The Priesthood of Believers

THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT = JESUS CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST.
- THIS IS THE THEME OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS. PREVIOUSLY WE COMPARED THE PRIESTHOOD OF AARON, THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHISEDEK, AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.
- NOW WE WILL CONSIDER THE HIGH PRIEST HIMSELF.
  - HIS GARMENTS EXO 28:2-5 EXO 39 LEV 8:7-9
    - THE WHITE ROBE WORN ALONE ONLY ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (ONCE A YEAR) = THE SINLESS NATURE OF CHRIST.
    - THE BLUE ROBE = CHRIST CLOTHED WITH A HEAVENLY NATURE.
      - IT WAS WORN OVER THE PLAIN, WHITE ROBE..
      - ON THE HEM WERE TINY GOLD BELLS = MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE BEFORE THE LORD AS A WITNESS OF HIS WORK AND ACTIVITY.
      - ON THE HEM WERE ALSO TINY POMEGRANATES ALTERNATING IN COLORS OF BLUE, PURPLE, AND SCARLET = REPRESENTS THE FRUITFULNESS OF CHRIST.
        
        THE POMEGRANATE WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE THE FRUIT HAS SO MANY SEEDS.
        
        THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (GAL 5:22-23)
        
        PART OF CHRIST'S FRUITFUL MINISTRY WAS HEALING .(MAT 9:20-21)
    - THE EPHOD (A MULTICOLORED EMBROIDERED VEST) = THE MULTI-FACETED RICHNESS OF CHRIST. (EXO 28:6-14, 31-35)
      - THE COLORS OF THE EMBROIDERY WERE RED, BLUE, PURPLE, WHITE, AND GOLD = THE MEANING IS THE SAME AS FOR THE COLORS USED IN THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS.
      - TWO SHOULDER PIECES = THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON THE SHOULDERS OF CHRIST. (ISA 9:6)
        
        2 LARGE ONYX STONES SET IN GOLD WITH THE NAMES OF 6 OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL ENGRAVED ON EACH STONE = ONYX IS THE STONE OF REMEMBRANCE (EXO 28:12)
    - THE GIRDLE (BELT) OF THE EPHOD = HE WHO IS GIRDED IS READY FOR SERVICE (EPH 6:14)
    - THE BREASTPLATE = GUIDANCE AND JUDGMENT (EXO 28:15-30)
      - IT WAS MADE OF THE SAME COLORS AS THE EPHOD WITH THE SAME MEANING.
      - IT WAS MADE OF TWO PIECES OF FABRIC, BACK TO BACK AND OPEN AT THE TOP TO FORM A POCKET, WHICH CARRIED THE URIM AND THUMMIM.
        
        WHAT WAS THE URIM AND THE THUMMIM?
        
        IT IS NOT KNOWN SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE URIM AND THUMMIM WERE. THE HIGH PRIEST USED THEM TO DETERMINE THE WILL OF GOD. = IT REPRESENTS THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
        
        SOME BELIEVE THEY WERE BLACK AND WHITE STONES CAST LIKE DICE TO DETERMINE GOD’S WILL.
      - THERE WERE 12 PRECIOUS STONES OF DIFFERENT COLORS ON THE FRONT OF THE BREASTPLATE REPRESENTING EACH OF THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL = THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE CLOSE TO THE HEART OF THE HIGH PRIEST. (EXO 28:29-30)
      - THERE WERE 2 GOLD RINGS AND 2 GOLD CHAINS AT THE TOP ATTACHED TO THE SHOULDER PIECES = THE BREASTPLATE IS ALSO CALLED THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGMENT. (EXO 28:15)
        
        THE DETERMINATION OF THE WILL OF GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE WAS TO BE BASED ON RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT, (PSA 33:5) AND TIED BY GOD'S NATURE OF JUSTICE AND MERCY.
      - THERE WERE 4 RINGS OF GOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BREASTPLATE ATTACHING IT BY BLUE CORDS TO THE GIRDLE (BELT). = CHRIST IS READY TO GUIDE AND DO SERVICE FOR HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE.
        
