Note:
There are Part One, Part Two and Part Three in
the below series.
The
Truth in Print Vol. 20 Issue 3, April 2014
A
Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W.
8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
High Priests Under the Mosaic Law (Part One)
Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of Our Confession
Hebrews
7:26-28 (KJV)
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the
people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests
which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
The comparison in Hebrews 7
is that of Christ with those who officiated as high priests under the Levitical system. They were mere men who themselves sinned;
they were numerous and had to be replaced due to death.
Aaron the brother of Moses
Aaron was
Moses’ older brother (Ex. 7:7). When Moses
argued with God about his ability to speak, (God having chosen him to lead the
children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt), God appointed Aaron as his
spokesman (cf. Ex. 4:16). Shortly after God nearly killed Moses for putting his
wife’s displeasure above God’s demands, Aaron met Moses in the wilderness and
this order was set in place. He went with Moses and spoke to the elders of
Israel; the people briefly believed God’s message due to the signs performed.
But the foremen of the sons of Israel soon blamed both Moses and Aaron for
Pharaoh’s cruelty towards them. Their quota of bricks was now to be made with
the added burden of having to gather the straw — they’d been beaten, and their
own request to Pharaoh to lessen this burden was denied (cf. Ex. 5).
Moses’ repeated excuse of
being slow to speak falls on deaf ears as Aaron along with him is given a
command for Israel and for Pharaoh to bring Israel out of Egypt (Ex.
6:13). Aaron stood with Moses and the
plagues were wrought to bring forth a grand exist from the land of bondage.
Thus Aaron had a great responsibility before he ever became the first high
priest.
An Overt Facilitator— the Golden Calf (Ex. 32:1-7)
In Ex. 32
Aaron sins in making the Golden Calf. This is before the
the
Tabernacle is finished and he is ordained High Priest in Lev. 8. This shows his
weakness. The people said to him, “Up, make us gods, which shall go
before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of
Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” That would not have been hard to answer:
Ex.
24:9-11
Here Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and 70 of the elders and they saw the God of Israel.
(Made what Aaron did even worse!)
Ex.
24:12
God commanded Moses to come up to the mount and he went up with Joshua; the
elders (vs.14) were told by Moses to wait below for them to return, and Aaron
and Hur were to be in charge. They obviously were
with the people. Moses was up on the mount 40 days and 40 nights. Both Aaron
and Hur had the right answer— God put us in charge
until Moses returns. Moreover, the glory of God could be seen as a fire on top
of the Mountain (17).
Ex.
32:2 “And
Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of
your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.”
Ex.
32:3 “And
all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and
brought them unto Aaron.”
Ex.
32:4 “And he received them
at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a
molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt.“
Ex.
32:5 “And when Aaron saw
it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.”
1) Thus Aaron himself made
the calf and in Ex. 32:5 he intended to combine this with the worship of the
Lord.
2) He is more afraid of Moses than God (Ex.
32:22).
3)
His complicity made God want to kill him (Ex. 32:24; De. 9:20).
4)
His repulsive answer. It just made itself!
Ex. 32:24 “And I said unto them, Whosoever hath
any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the
fire, and there came out this calf.”
ANSWERS: Answers demonstrate how members “serve”
God today: Emotional, Ridiculous as here, and Straight as in verse 21 where
Moses held Aaron accountable.
The Hebrew writer aptly
stated that the Law made men high priests which have infirmities. Sins abound in
Aaron’s life. All of this “before” he
was appointed high priest (Lev. 8)
Note:
Ex.
32:19 is the point he enters the camp and sees their sin, and it says “as soon
as” he sees this he smashes the two tables. His burning the calf, grinding it
to powder, scattering the dust in brook that they drank from and making them
drink the water is put in Ex. 32:20 as what immediately follows; De. 9:16 is
the same point and he smashed the two tablets at the same time — i.e. when he
sees this. In De. 9:18-20 there is the mention of a 40 day and 40 night fast
between this and Moses making them drink the dust of the idol in their water
containers (De. 9:21). Depending on
where you put that 40 day and night fast, their being “unrestrained” could have
continued for some time.
