October 8

A royal priesthood. - 1 Peter 2:9.

THE kingly and the priestly offices among the Jews belonged to different tribes. Judah had the sceptre, Levi had the censer. These were not found united in the same person; therefore, when king Uzziah stretched forth his hand to seize the censer in the temple to burn incense, his arm withered away. Before the law, in the time of the patriarchs, Melchizedek was priest of the most high God: and he was also king of Salem, which is, being interpreted, king of peace; therefore the apostle makes him a greater type of the Messiah than Aaron.

We read that Christ was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; for he, as Zechariah expresses it, is a priest upon his throne; that is, he is both King and Priest. His followers are called upon to resemble him. We are told they are made “kings and priests unto God.” Here they reign and they minister; they reign as kings over their spiritual enemies, and they will be “more than conquerors through him that loved them;” and they will wear crowns of righteousness, which shall not fade away. Then they also are priests ministering in things pertaining to God.

A priest must have an altar, “whereof,” says Paul, “they have no right to eat, who serve the tabernacle.” A priest must always have something to offer, and they “offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” What are these sacrifices? A broken heart and a contrite spirit; alms, odours of a sweet smell, prayers and praises. And we are to present our bodies, says the apostle, “as a living sacrifice unto God, which is our reasonable service.” In some communities the term priest is applied exclusively to ministers. But this has no countenance in the New Testament. These are names which apply to the laity as well as to ministers. All who are the partakers of divine grace are there considered as sacred characters. They are a royal priesthood.