        4 RINGS OF GOLD = SAINTS IN THE 4 CORNERS OF THE WORLD TIED BY…
        BLUE CORDS = THE LOVE OF CHRIST
    - WHITE MITRE WITH A GOLD CROWN HELD BY BLUE LACE = CHRIST, THE PERFECT HUMANITY, CROWNED WITH DEITY BY THE LOVE OF THE FATHER. (EXO 28:36-38)
      - ENGRAVED IN THE GOLD IS "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" = A REMEMBRANCE THAT THE SIN NATURE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD IS NOW MADE HOLY THROUGH THE GRACE AND LOVE OF CHRIST.
    - THE PRIESTS ALWAYS MINISTERED BAREFOOT BECAUSE THE TABERNACLE WAS HOLY GROUND.

THE DUTY OF THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT = THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST ON PASSOVER. (LEV 16 LEV 23:26-32)

HE PUTS ASIDE HIS HIGH PRIESTLY GARMENTS AND DRESSES AS THE OTHER PRIESTS (ALL IN WHITE) = CHRIST PUT ASIDE HIS DEITY TO BECOME A MAN AND DIE FOR US, BUT HE WAS PURE AND WITHOUT SIN.
HE OFFERS A BULL FOR HIS OWN SINS AND FOR A SPIRITUAL CLEANSING OF THE TABERNACLE.
- BLOOD FROM THE BULL WAS SPRINKLED ALL OVER THE HOLY PLACE AND THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
  - CHRIST HAD NO SIN. THEREFORE, THIS PART OF THE CEREMONY APPLIES ONLY TO OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS. THE CROSS, A DEGRADING MEANS OF THE DEATH OF A CRIMINAL, IS MADE A HOLY THING.
- THE HIGH PRIEST TAKES 2 GOATS, ONE HE KILLS = THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST
  - BLOOD FROM THIS GOAT IS POURED 7 TIMES ON THE GROUND AT THE BASE OF THE BRAZEN ALTAR.
    - CHRIST'S BLOOD FELL AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
      - 7 IS GOD’S NUMBER OF COMPLETENESS OR PERFECTION.
  - BLOOD FROM THE GOAT IS PUT UPON THE 4 HORNS OF THE BRAZEN ALTAR = THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WAS SHED FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE MERCY.
  - THE HIGH PRIEST PLACED HIS BLOODIED HANDS ON THE HEAD OF THE SECOND GOAT (THE SCAPEGOAT) AND CONFESSED THE SINS OF ISRAEL = OUR SINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO CHRIST ON THE CROSS WHEN HE BECAME SIN FOR US.
  - COALS FROM THE BRAZEN ALTAR, MIXED WITH SOME BLOOD, AND BLOOD FROM THE GOAT ARE TAKEN INTO THE HOLY PLACE. SOME OF THE BLOOD IS PUT ON THE 4 HORNS OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. THE COALS FROM THE BRAZEN ALTAR ARE MIXED WITH INCENSE AND PUT INTO A CENSER AT THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. HE PRAYS FOR FORGIVENESS OF THE SINS OF ISRAEL FOR THE PAST YEAR = ALL PRAYERS FOR MERCY FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF THE WORLD ARE PAID FOR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
    - "FATHER FORGIVE THEM" LUKE 23:34
  - THE SMOKING CENSER AND BLOOD FROM THE GOAT IS TAKEN INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES. BLOOD IS PUT ON THE MERCY SEAT OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT 7 TIMES. (COMPLETE AND PERFECT ATONEMENT.) = CHRIST TOOK HIS BLOOD TO HEAVEN AND PUT IT ON THE MERCY SEAT IN HEAVEN TO PAY FOR OUR SINS. (JOH 20:17 HEB 9:12)
  - THE REMAINDER OF THE BODIES OF THE BULL AND GOAT ARE TAKEN OUTSIDE THE CITY AND BURNED = THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM THEM AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. (PSA 103:12)
    - CHRIST DIED OUTSIDE THE CITY
  - THE SCAPEGOAT IS TAKEN INTO THE WILDERNESS AND EITHER SET FREE OR THROWN OVER A CLIFF. THE PRIEST TAKES WITH HIM A RED CORD. IF THE CORD TURNS WHITE, THE PEOPLE'S SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND GOD ACCEPTED THE SACRIFICE.
    - GOD HAS REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US AND HAS MADE US WHITER THAN SNOW.

