The truth of YHVH’s word is like fire, it purifies. It also burns, which may bring pain. Truth can bring pain when it exposes deception. I will rather face the pain truth brings now, than to face the wrath of YHVH’s judgment which is a consuming fire. YHVH’s word is also like balm, it brings healing. This article may bring pain, for most of us will have to repent of this deception, but it will also bring healing, bringing us closer to YHVH. May YHVH open your heart and eyes to His truth and guide you with His Spirit.
It is often said among Christians and Messianic believers alike that we are priests to YHVH. This is referred to as a spiritual priesthood. The question is: is this scriptural? We condemn the teaching that believers in Y’shua are the spiritual Israel, replacing YHVH’s people. How can we then embrace being part of a “spiritual†priesthood of YHVH, if He said the Levitical priesthood is an eternal priesthood. There are no references in scripture to a spiritual priesthood, replacing or existing alongside the physical priesthood. We want to show you from scripture what is said about YHVH’s priesthood and how He sees it when we “appoint” ourselves as priests.
Let’s first look at the instructions regarding the Levitical priesthood. YHVH chose the tribe of Levi to be priests forever.
Levitical priesthood, an eternal covenant
YHVH chose Israel, if they obey Him and keep His covenant, to be His own possession among all the people, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation.
Exodus 19:5–6
5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.â€
When we study scripture further about Israel and this priesthood, we see that the priesthood is to be from the tribe of Levi. Not every person in the nation became a priest. This phrase “a kingdom of priests” actually means a kingdom from which priests are appointed.
The NRSV has translated this as a priestly kingdom.
Exodus 19:6
6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.â€
The nation of Israel, YHVH’s chosen people, shall be a priestly kingdom, a set apart nation.
The tribe of Levi was selected to be priests because of their zeal for YHVH in the case of the golden calf (Ex 32:26). They were selected for service to YHVH in the tabernacle and later the temple.
Numbers 3:5–10
5 Then YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 “They shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 “They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 “You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. 10 “So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.â€
The punishment for a layman who fulfilled the duties of a priest is death.
Deuteronomy 18:1–5
1 “The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat YHVH’s offerings by fire and His portion. 2 “They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; YHVH is their inheritance, as He promised them. 3 “Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 “You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep. 5 “For YHVH your Elohim has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of YHVH forever.
YHVH made a covenant with Levi to be priests and He even compared it with His covenant with the day and night. It is eternal.
Jeremiah 33:17–26
17 “For thus says YHVH, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’ †19 The word of YHVH came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 “Thus says YHVH, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, 21 then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22 ‘As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’ †23 And the word of YHVH came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 “Have you not observed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which YHVH chose, He has rejected them’? Thus they despise My people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. 25 “Thus says YHVH, ‘If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, 26 then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.’ â€
To emphasize the importance of both elements, God reiterated His covenants with the line of David and with the Levitical priests. The first covenant mentioned was God’s covenant with David (cf. 2 Sam. 7:8-16; 1 Chron. 17:4-14). God vowed, David will never fail to have a man to sit on Israel’s throne. Some have felt that this promise was incorrect because the throne did cease in 586 B.C. when Jerusalem fell. However, God did not promise an unbroken monarchy but an unbroken line of descendants from David who would be qualified to sit on that throne when it was reestablished. David’s line would not fail before the righteous Branch came to claim His throne (cf. Luke 1:31-33). The genealogies of Matthew and Luke show that this promise was fulfilled as Christ was able to trace both His legal line through Joseph and His physical line through Mary back to David (Matt. 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-31).
The second covenant mentioned was God’s covenant with the priests, who are Levites. This covenant was God’s promise that the Levites would never fail to have a man to stand before Him to offer burnt offerings…grain offerings, and sacrifices. Again the promise was not that the sacrifices would continue unabated, because they did cease in 586 B.C. and were not resumed till 537 B.C. (cf. Ezra 3:1-6). The promise here was that the Levitical priesthood would not be extinguished. God was referring back to the promise He made to Phinehas (Num. 25:12-13). In other words neither the monarchy nor the priesthood would be abolished.
(2) The confirmation (33:19-26). God gave two assurances that He would keep His covenant promises. Each assurance began with the same introductory phrase (“The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,†vv. 19, 23); and each used God’s “covenant of day and night†to illustrate the permanence of these institutions (vv. 20, 25; cf. 31:35-37).
33:19-22. Only if man could break God’s covenant with the day and…the night (cf. Gen. 1:14-19) could he break God’s covenant with David and His covenant with the Levites who are priests. That is, God’s covenants with these groups were as fixed as the natural order of the universe. They could not be overthrown by mere mortals. The word for “covenant†(berîṯ) referred to a treaty or agreement made between individuals or parties by which they bound themselves to a specific relationship or course of action. God had promised to preserve the kingly line of David (2 Sam. 7:8-16) and the priestly line of Phinehas (Num. 25:12-13), and He would not break His oath. Indeed, God promised to bless both lines so the descendants would become as countless as the stars and the sand.2
The promise was not that the sacrifices would continue unabated, because they did cease in 586 B.C. and were not resumed till 537 B.C. (cf. Ezra 3:1-6). The promise here was that the Levitical priesthood would not be extinguished. 2
We see proof of this when the priesthood was restored after the exile.
