The Roles of the Old Testament Priests: Shadows of Our Great High Priest
The Old Testament priesthood is one of the most beautiful and instructive institutions in all of Scripture. God did not establish it as an afterthought or mere ritual. He designed it with great care as part of the Mosaic covenant to reveal His holiness, provide a way for sinful people to approach Him, and — most importantly — to serve as a living shadow that points forward to the Lord Jesus Christ, our perfect and eternal High Priest. As those who believe the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God and that the Old Testament is filled with types and shadows of the coming Messiah (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1), we study these roles with reverence and expectation. Understanding the Old Testament priests helps us appreciate the surpassing glory of Christ and strengthens our faith as we live as a “royal priesthood” under the new covenant (1 Peter 2:9). The Divine Institution of the Priesthood The priesthood began with God’s direct command to Moses. In Exodus 28–29 and Leviticus ...