THE PRIEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT = BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

READ 1PET 2:5,9
- THE PRIEST’S GARMENTS EXO 28:39-43
  - WHITE ROBES = WE PARTAKE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST (REV 7:9-15)
  - WHITE BREECHES = PUT ON A PURE LIFE (ROM 13:14 EPH 4:24 COL 3:9)
  - THE 4-COLORED EMBROIDERED GIRDLE (BELT) = WE ARE MADE READY TO SERVE GOD BY THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST IN US.
  - THE WHITE TURBAN = PURITY OF MIND AS WELL AS DEED. (PHIL 2:5)
THE DUTIES OF THE PRIESTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT = OUR DUTIES AS NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.
- HE WAS TO KILL AND OFFER ANIMAL SACRIFICES EVERY MORNING AND EVENING (EXO 29:38-44) = WE ARE TO REMEMBER DAILY THAT WE HAVE CHRIST AS OUR SACRIFICE FOR SIN AND REPENT OF OUR SINS.
- HE WAS TO KEEP THE COALS BURNING CONTINUALLY IN THE BRAZEN ALTAR WHERE ANIMALS WERE SACRIFICED. (LEV 6:12-13) = WE ARE TO KEEP ALIVE THE LOVE FOR CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR
- HE WAS TO WASH AT THE LAVER OF BRONZE (EXO 30:18-31) = WE ARE TO KEEP OUR LIVES CLEAN BY READING THE WORD OF GOD, EXAMINING OUR LIFE, AND REPENTING OF SIN.
- HE WAS TO MAKE THE BREAD AND KEEP IT FRESH ON THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD (LEV 24:5-9) = WE ARE TO KEEP FEEDING ON THE BREAD OF LIFE (CHRIST) TO NOURISH OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
  - WE DO THAT BY STUDYING THE WORD AND GROWING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP TO HIM.
- HE WAS TO MAKE THE OIL AND KEEP IT CONTINUALLY IN THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND (EXO 27:20-21) = WE ARE TO KEEP THE HOLY SPIRIT FRESH IN OUR LIFE SO THAT OUR LIGHT IN THE WORLD CONTINUALLY SHINES.
- HE WAS TO KEEP THE WICKS TRIMMED IN THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND. (LEV 24:1-4)
  - WE MUST NOT NEGLECT OUR WITNESS ABOUT CHRIST TO THE WORLD.
- HE WAS TO MAKE THE INCENSE AND OFFER IT AT THE ALTAR OF INCENSE (EXO 30:34-38) = WE ARE TO KEEP OUR PRAYERS PURE AND ALWAYS BEFORE THE LORD, PRAYING AND INTERCEEDING FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
- HE WAS TO TEACH THE PEOPLE THE TRUTHS OF GOD (LEV 10:11) = WE ARE TO PREACH AND TEACH THE TRUTHS OF GOD TO ALL PEOPLE.
- HE WAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOLY VESSELS OF GOD. (NUM 4:5-15,21-33) = WE, AS BELIEVERS, ARE THE SANCTIFIED VESSELS OF GOD THAT SHOULD BE KEPT HOLY. (ROM 12:1-20)
- HE WAS TO BLOW THE SILVER TRUMPETS FOR ASSEMBLY AND WARNING. (NUM 10:1-8) = WE ARE TO KEEP FELLOWSHIP WITH THE CHURCH SO AS TO BE AWARE OF DANGER FROM THE ENEMY.