Four Priesthoods
Jewish priests were to baptize (with water) the people; in time they became negligent in their duty, therefore John the Baptist began to baptize the Jews. The priest were unclean in John’s day, therefore it is said,
Matthew 3:10, “And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.”
Because men feel that the power above them is holier than they are, they dare not approach it. In this do they look for intervention, so the High priest is their representative in the things pertaining to God.
Four different priesthoods
That of kings, princes, heads of families and the first-born. These were natural priesthoods, because nature and reason teach us, that the honor of offering sacrifices to God should belong to the most mature in understanding, and the greatest in dignity. The sons of David are described as priests,
2 Samuel 8:18, “David’s sons were chief rulers.” The office of priests descended with the birthright.
The priesthood, according to the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is “the priest of the Most High God.” He was raised up of God to represent the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Or, the priesthood of Melchizedek combined in the same person the right of the kingly and of the priestly offices, with that of the first-born, to exercise the priesthood; or, he was at once king, priest, and prophet, that is authoritative teacher, in every sense of the term.
The priesthood of Aaron and his family subsisted as long as the religion of the Jews existed.
Lastly we have the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and of the new law, which is infinitely superior to all others, in its duration, dignity, prerogatives, objects, and power. The priesthood of Aaron was to end, but that of Jesus is everlasting. That of Aaron was limited to his own family, was exercised only in the temple, and among only one people, the Jews, its object was bloody sacrifices and purifications, which were only external, and could not remit sins; but the priesthood of Jesus includes the entire Christian church, spread over the face of the earth, and among all nations of the world. The epistle to the Hebrews should be considered by those, who would comprehend the excellence of the priesthood of the new law above that of the Law of Moses,
Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing 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.”
Hebrews Chapter 5-9,
1 Peter 2:5-9, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” —
Verse 9 “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him (Jesus) who calls you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com