THE RETURN OF THE KINGS: PART ONE

This is a two-part study on priesthood and kingship. Part One will discuss the nature of every born-again believer's priesthood. Part Two will continue on to explore the equally important calling of believers to kingship.

PRIESTHOOD

What images come to mind when we hear the word "priest"? Confessional booths or white collars? Men robed in elaborately embroidered gowns inside great cathedrals? Chanting monks hidden away in obscure monasteries? The customary smile and handshake at the church door? Or the overworked pastor at the local church perhaps?

Well, whatever the word "priest" implies to the world, God has quite a different definition of priesthood. When HE speaks of His holy priesthood, He's talking about that elderly intercessor at church who says little, but who's every whispered prayer echoes throughout Heaven. He's talking about that mechanic at the local garage with soiled, grease-stained hands raised in adoration to his King. He's talking about that little child dropping her coins in the offering box because she wants Jesus to have it more than she wants that chocolate bar. He's talking about that housewife turning her kitchen sink into an altar, worshiping with tears streaming while she does the dishes. He's talking about that teenage boy with the dreadlocks and broken heart, sharing the gospel with the addicts and alcoholics on the street. He's talking about you, and He's talking about me.

The idea that priesthood can be attained through study, celibacy, religious affiliation, title, career, appointment or dress code, is not found in scripture. In fact the Bible states the only Kingdom requirement for priesthood is to be washed from sin in the Blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5, 6) Every further credential the world associates with priesthood has been added by the religion of the flesh. The scriptures also indicate that it is God, and not man, who calls and appoints His priesthood: "And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was, so also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He (God) who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." (Heb. 5:4)

According to the scriptures, a priest's pre-eminent calling is that of ministering, through worship, to the Lord Himself:

Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest… Exodus 28:1

Intercession is also associated with priesthood:

And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded." Leviticus 9:7

The apostle Peter taught that the entire church is called to be a living, holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices of worship and proclaiming the Lord's praises.

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light…." 1 Peter 2:9

Contrary to popular opinion, priesthood therefore is not the exclusive domain of a select few by virtue of theological training or denominational appointment. It is both the privilege and responsibility of all born again believers regardless of age, gender, race or educational background. If you, reading this study, have entered the Kingdom of God through faith in the shed Blood of Christ then you are a priest of the Kingdom called to minister to the King and proclaim His praise throughout the heavens and the earth!


Which Priesthood?

Today in the church, we hear people describing themselves in terms of "the Zadok priesthood", or as "Levitical worshipers". Are these valid and truthful labels for us to be applying under the New Covenant? To clarify, let's take a brief look at the different types of priesthood referred to in scripture.

A Priesthood of the Firstborn - Since the Lord God ceased walking with Adam in the cool of the day, His great desire has been to re-establish close, intimate communion with mankind. Furthermore, God, who is attended by angelic hosts, has ordained that mankind should have the honour and privilege of ministering to Him personally. Indeed, this is the first and primary function of priesthood (Ex. 28:1; 1 Peter 2:5). When God called Israel out of Egypt, His stated intention was to establish for Himself a royal priesthood (Ex. 19:5 &6). The book of Numbers tells us that on the day that the Lord "struck all the firstborn in Egypt", He also sanctified to Himself all the firstborn in Israel (Numbers 3:13). This priesthood of the firstborn was set apart by the Lord for His own. However when the children of Israel rebelled and worshiped a man-made idol, the Lord passed the privilege of priesthood to the tribe of Levi, who were the only tribe to stand with Him when He judged Israel for their idolatry ( Ex. 32:26-28; Numbers 3:10-12; 3:40-51).

The Levites - The Levites retained the responsibility for priesthood throughout the Old Covenant. Aaron and his descendants served in the office of High Priest and anointed priests, ministering directly to the Lord at the altar. All other males from the tribe of Levi between the ages of 25 and 50 served as assistant priests, maintaining the tabernacle and providing for the needs of the High Priest and his family (Numbers 3:6-10; 8:24-25). The responsibilities of this priestly tribe were diverse and included serving as doorkeepers, preparing the sacred incense, looking after the ministering vessels, and composing and playing worship songs for use in the temple (1 Chron. 9).

