What is a priest?

Next we may ask, What is a priest? and more exactly, What are the principles on which earthly priesthood, where it is established among men, is founded? A high priest from among men is described this way in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." Other priests had the same office when priesthood was established on earth. Certain functions belonged to the high priest only, but gifts and sacrifices for sins were offered by all the priests.

The priest, ideally, was one who presented himself to God on behalf of others: of those who could not, therefore, draw near of themselves as he did. For his office there were two requirements: first, personal fitness to draw near himself.

The root meaning of the word priest is one who offers a sacrifice. This is clearly seen in the priesthood pictured in the Old Testament, who offered the sacrifices on the altar. We read in Hebrews 8:3, "For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices," carrying on the same principle. Again, "you… are… a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices" (1 Peter 2:5).

The three ancient orders had scriptural names, episkopos, presbuteros, and diakonos… These titles passed with little change into English as bishops, presbyters and deacons, and presbyter became further simplified, perhaps through prester, to priest. By derivation therefore, it means presbyter or elder… The sad thing is that through this history, in the English Bible the ministry of oversight and government is confused with the ministry of the sanctuary and of sacrifice. In the New Testament the priesthood is absolutely distinct from the overseeing ministry, and its purpose is sacrifice.

The third verse ought to make it indisputably plain to any believer. The same high priest of the first two verses is described in the third verse also; and he expressly requires to offer for himself — not merely for others, but also for his own need — to offer for sins. Is it not obvious, then, that it is such a high priest as Aaron, or Aaron's son, not such a one as Christ?

Heaven, not earth, is the sphere of Christ's Priestly ministry; and He entered on it when He had offered Himself without spot to God. He never appeared as a priest in the temple below. He often went up to the temple to teach, but never to sacrifice or burn incense… Heaven is the sphere, and accomplished redemption the basis, of Christ's priesthood.

Intercession is not worship at all. Christ surely intercedes for us, and His intercession is based on His perfect work, and carried on as the perfect One in heaven… but intercession applies to weakness or failure. We have a great High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses, having been tempted in all points as we are; "and having suffered, being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted."

Instead of allowing ministry to rest on its own proper New Testament basis… it is exalted into a priesthood, a priestly caste, whose members are marked off from their brothers by their style of dress and certain titles. There is no foundation whatsoever for these things in the New Testament. According to the plain teaching of that blessed book, all believers are priests.

The apostle Paul was a priest to God, but not more than any of the people he greets in his Letters, or than the least instructed believer in the whole church. The differences among the members, formed by the different gifts of the Spirit, must be carefully distinguished from their priestly equality. Our worship then is priestly worship, and its sphere is the heavenly courts.