PRIESTS DURING BIBLICAL TIMES
From the time of the covenant at Mount Sinai, God established a formal priesthood among the Israelites. Men selected from the tribe of Levi were chosen to serve as mediators between God and the people. These priests played a crucial role in the religious life of Israel, performing sacrifices and rituals in the Holy Place of the Temple, including animal sacrifices as prescribed in the Law of Moses.
Priests and Levites: Distinction and Roles
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus introduces a priest and a Levite, highlighting their distinct roles. While all priests were Levites, not all Levites were priests. Levites were descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Initially, the heads of families acted as priests. However, after the incident of the Golden Calf, the Levites alone showed their loyalty to God. Consequently, God chose them for divine service at the Holy Place in the tabernacle and later in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The High Priest: A Unique Role
God appointed Aaron, the brother of Moses, as the first high priest, and his descendants continued in this role. The high priest was the highest-ranking among the priests and had the unique privilege of entering the Holy of Holies in the Temple once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices for the people’s sins.
Although the head of the Aaronic family traditionally served as the high priest, Roman authorities disrupted this practice by appointing their favorites to the position. During Jesus’ public ministry, Caiaphas was the high priest, and his father-in-law Annas, a former high priest, also wielded significant influence as the head of the Sanhedrin.
Annas and Caiaphas: High Priests During Jesus’ Ministry
Annas, though no longer the high priest, played a pivotal role in Jesus’ arrest and trial. Corrupt and ambitious, Annas had bribed his way into the high priesthood and maintained business alliances with temple merchants engaged in exploitative practices. Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, where He drove out these merchants, incited Annas’ animosity, leading to Jesus’ arrest and trial. Caiaphas, the high priest at the time, was also deeply involved in these events.
The Division of Priests
The priesthood was organized into divisions to manage the Temple’s workload. All priests served during the three main Jewish feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. During other times, each division served two one-week terms per year. Selection by lot determined which priests served in the Temple during these periods, considered a divine selection. This practice is exemplified in the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who was chosen by lot to serve when the angel Gabriel announced the birth of his son.
Priests’ Work on the Sabbath
Priests had to work on the Sabbath to ensure sacrifices were conducted according to the Law. This included tasks such as cleaning sacrificial animals, lighting fires, slaughtering animals, and placing them on the altar. Additionally, they had to change the showbread every Sabbath. While such work would be a violation of the Sabbath for ordinary people, the Law prioritized sacrifices over Sabbath restrictions. Jesus, emphasizing compassion and mercy, taught that acts of mercy should take precedence over Sabbath regulations.
REFLECTION
In the New Testament, all baptized believers share in the royal priesthood of Jesus, giving us the privilege of participating in His sacrifice. As Peter reminds us: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9).
As Christians, we are called to lead sacrificial lives, serving Jesus and the people entrusted to our care. We must cooperate with ordained priests, supporting their ministry and acknowledging their role in our spiritual lives. Let us remember our calling to be a holy nation, dedicated to announcing the praises of God and living out the royal priesthood bestowed upon us through Christ.