God wanted
destroy all Israel and start over with Moses (Ex. 32:10); later Moses said “The
Lord was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at
that time” (De. 9:20). Moses understood what danger Aaron was in for in Ex.
4:14 God would have killed Moses in His anger at one point.
5)
Aaron repented and did as instructed: God told the Tribe of Levi to take their
swords and execute God’s judgment on those
not willing to repent — to kill every man his brother, friend and neighbor —
about 3,000 men fell that day (Ex. 32:27-29). This was a test for the Levites
and it brought a blessing (cf. 29, De. 33:9).
Aaron as High Priest
1. Aaron became high priest having been forgiven
of “much” (cf. Lk. 7:43, 47).
2. Aaron was Moses’ brother and first high priest (Ex.
28).
a.
Aaron’s sons were chosen with him for the priesthood: Nadab,
Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Ex. 28:1).
b.
The tribe of Levi was chosen and given to Aaron to serve him in things of the
Tabernacle (Nu. 3:6-9).
c.
Each
new high priest had to come from the lineage of Aaron of the tribe of Levi; Nu.
3:10 says it was their priesthood.
d.
Lev. 8 marks the time of his ordination (Lev. 8:12).
When He Lost Two Foolish Sons (Lev. 10:3, 6-7)
Lev. 10 records how God
killed Nadab and Abihu for
offering strange fire to the Lord. When Aaron lost these two foolish sons he kept his mouth shut and was
given this instruction:
Lev
10:6 “And Moses said unto Aaron, and
unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar,
his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and
lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of
Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.”
Verse 3 tells why: “Then
Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come
nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his
peace.”
There’s nothing easy about seeing your own
family punished for their own sins. You don’t let it interfere with your own
service to God. This account produces a certain understanding as regards the
duty of not separating God from His Word with “emotions” and rationalizations. You
keep wrongful emotions, rationalizations and the world’s views from mixing with
His judgments!
Honor God at all times! If a child should
become unfaithful parents don’t throw church discipline out the window from
arrogance (I Cor. 5:2, 13). And other siblings must not become destructive
devils intent on blaming the rest of the family of being uncaring, unconcerned,
or out of touch when they themselves keep on justifying the ungodly being
ungodly themselves in doing so! (2 Thes. 3:6,14; I Cor. 5:11). If
it is a parent or parents or grandparents who fall away then “honor your mother
and father” doesn’t become an excuse to not honor God by still associating with
them. If some of your family falls away from God and they die in that state
they are lost. Keep your mouth shut and don’t try to finagle some way to get
them into heaven and out of eternal punishment (cf. Heb. 10:26-27,31,39). A lot of damage is done by doing so! God is not
sanctified in that kind of nonsense; He is not glorified in that kind of
nonsense! One can do damage to the Truth while influencing others to think that
they can fall away and also escape God’s eternal damnation.
With Miriam He
Criticized Moses for the Wrong Reasons (Nu. 12).
Weaknesses and sins abound
here: Num 12:1 “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he
had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” Num
12:2 “And they
said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath
he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.”
1)
Nu.
12:1 says “what” but Nu. 12:2 says “why” they did it! Some of the most
destructive plots come from brothers and sisters out to supplant one another.
They use “diversion” to draw attention away from the real point of their
attack. You perceive this in some at times and think why did they say that?
2)
Moses didn’t have a Jewish wife. His wife’s father was Jethro and Moses was
told by him how to judge Israel with the appointment of judges (Ex. 18:13-27).
3)
Miriam appears to have led this and Aaron should have stopped it. This
is the “family strife” thing! They could not find fault with Moses’ leadership
or the installation of the 70 elders who were to help Moses bear the burden
(Nu. 11:16-17,25) —- so they chose to criticize his
wife rather deal with their envy and pride. Miriam was a prophetess; Aaron had
an exalted position as high priest. He let his sister drag him into this!
4)
Consider a smoke screen by attacking a person’s mate! Will some attack their
brother’s wife out of envy?
5)
See the anger of the Lord (Nu.
12:9-10). Take note if this is one of your ways of dealing with issues!
