The priests mentioned in the NT performed various functions, all of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the church, which is his body.
Priests offered sacrifices
Sacrifices made by pagan priests
The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
Jewish sacrifice
Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9:14 Jesus Christ is both priest and victim: his own body takes the place occupied by sacrifices in the OT ritual. See also Hebrews 10:10
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
The Christian sacrifice of a surrendered life
Romans 12:1 See also Hebrews 13:16
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
The Christian sacrifice of praise
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
Priests made intercession
The burning of incense
Luke 1:9 See also Exodus 30:7–8
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Christian intercession
Revelation 5:8 See also 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:6
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Priests were guardians of tradition
They were trained in the teaching and application of OT law
The Christian ``tradition''
1 Corinthians 15:1–5; 2 Timothy 1:13–14, 2 Timothy 2:2; Jude 1:3
Priests declared people clean or unclean
They supplied ritual certification of cleansing
Matthew 8:4 parallels Mark 1:44, Luke 5:14 See also Leviticus 13:2–3, Leviticus 14:2; Luke 17:14
Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
Christians pronounce forgiveness
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.