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The Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian: An Article From The Orthodox Study Bible
4:40
What the video says
This is a reading of an article from the Orthodox Study Bible on the priesthood in Hebrew and Christian tradition. It explains the Old Testament Levitical priesthood, its duties and consecration, and then the New Testament priesthood as Christ's own priesthood, with the Eucharist as the first fruit offering. St. John Chrysostom is quoted on Christ's presence in the liturgy, and the article ends with the royal priesthood of all believers foretold in Exodus and fulfilled in the church.
Key moments
- The Hebrew word for priest is Cohen. He is a Levite who stood as intercessor for the people before God, offering gifts and sacrifices so the people might be reconciled to God.
- The Lord directed Moses to construct the tabernacle and established a permanent hereditary priesthood beginning with Aaron and continuing through his sons. Priests were consecrated with holy oil and wore richly decorated holy garments for the honor and glory of God.
- After Aaron's death, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark, stand before the Lord, minister to him and bless his name.
- Besides sacrifices, priests blessed the people, maintained the tabernacle and later the temple, received tithes and offerings, supervised purification, acted as judges, and taught the law. Only male Levites administered the liturgical rites.
- The authority of the Levitical priesthood ended when Christ offered himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross, typified by the temple curtain being torn asunder. The priesthood of the church is Christ's priesthood, with the Eucharist as the first fruit offering.
- St. John Chrysostom teaches that it is not men who sanctify the offering: the same Christ who sanctified the last supper sanctifies it now, and is even now present and acting. The liturgical prayer says, "Thou thyself art the one who offers and is offered, who accepts and is distributed."
- The church retains the male priesthood because the man Christ Jesus officiates at every eucharistic service in and through his bishops, priests, and deacons. The clergy do not serve in the place of Christ; Christ himself serves in them.
- Chrysostom writes that when the Lord is sacrificed and lies before you, with priests praying over the sacrifice and all partaking of the precious blood, you are transported to heaven: he who sits with the Father is held in our hands. While the ordained priesthood serves on behalf of all, every baptized and anointed believer is a member of God's royal priesthood, foretold in Exodus 19:6 and Isaiah 61:6 and fulfilled in the church according to 1 Peter 2:9, 2:5, and Revelation 1:5 and 6. All Christians are called to offer all of creation back to God with praise and thanksgiving.
This audio reading presents the article "The Priesthood, Hebrew and Christian" from the Orthodox Study Bible. The reading explains the Hebrew word for priest, Cohen: a Levite who stood as intercessor for the people before God, offering gifts and sacrifices so the people might be reconciled to God. The Lord directed Moses to construct the tabernacle and established a permanent hereditary priesthood beginning with Aaron and continuing through his sons.
Priests were consecrated with holy oil and wore richly decorated holy garments. After Aaron's death, the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark, stand before the Lord, minister to him and bless his name. Beyond offering sacrifices, the priests blessed the people, maintained the tabernacle and later the temple, received tithes and offerings, supervised purification, acted as judges, and taught the law.
Only male Levites administered the liturgical rites. The reading then describes how the authority of the Levitical priesthood ended when Christ offered himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross, typified by the temple curtain being torn asunder. The priesthood of the church is Christ's own priesthood, with the Eucharist as the first fruit offering.
St. John Chrysostom teaches that it is not men who sanctify the offering: the same Christ who sanctified the last supper sanctifies it now. The liturgical prayer says, "Thou thyself art the one who offers and is offered, who accepts and is distributed." The church retains the male priesthood because the man Christ Jesus officiates at every eucharistic service in and through his bishops, priests, and deacons; the clergy do not serve in the place of Christ, he serves in them.
Chrysostom writes that when the Lord is sacrificed and lies before you, you are transported to heaven: he who sits with the Father is held in our hands. The reading ends with the royal priesthood of all believers, foretold in Exodus 19:6 and Isaiah 61:6 and fulfilled in the church according to 1 Peter 2:9, 2:5, and Revelation 1:5 and 6.
Main points
- The Hebrew priest, the Cohen, was a Levite who interceded for the people by offering gifts and sacrifices so they might be reconciled to God.
- The hereditary priesthood began with Aaron and his sons; priests were consecrated with holy oil, wore decorated garments, offered sacrifices, blessed the people, kept the tabernacle, judged disputes, and taught the law.
- The Levitical priesthood's authority ended when Christ offered himself as a perfect sacrifice on the cross, with the tearing of the temple curtain as its type.
- Chrysostom teaches that Christ himself sanctifies and offers the Eucharist, acting in and through his bishops, priests, and deacons; a liturgical prayer calls him "the one who offers and is offered."
- Every baptized believer belongs to the royal priesthood foretold in Exodus 19:6 and Isaiah 61:6 and fulfilled in the church (1 Peter 2:9, 2:5; Revelation 1:5-6), called to offer all creation back to God with praise and thanksgiving.