Aaron Is a Man Who Can Acknowledge His Sin (Nu. 12:11-12)
1) This is one of those “I
let it go too far” things! How does he feel for going along with the strife,
and not stopping himself and her, when he sees his sister with leprosy?
2) Num
12:11 “And
Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us,
wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.” Num 12:12
“Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed
when he cometh out of his mother's womb.”
Along With
Moses He was Envied by Others (Ps. 106:16)
Psalm
106:16 (KJV)
“ They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the
saint of the Lord.”
Took his stand between the dead and living
-- stopped the plague that came from grumbling over the death of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Nu. 16:48).
1)
He learned the hard way about staying on the right side of disputes!
Sinned Along With Moses at Kadesh (Nu.
20:12, 1-3, 8-11).
Numbers 20:12 (KJV) “And the
Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed
me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye
shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Psa 106:32 “They
angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for
their sakes:”
Psa 106:33 “Because
they provoked his spirit, so that he spake
unadvisedly with his lips.”
Moses had a similar situation before and
handled it well, and without this kind of anger (Ex. 17). These are two
different places. The first time the situation occurred it is in Rephidim at the rock in Horeb
(Ex. 17). Here the place is named two names: God named it “Massah”
(“test”) and “Meribah” (“strife”). Moses blessing of
Levi includes this, De. 33:8.
1)
They’d just lost their sister Miriam, were provoked by the peoples’ murmuring
and Moses spoke rashly: “And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together
before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you
water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote
the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank,
and their beasts also” (Nu. 20:10-11).
2)
Don’t fall in with another’s angry words. Aaron let Moses get by with “WE.”
There are times you must say don’t include me in that statement!
3)
This was still evil though neither were “prone” to the wrong kind of anger; the
penalty of not allowing him or Moses to go over into the Promised Land is God’s
punishment (Nu. 20:12-13; Ps. 99:6-8).
4)
You see your own weakness to sin with anger when you fail where you have
succeeded in the past!
Death of the First High Priest
Here at the end of Nu. 20
the death of the first high priest is recorded; Aaron dies on Mt. Hor
and Eleazar is consecrated high priest: Numbers
20:22-29. Each new high priest had to come from the lineage of Aaron. The next
would be Aaron’s son, Eleazar.
By Bob Lovelace
The
Truth in Print Vol. 20 Issue 4, May 2014
A
Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W.
8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
High Priests Under the Mosaic Law (Part Two): Eleazar, Phinehas
and Eli.
Part
One ended with the death of Aaron the first High
Priest. Aaron dies on Mt. Hor and Eleazar is consecrated high priest (Numbers
20:22-29). Each new high priest had to come from the lineage of Aaron. The next
would be Aaron’s son, Eleazar.
Eleazar: Became High Priest Having Seen God’s Wrath On
His Own Family.
Eleazar:
1.
Was consecrated to minister with his brothers
as a priest (Ex. 28:1; Lev. 8).
2. Watched two of his brothers die in a
fire from God because they did not follow God's instructions (Lev. 10:1-7).
3. He obeyed God and was made chief of
the leaders of the Levites, and had oversight over those who performed the
duties of the tabernacle (Nu. 3:32; 4:16).
4. Consecrated high priest on Mt. Hor at the time of Aaron’s death (Nu. 20:23-29).
5. With Joshua and others he helped
apportioned the land of Canaan to Israel (Nu. 34:17-29).
There Can Be Vast
Differences In
“Family” Members.
If you are faithful you know the difference between yourself and your
own brother or sister in your own family who is not faithful!
What Moses
said to Aaron when God killed his two sons: “This
is it that the LORD spake,
saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the
people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace” (Lev. 10:3). God’s stern
message applied also to Eleazar and Ithamar: “And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his
sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest
wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of
Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. And ye shall not go out
from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the
anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the
word of Moses”
(Lev. 10:6-7). This was not to interfere with their service.
There’s nothing easy about seeing “family”
punished; there is to be the understanding that it does not interfere with your
own faithfulness and service in any way. Faithful parents don’t throw church
discipline out the window if the rebellion is from one of their own who is a
Christian. Other siblings and members are not to become destructive plotters
blaming others in the family who apply God’s rules of discipline of being
unloving, not caring about family, etc. when they are the ones justifying the
ungodly being ungodly themselves in doing so! Moreover, if it is a parent or
parents who fall away then “honor your father and mother” doesn’t become an
excuse to not honor God by still associating with them (2 Th. 3:6; I Cor.