Priesthood restored after the exile
The returnees from the Babylonian exile were very careful not to appoint priests from any tribe but Levi.
Ezra 2:61–63
61 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name. 62 These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 63 The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.
This passage is in Nehemiah also (Neh 7:63-65).
The prophecy concerning Ezekiel’s temple also confirms the continuation of the Levitical priesthood.
Ezekiel’s Temple, the priesthood restored
Part of the instructions for the temple referred to as Ezekiel’s temple, are for the priesthood who would serve there. Here, we see the Levitical priesthood restored. This confirms the covenant made by YHVH that the Levitical priesthood would be restored.
Ezekiel 44:15–16
15 “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,†declares YHVH Elohim. 16 “They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.
Another passage, about the future restoration, also proves the continuation of the Levitical priesthood.
Future restoration
Isaiah 66:20–22
20 “Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to YHVH, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,†says YHVH, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of YHVH. 21 “I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,†says YHVH. 22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,†declares YHVH, “So your offspring and your name will endure.
A distinction is made between priests and Levites. This is because not all Levites were priests, but all priests were Levites. Some Levites, who weren’t priests, had other duties in the Temple. It will be so again.
Some say there was a change after Y’shua’s death and resurrection. This is not true. His followers continued to go to the temple. Paul also went to the temple to offer sacrifices.
From what we have seen here, we see clearly that YHVH ordained the tribe of Levi to be priests before Him forever. As we mentioned before, believers often refer to themselves as priests. I have often heard it said that the man is the priest of his home or that we are all priests. Consider what is written in the following passage about Jeroboam. This may be a very wrong statement or claim to make.
Jeroboam appointing priests
In 1 Kings 12 and 13, we read about the beginning of Jeroboam’s reign. Jeroboam didn’t want his followers to go up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to YHVH, because he was scared their hearts would return to Rehoboam and they may kill him (1 Kings 12:27.) So, he devised a plan. He built two golden calves and placed one in Bethel and one in Dan. He said to the people “behold your gods o Israel who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He went further and made priests from among the people.
1 Kings 12:31
31 And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi.
He also instituted a feast, similar to sukkot, but on the 15th day of the 8th month. He and his priests sacrificed and burned incense to these calves.
YHVH sent a prophet from Judah to Bethel to condemn what he was doing. This prophet spoke to the altar.
1 Kings 13:2
2 He cried against the altar by the word of YHVH, and said, “O altar, altar, thus says YHVH, ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’ â€
It is interesting that these priests are specifically addressed in this prophecy. They would be sacrificed on these altars. This prophecy fulfills YHVH’s words that a layman who comes before Him as priest will be killed. Jeroboam did not heed this warning.
Later we read:
1 Kings 13:33–34
33 After this event Jeroboam did not return from his evil way, but again he made priests of the high places from among all the people; any who would, he ordained, to be priests of the high places. 34 This event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth.
Jeroboam made priests from any tribe, any who would. This is considered a great sin by YHVH. So much so that these priests would be offered on these altars.
Jeroboam did three things: he initiated and promoted idolatry, but presented it as worship of YHVH. He, said to Israel, this is your Elohim who brought you out of Israel. He chose priests from amongst the people, any who would. He also instituted a feast, similar to Sukkot, but a month later. So, he changed YHVH’s calendar. I wouldn’t say one of these sins are more severe than the other, but it is interesting to note that the prophesied punishment is against the priests specifically, and then of course against the house of Jeroboam.
This passage must grab our attention and we are to consider what we are saying when we say we are priests. Are we not doing what Jeroboam did, even if we spiritualize it?
King Uzziah
There is another passage in scripture about King Uzziah who brought incense before YHVH in the Temple.
2 Chronicles 26:16–21
16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to YHVH his Elohim, for he entered the temple of YHVH to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of YHVH, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to YHVH, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from YHVH Elohim.†19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because YHVH had smitten him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of YHVH. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land.
King Uzziah was a righteous king, but his heart became proud. Because of this pride, he decided to bring incense before YHVH, an action only allowed to be executed by the priests. He was punished, not with death, but with leprosy and he was cut off from the house of YHVH. YHVH may have extended mercy to him because of his righteousness.
The danger in this deception
The danger in this lies in what we do with this after we have claimed this priesthood for ourselves. We go to scripture and take the instructions given to the priests and apply it to ourselves. In doing this, we affirm this replacement since we take instructions given to the Levites and apply it to ourselves. Men may feel that they are now entitled to make sacrifices, and some already do. They wear head coverings which are contrary to scripture saying the priests wore turbans. At Shavuot men do the wave offering. This was the duty of the priests. So we can go on.
