among some modern-day servants of God. Despite knowing that Jesus has become the sole mediator for all humanity, they position themselves as mediators for sinners to gain recognition and fame. They obscure the truth of Jesus as the ultimate mediator, insisting that salvation requires their involvement, such as performing baptisms or delivering prayers on behalf of others. They even ask people to submit their petitions to God through them, often tying these requests to monetary or material offerings.

This mirrors the struggles Martin Luther faced in his efforts to dismantle the system of priest-mediated forgiveness. Sadly, such practices have reemerged, with some servants of God commercializing prayers and using their authority for personal gain. Their actions feed the pride of those who view themselves as exclusively chosen by God, despite the truth that salvation is freely offered to all through the sacrifice of His Son. These individuals adopt the title of “royal” and cling to the privileges of priesthood for their own benefit, seeking recognition, fame, and wealth while withholding the glory that rightfully belongs to God. In doing so, they become significant barriers to others seeking a genuine relationship with God. Unaware of this troubling reality, many people pay tribute and offerings to them, placing themselves under their control instead of embracing the grace and freedom God has given them.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

To understand priesthood correctly, we must reflect on what God said to the tribe of Levi: “You are My inheritance,” meaning they were not to inherit worldly possessions but to serve God wholeheartedly. Peter encouraged believers to boldly claim the forgiveness Jesus secured for them and to abandon any feelings of inferiority. He reminded them to embrace their identity as the “royal priesthood” of God—not to elevate themselves, but to humbly fulfil their calling and give glory to God.

At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today. That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the LORD is their inheritance, as the LORD your God told them. – Deuteronomy 10:8-9 (NIV)

Tragically, many today use the titles given to God’s servants as a means to acquire worldly wealth, forgetting that they themselves are God’s inheritance. Instead of teaching people the truth about their heavenly inheritance, they hinder them from approaching God through His Word. At the end of His ministry, Jesus told the Father, “I have given them Your Word, the truth,” and warned that the world would hate His followers for it (John 17:14). Yet, rather than accepting the world’s rejection, we often choose to trade our salvation for fleeting pleasures and approval.

In light of this, true priesthood is not about titles, power, or earthly recognition but about wholehearted service to God. The Levites were set apart to serve, and today, believers are called to be a “royal priesthood” that reflects Christ’s love and truth. As followers of Jesus, we must reject the temptation to seek prestige or material gain through spiritual roles and instead embrace our divine calling with humility and dedication. Our inheritance is not of this world but is found in Christ, who has made the ultimate sacrifice. By focusing on Him and His Word, we can live as faithful stewards of God’s grace, leading others toward His truth rather than drawing them to ourselves.