5:11).
If some of your family falls away from God
and they die in that state they are lost. Keep your mouth shut and don’t try to
finagle some way to get them into heaven and out of eternal punishment (Heb.
10:26-27, 31). A lot of damage to the Truth is done in doing so; others are
influenced to think they too can escape Hell when they can’t. God is not
glorified in that kind of nonsense. When such things as this happen you
do not let emotions, rationalizations and the world’s false religious views
filled with such keep you from giving God the honor due Him.
Phinehas: Jealous with God’s jealousy!
When Phinehas turned God’s wrath and plague
from Israel for harlotry with the daughters of Moab by executing Zimri and Cozbi (Nu. 25:8), God
said: “Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath
turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my
sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy” (Nu. 25:11).
This is recorded in Ps. 106: 28-31 as “works
reckoned for righteousness” which is the
very thing James speaks of in James 2:24, 26!
For his zeal he was promised that his
priestly line would not end (Nu. 25:13).
He was shamed along with the ten chiefs of the tribes West of Jordan
concerning their false assumption about the altar “Witness” set up on frontier
of Canaan by Reuben, Gad and ½ tribe Manasseh east of Jordan (Joshua 22). Here
you see a great man’s weakness where there was no apology for accepting “hear
say” that almost got them into war with the tribes East of Jordan. Their charge
that the “whole” congregation had seen an unfaithful act in this proved the
whole was wrong (Josh. 22:16). A good lesson on a majorities view being nothing more
than hear say! The stated purpose for the altar is
clear — it was not an idol — it was to keep from letting someone divide them
from their brethren on the West of Jordan (Josh. 22:26-27).
Phinehas became high priest after
the death of his father Eleazar (cf. Josh. 24:33). He
ministered before the Ark in days of the
Judges (Judges 20:28).
Eli: Honored
His Degenerate Priestly Sons Above God.
The first thing you read about Eli is not good. He thought Hanna was
drunk when she was praying: “Now Hannah, she spake in her heart;
only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had
been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee” (I Sam. 1:13-14). Those who have worthless children are often too quick to
want to see the same in others!
His sons were “worthless” men (I Sam.
2:12); they employed servants to use threats and force to satisfy their lust
for the meat of the offerings taking more than was rightfully theirs — thus
despising the offerings to the Lord (I Sam. 2:12-17). Eli should have punished and removed his own sons.
We are told when Eli was very old that these sons were committing
fornication with the women who served at the doorway of the tabernacle (I Sam.
2:22). Phinehas had a wife, I Sam. 4:19, thus he was
guilty of adultery (the penalty for adultery under the Law was death); all of
this was known to all and circulated (I Sam. 2:23-24). He gave them a mild
warning but they did not listen “for the Lord desired to put them to death” (I
Sam. 2:25). Too late! God swore he would kill his two sons in one day and did (I Sam. 2:34, 4:11).
A man of God came and accused Eli of despising God’s sacrifice and
offering saying, “Wherefore
kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering ...and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with
the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?” ( I Sam.
2:29). Thus he,Eli, was benefitting himself as well from this great sin. God
told him these two sons would die in one day and they did (I
Sam. 2:34, 4:11). His threat that He would break his strength and that of his
father’s house was later carried out by Doeg when he
slew the priests at Nob, where only Abiathar escaped
to David (I Sa. 22:17-20; see also I Kings 2:27).
Eli’s other sin was that he did not restrain his sons: “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the
iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made
themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (I Sam. 3:13).
His reply to Samuel: “And Samuel told him every whit, and
hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good” (I Sam. 3:18). What is missing at the end of Eli’s
life is what he should and could have done but didn’t. He sinned along with his sons and let his sons ruin their lives and
others.
Eli
was 98 years old when Israel went to war with the Philistines at Aphek. Having lost the first battle they brought the Ark
from Shiloh accompanied by Hophni and Phinehas. They fought again, Israel was defeated with a
great slaughter, the Ark was captured and Hophni and Phinehas were killed (I Sam. 4:11).