Zadok - Zadok was a Levitical priest who served during the reigns of David and Solomon. His name derives from a root Hebrew word (tsadaq) meaning "righteous". Zadok is named as one of the mighty men who joined David at Ziklag during his alienation from Saul (1 Chron. 12:1, 28). Throughout David's reign, Zadok remained loyal to him, even when David was forced to flee Jerusalem after the rebellion of his son Absalom. When David was nearing death, Adonijah, another of David's sons, rose up to proclaim himself king. God, however, had chosen Solomon as David's successor. Again, Zadok the priest remained loyal to David, anointing Solomon king at David's request, before Adonijah could establish his own reign. The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that the "sons of Zadok" had been chosen by God to "teach the people the difference between the holy and the unholy" (Ezek. 44:15,23). The Zadok priesthood has therefore come to signify faithfulness, wisdom and a seeking after the anointing.

A New Priesthood

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High". Gen. 14:18

There is no doubt that the church has valuable lessons to learn from both the Levitical and Zadok priesthoods. Each were severely tested yet remained faithful at crucial periods in Israel's history. However, both these priesthoods were incomplete shadows, or types, of that which was to be established by Jesus under the New Covenant. For not only is the New Covenant a better covenant, but the Blood of Christ has rendered the Old Covenant obsolete (Heb. 8:6,7; 13). Under this New Covenant, Jesus became the High Priest of an entirely new order of priesthood - the unchangeable priesthood of Melchizadek (Heb. 5:6; 7:24). Notice that the name Melchizadek, or Malkiy-Tsedeq, is a combination of two Hebrew words. The first "malkiy" means "king", while the second is from the same root word from which the name Zadok is derived, meaning "righteousness".

Melchizadek, King of Salem (peace), is mentioned briefly in Genesis 14:18 as the mysterious king who ministered to Abram after the battle of the kings. Melchizadek presented wine and bread to Abram, just as Jesus has presented His own Blood and His own Body. Furthermore, this Melchizadek is said to be "without genealogy" (Heb. 7:3). This means his priesthood was not inherited through the flesh. Levitical priesthood was inherited by family lineage, passed down from father to son, generation after generation. The Melchizadek priesthood, however, is a priesthood of the Spirit. You might even say the Levitical priesthood was based on who your father was, while the Melchizadek priesthood is based on who Jesus' Father is! Jesus would never have been eligible for priesthood under the old Levitical system, simply because he was not of the tribe of Levi, but of the tribe of Judah (Heb. 7:11-14).

The Levites were primarily servant-mediators between God and His people. The Zadok priesthood were Levites who demonstrated a deeper holiness and faithfulness to the Lord, even when their fellow Levites betrayed their sacred office (Ezek. 44:10). Both the Levitical and the Zadok priesthoods were about serving, but not about reigning. Melchizadek, however, was both a priest AND a king.

Jesus is both our Great High Priest and King of Kings, after the order of Melchizadek (Heb. 4:14; 7:17). His priesthood is unchangeable and eternal, and it is this priesthood that we, the New Covenant church, have entered into. Under the new covenant, there are no longer any priestly clans between the people and God. Jesus is the Great High Priest, the only mediator between man and God, through whose shed Blood we all now have access to the Father's Presence (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:18-22).

Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24

To be eligible for the Melchizadek priesthood you must have passed from death to life. Jesus is the Firstfruits, the Firstborn from the dead, the Great High Priest who has indeed passed from death to life (1 Cor. 15:23; Col. 1:18). The church is bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh (Eph. 5:30).

There is therefore no scriptural foundation under the New Covenant for any believer to be claiming membership of a "tribe" (denomination), or the "covering" of an earthly "father". The scriptures are clear that there is one church and one holy nation of priests - the church of the Firstborn (Heb. 12:23), of which Jesus is the Head and we believers are the Body. He is the Great High Priest and we are the royal priesthood. Jesus Christ has restored the priesthood of the Firstborn!