Priest

Concept

A priest (Hebrew kohen; Greek hiereus) was one who offered sacrifice and mediated between God and the people. In the patriarchal period every head of family served as priest for his household. Melchizedek, "priest of God Most High," appears as a priest of a universal order before the Mosaic system (Gen. 14:18). The Mosaic covenant established an Aaronic priesthood exclusive to the sons of Aaron within the tribe of Levi. The high priest alone entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement. Priests offered the daily burnt offerings, maintained the tabernacle/temple rituals, and taught the law (Deut. 33:10; Mal. 2:7). The New Testament presents Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the priestly role — the great high priest who offered himself as the once-for-all sacrifice (Heb. 4:14–5:10; 7:26–28; 9:11–14), making the Levitical priesthood obsolete. Believers share in Christ's priesthood as a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6).