Eli waited at Shiloh trembling for fear of bad news (I Sam. 4:13). He
knew his sons would die just as God had said.
When a messenger having fled from the battle got to Eli he said: “Israel is fled before the
Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and
thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas,
are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he
fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake,
and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty
years” ( I Sam. 4:17-18).
By Bob Lovelace
The
Truth in Print Vol. 20 Issue 5, June 2014
A
Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W.
8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
High Priests Under the
Mosaic Law (Part Three):
Others Including Caiaphas
and Annas:
Thus
far we have had lessons on Aaron, Eleazar, Phinehas and Eli. Needless to say the point made at the
beginning that these were mere men —
some of their sins have been mentioned with applications to us today (cf. Heb.
7:26-28).
Ahimelech: A victim of “circumstance” for God had pronounced judgment
upon Eli’s house.
1. Ahimelech
was the son of Ithimar who was a son of Aaron
(Lev. 10:6, I Ch. 24:2-4). Ahimelech was a high
priest during the reign of David. He gave the showbread and the sword of
Goliath to David at Nob (cf. 1 Samuel 21:1-15; Mark 2:26).
2.
Saul falsely accused Ahimelech of conspiracy (cf. I
Sam. 22).
3.
Wicked Doeg killed Ahimelech
and the priests at Nob along with its inhabitants for Saul (I Sam.22) – thus
carrying out God’s threat to Eli (I Sam. 2:31). Only Abiathar
escaped to David (I Sam. 22).
Read again God’s threat to Eli and about
Eli’s honoring his sons above God (Lesson Two). Understand that this man, Ahimelech, lived ready to die for God carries out His
threats. Thus, although a just man himself he was murdered by wicked Doeg.
Abiathar: Sedition!
Abiathar was
one of the sons of Ahimelech (I
Sam. 22:20). When Doeg killed the priests at Nob Abiathar escaped to David with an ephod
containing the Urim and Thummim
that David used to consult God (I Sam. 23). This gave David the advantage over
Saul. He is said to be the 10th high priest and 4th in
descent from Eli. When David became King Abiathar
remained priest.
We also find Zadok
of the house of Eleazar serving as priest (cf. I
Kings 4:4; 2 Sam. 8:17; 2 Sam. 15).
Later Abiathar
was banished to Anathoth by Solomon for his part in
siding with Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne
before Solomon is anointed king; the priesthood passed from the house of Ithamar
(Lev. 10:6; 1Sa_2:30-36; 1Ki_1:19; 1Ki_2:26, 1Ki_2:27); Zadok
now became sole high priest. This fulfilled the prophecy of I Sam. 2:27-36 that
Eli’s descendants would not continue to serve as priests.
Zadok: Loyalty!
Zadok
was the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron (Lev.
10:6; I Ch. 24:2-4). When David fled from Absalom, Zadok
came to David, and the Levites, carrying the ark of the
covenant (2 Sam. 15:24f). Abiathar also came
to David. Both were returned to Jerusalem with the ark and served as informers
along with Hushai the Archite
(2 Sam. 25). Zadok
and Nathan anointed Solomon as the next king (I Kings 1:38-39). Abiathar
was the high priest and Joab the commander of David’s
army. When they conspired against Solomon and followed Adonijah
( I Kings 1:7) in his quest for the throne they were
replaced with Zadok and Benaiah
as the commander of the army (I Kings 2:35).
Azariah: More afraid of God than a king!
Azariah was high priest under king Uzziah
(the king who sought God until he was strong). Azariah
rebuked king Uzziah for arrogantly entering the
temple in order to burn incense on the altar himself in the priest’s stead (2
Ch. 26:16-21). We are told that he was not alone; he was helped by 80 valiant
men (priests) who opposed Uzziah — as they rebuked
the corrupt king in his anger God brought leprosy upon him as he stood beside
the altar of incense. They hurried the king out of there!
Unlike Miriam in her rebellion (Nu. 12;10) Uzziah had to bear his punishment until his death, and
dwelt the rest of his life in a separate house; his son conducted the
government for him (also 2 Kings 15:5).
