Old Testament Versus New Testament Priests
The priesthood in the Old Testament was a hereditary office, passed down from father to son. The priests were responsible for mediating between God and the people, and they did this through a variety of rituals and sacrifices.
They also taught the people about God’s law and led them in worship.
New Testament Priesthood
The priesthood in the New Testament is very different. There is no longer a hereditary priesthood, and anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can be a priest.
In fact, the Bible says that all Christians are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This means that we all have the responsibility to mediate between God and the world, and we do this by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Other Key Differences
There are also some other key differences between the priesthood in the Old Testament and the priesthood in the New Testament.
Sacrifices
In the Old Testament, the priests were responsible for offering sacrifices for the sins of the people.
However, Jesus Christ offered the ultimate sacrifice for our sins when he died on the cross. This means that we no longer need to offer sacrifices for our sins.
Entering of Holy Sites
Another difference is that the priests in the Old Testament were only allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement. However, Jesus Christ has opened the way for us to come boldly into the presence of God at any time (Hebrews 4:16).
Law Keepers
Finally, the priests in the Old Testament were responsible for keeping the law. However, Jesus Christ fulfilled the law when he died on the cross. This means that we are no longer under the law, but we are under grace (Romans 6:14).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the priesthood in the Old Testament and the priesthood in the New Testament are very different.
In the Old Testament, the priesthood was a hereditary office that was responsible for mediating between God and the people through a variety of rituals and sacrifices.
In the New Testament, however, anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can be a priest.
We all have the responsibility to mediate between God and the world by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Jesus Christ has also fulfilled the law and opened the way for us to come boldly into the presence of God at any time.
Here are some additional points on this topic:
- The role of the priest in the Old Testament was to represent the people before God. They were to offer sacrifices for the people’s sins and to teach them about God’s law.
- The role of the priest in the New Testament is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. They are to lead people to faith in Jesus and to help them grow in their Christian walk.
- The Old Testament priesthood was a temporary institution that was replaced by the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect priest who offered the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
- The New Testament priesthood is a universal priesthood that is open to all believers. We are all called to be priests who represent God to the world and who proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.