How is this different to what Jeroboam did? He appointed a priesthood from whoever wanted to and gave them the responsibilities only priests from the tribe of Levi were allowed to do.
We are to repent from this false teaching. This is serious!
This deception originated from a wrong interpretation of Exodus 19:5-6, quoted in the Apostolic writings. This is what is written in Exodus 19:5-6.
Exodus 19:5–6
5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.â€
We have looked at this passage earlier. Not every person in the nation became a priest. YHVH made a special covenant with the tribe of Levi to be priests before Him. This is an eternal covenant. So, why when we read this quote in the Apostolic writings do we change the meaning of the words to make everybody a priest. This is a form of replacement theology. Believers in Y’shua did not replace Israel, neither did believers replace Levi as the tribe of priests.
This quote is found in four places in the Apostolic writings.
Revelation 1:5–6
5 and from Y’shua Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His Elohim and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:9–10
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for Elohim with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our Elohim; and they will reign upon the earth.â€
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:5
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Elohim through Y’shua Messiah.
In Isaiah, we find this quote
Isaiah 61:6
6 But you will be called the priests of YHVH; You will be spoken of as ministers of our Elohim. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.
Once again, He speaks to the nation.
These quotes affirm that we as believers, whether by blood related to Israel, or as gentiles, form part of YHVH’s chosen people. His special possession, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation. It does not make every person a priest. This is a misinterpretation and although not as blatant as Jeroboam’s self appointed priesthood, falls in the same category. We claim something for ourselves that does not belong to us.
There may be a future fulfillment that will take place after the second coming of Y’shua. This is based on Revelation 20:6.
Revelation 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
The first resurrection is the coming to life of God’s holy people, as described in vv. 4 and 6. The second resurrection is not mentioned as such; it is implied by the parenthetical remark that the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over (see v. 12), at which time they are alive only long enough to experience the second death (see v. 14, 2:11), which has no power over the believers.
They will be cohanim, “priests,†of God and of the Messiah. “You [the people of Israel] shall be for me [God] a kingdom of cohanim and a holy nation†(Exodus 19:6). “You [believers in Yeshua] are … the King’s cohanim†(1 Ke 2:9, alluding to Exodus 19:6, Isaiah 61:6). These promises reach their fulfillment here.3
The point is, even if there is a future spiritual priesthood, we are not priests now. What perceived benefits would people have in calling themselves priests. Presenting spiritual sacrifices?
Offering the sacrifice of our lips
Our previous article was about prayer altars. Now, it is easy to assume that a priest would be required at an altar and thus perpetuate the teaching that we are spiritual priests. However, we see from scripture that Abraham. Noah, David, Jacob, Isaac and many more believers all built altars to YHVH. They never called themselves priests. We also find many references in the Tanakh to prayer being the sacrifices of the lips.
Psalm 141:2
2 May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Psalm 119:108
108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O YHVH, And teach me Your ordinances .
Hosea 14:2
2 Take words with you and return to YHVH. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.
These sacrifices of the lips were not only brought by priests, but by prophets, kings and ordinary people. We do not need a priest to be able to pray. This confirms for us that we do not have to or are not to call ourselves priest in order to have a spiritual prayer altar.
Also, when we pray, we have a High priest in Y’shua who intercedes on behalf of us. Through Y’shua we can enter boldly to the throne of YHVH.
Hebrews 4:14–16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Y’shua the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Conclusion
We wrote this to expose a deception most of us have unknowingly allowed. We also believed this, but in the back of our minds, there was an uneasiness about being spiritual priests. We felt it every time we witnessed an act by a believer that was commanded for only a priest to do, like waving the loaves at Shavuot. It has been on our list to study for a long time. Then, when we did the study on prayer altars, the topic of a holy priesthood came up again and we thought it a good time to investigate this further.
Calling ourselves priests perpetuates the sin of Jeroboam, who made priests from whoever wanted to. YHVH made a covenant with Levi to be priests forever. This means if a priesthood exists before YHVH it is to be from the tribe of Levi. We practice replacement theology if we call ourselves priests, the same way people do when they say they replace Israel as YHVH’s people.
What do we think to gain from calling ourselves priests? Power, control or authority? In Y’shua we have all the authority we would ever need and through Y’shua we can come before the throne of YHVH. This is to be our focus, our relationship with YHVH. YHVH wants our surrender and devotion to Him.
The Levitical priesthood will function again if and when YHVH requires it. Until then, we are to focus on our relationship with YHVH and living righteously. That is what He requires of us.
References
- All quoted passages are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. We have substituted YHVH for LORD and Y’shua for Jesus
- Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Je 33:17–22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
- Stern, D. H. (1996). Jewish New Testament Commentary : a companion volume to the Jewish New Testament (electronic ed., Re 20:5). Clarksville: Jewish New Testament Publications.
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