When
Hezekiah became king he reopened the temple and Azariah
again served as high priest (2 Ch. 31:13).
Hilkiah: Didn’t know
what it meant to have lost God’s Word!
I can remember when I was a young man
brother H.E. McCaskill preached a sermon titled “The
Book That Was Lost.” He found the book of the Law as the Temple was being
repaired during king Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22:8-10).
Hilkiah gave the Book to Shaphan
the scribe who in turn read it in the presence of king
Josiah. The king was terrified as he heard why God’s wrath burned against them!
He heard one time and understood the matter of obedience and that their fathers
had not obeyed! Hilkiah and others were sent to Huldah the prophetess to find out what this meant — they
learned that Judah had reached the point of no return so far as God’s wrath —
Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. Yet, he was told God would punish
Judah after his death (2 Kings 22).
What priests should do:
Mal 2:4 And ye shall know that I have sent
this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 2:5 My covenant was with him of life and
peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and
was afraid before my name.
Mal 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and
iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and
did turn many away from iniquity.
Mal 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should
seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Others
Seraiah ~
Slain by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:18-21); Father of Ezra (Ezra 7:1).
Eliashib ~ Helped to rebuild the walls during the days of Nehemiah’s
governorship (Neh. 3:1).
Joshua ~ The temple work started and stopped under
Ezra. For about sixteen years the temple stood unfinished and ignored. Under
Haggai about 520 B.C. the Lord stirred up Zerubbabel
the governor, and Joshua the high priest, with all the remnant and the Temple
work began again and was completed (Haggai 1-2).
The
angel of the Lord admonished Joshua and prophesied of our High Priest, Jesus
Christ (Zech. 3:6-10; Heb. 3:1).
Caiaphas and Annas: Delivered Up Christ to Be Crucified!
1. Consulted with others and
falsely accused Jesus of blasphemy to put Him to death (Matt. 26:3-4, 62-68;
27:1-2; Jo. 18:13; Matt. 27:11-20).
2. Mocked Him with others while He was on
the cross (Matt. 27:41-43).
3. When some of the “watch” securing the
tomb told them of the things of the Resurrection, they bribed the soldiers and
told them to lie (Matt. 28:11-15).
4. Told by Peter: “Be it known unto you all,
and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man
stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the
corner. Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).
Note:
Joh 18:12 Then the band and the captain and
officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Joh 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which
was the high priest that same year.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave
counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the
people.
Note: Thayer ~ “Annas” 1) high priest of the Jews, elevated to the
priesthood by Quirinius the governor of Syria c. 6 or
7 A.D., but afterwards deposed by Valerius Gratus, the procurator of Judaea, who put in his place,
first Ismael, son of Phabi, and shortly after Eleazar, son of Annas. From the
latter, the office passed to Simon; from Simon c. 18 A.D. to Caiaphas; but Annas even after he had been put out of office, continued
to have great influence. — “Caiaphas” 1)
a high priest of the Jews appointed to that office by Valerius
Gratus, governor of Judaea, after removal of Simon,
son of Camith, A.D. 18, and was removed A.D. 36 by Vitellius, governor of Syria, who appointed Jonathan, son
of Ananus (Annus,
father-in-law of Caiaphas), his successor.
They with others later threatened
Peter and John (Acts 4:6). We are told Caiaphas killed himself about 35 A.D.
Characteristics
of High Priests under the Mosaic Covenant
Heb 5:2 Who can have
compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he
himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Heb 5:3 And by reason
hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
In Aaron we get a view of his “whole”
service, and even before he became high priest. He sinned along with Moses. Eli
honored his sons above God, met a tragic end in hearing of his sons deaths and
knowing before hand of the destruction of his family.
Phinehas is faithful. Zadok
is loyal. Caiaphas and Annas had their great parts in
the betrayal of our Lord. They were men with weaknesses and often their lives
were filled with sin and the severity of the punishment sin brings.
A Royal
Priesthood, I Pet. 2:9
1Pe
2:9 But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Am
I the “priest” I should be?
What
does our priestly fraternity look like here in our local church?
By Bob Lovelace
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