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YOUR QUESTION (No.
47)
You've pointed out
that we're to call no man 'father,' 'teacher,' etc. But one of
the offices that Jesus never mentions (or prohibits) is 'priest.'
What are your thoughts?
MY
ANSWER
There is little one can say because Jesus did not discuss the office of 'priest.' Why did he forbid other exalted titles, but not this? My best guess comes in the light of the fact that, in Israel, the priest was an inherited office that was restricted to the tribe of Levi. As an office that was closed to everyone outside that tribe, it was not open to his disciples in general and therefore required no comment from him. The titles and respective offices that he forbids are those to which anyone could aspire, and many have. In Christendom, the office of 'priest' seems invariably to be associated with the title 'father,' and is therefore forbidden on that ground. We can speculate further. The office of priest in Israel was an exalted position and was joined to the title, 'father' just as in Christendom. A quick search turns up the following from the OT. Judg.17 [10] And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, and a suit of apparel, and your living."So, it is my view that Jesus would include the priest with the fathers. He finally revealed that the priesthood of the Jews was to be destroyed and that the kingdom was to be taken away from the Jews and give to the Little Flock. The Little Flock, consisting of the children of the Father, have no need of a priesthood! The priesthood is also eliminated for his disciples by this saying: Matt.23See how Nehemiah puts the priest in an exalted position, second to the princes, third to the kings and but one notch above the father. He who is denied the title of 'father' is denied the office of 'priest.' Finally, by definition a priest is a mediatory agent between humans and God. Jesus established that position for himself when he said: John 14 6 Jesus says to him: I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the father except through me. With these few words he established himself as the sole and exclusive High Priest for all human beings. |