Priestly Orders
The term priestly order refers to the established order in which priests carried out their duties related to God’s sanctuary and sacrifices. The Bible mentions two distinct priestly orders with fundamentally different forms of sacrifice: the order of Aaron and the order of Melchizedek.[1]
Meaning of Priestly Order
A priestly order refers to an established order or arrangement in which priests take turns carrying out their duties. The Greek word taxis (τάξις) means “order” or “arrangement” and can refer to the order in which priests perform their service.[2][3][4]
Priests were also organized into groups, or divisions, that served in rotation.[5] Luke 1, for example, records that Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and served when his division was on duty:
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; . . . Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God.
Types of Priestly Orders
Old Testament: The Order of Aaron
In Old Testament times, priests served according to the order of Aaron, the first high priest. Since Aaron was from the tribe of Levi, this order is also known as the Levitical priesthood.[1] Its sacrificial rites involved shedding the blood of animals from the herd or the flock at the sanctuary.[6]
The priesthood was hereditary, passed down through Aaron’s descendants.[7][8] During the reign of King David, the priests were organized by lot into twenty-four divisions, each composed of Aaron’s descendants. These divisions were appointed to serve in rotation at the temple.[9] Based on an average of four weeks per month, it is estimated that each priestly division served in the temple for about two weeks per year.
Among the twenty-four priestly divisions listed in 1 Chronicles 24, the eighth division—the division of Abijah—was the one to which Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged.[10][11] This system of priestly divisions, made up of Aaron’s descendants, continued during the reign of King Solomon,[12] and records of it can also be found in the time of King Hezekiah.[13]
New Testament: The Order of Melchizedek
In the book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul explains that perfection could not be attained through the Levitical priesthood, that is, the priesthood according to the order of Aaron. Therefore, in New Testament times, a perfect priest was appointed according to the order of Melchizedek.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
The order of Melchizedek had already been prophesied in the Old Testament in a psalm of David.[14] The book of Hebrews repeatedly explains that Jesus is another priest who came in the order of Melchizedek.[15][16]
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure who lived long before the Law of Moses was established. He was king of Salem and a priest of God Most High. What is particularly noteworthy is that, instead of offering animal sacrifices as was customary at the time, Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham.[17] Thus, the priesthood in the order of Melchizedek is associated with bread and wine rather than animal sacrifices. For this reason, Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus Christ, who promised the blessing of eternal life through the bread and wine of the Passover, became a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.[18][19][20] Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. With His coming, the priesthood changed from the order of Aaron to the order of Melchizedek, and the Law of Moses also changed to the perfect Law of Christ. The word change means that the former was replaced by the latter. Since the priesthood changed, the law concerning the priesthood also had to change.[1] Jesus, the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, said that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.[21] In other words, He came to establish the perfect Law of Christ. In his letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), the apostle Paul spoke of these two laws and emphasized that God’s people in New Testament times should follow the Law of Christ rather than the Law of Moses.[22]
Comparison of Priestly Orders
| Order of Aaron[23] | Order of Melchizedek[1] | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Old Testament Times | New Testament Times |
| Covenant | Old Covenant[24] | New Covenant[25][26] |
| Law | Law of Moses[27] | Law of Christ[28] |
| Offering | Animal Sacrifices[29] | Bread and Wine[17][18] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Hebrews 7:11-13".
- ↑ "Hebrews 5:6".
- ↑ "Hebrews 5:6". Bible Hub.
- ↑ "τάξις". Bible Hub.
- ↑ "1 Chronicles 28:21".
- ↑ "Leviticus 1:1-5".
- ↑ "Exodus 28:1".
- ↑ "Numbers 18:1".
- ↑ "1 Chronicles 24:1-5".
- ↑ "1 Chronicles 24:6-10".
- ↑ "Luke 1:5".
- ↑ "2 Chronicles 8:14".
- ↑ "2 Chronicles 31:2-4".
- ↑ "Psalms 110:4".
- ↑ "Hebrews 5:8-10".
- ↑ "Hebrews 6:20".
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Genesis 14:18-19".
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Matthew 26:17-28".
- ↑ "Luke 22:7-20".
- ↑ "John 6:53-54".
- ↑ "Matthew 5:17".
- ↑ "1 Corinthians 9:20-21".
- ↑ "1 Chronicles 24:1-2".
- ↑ "Hebrews 9:1".
- ↑ "Hebrews 9:15".
- ↑ "Jeremiah 31:31".
- ↑ "Joshua 23:6".
- ↑ "1 Corinthians 9:21".
- ↑ "Leviticus 1:2".