Kingdom of Priests

2023-08-23

How are God’s people kings and priests or a kingdom of priests?

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6)

The LORD told the people of Israel this immediately before the receiving of the Ten Commandments. If they would be obedient to the covenant, they would be a kingdom of priests.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9)

Christians are called a royal priesthood and a holy nation, contrasting with those who rejected the Gospel.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)

The apostle John tells the believers in Asia that they were made kings and priests by Jesus Christ.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)

The beasts and elders sang a new song, which included this. They were made priests that will reign. The offices of king and priest were separate in the Old Testament for good reason. You can think of it as a separation of powers so that authority was not concentrated on one person. It is Jesus Christ who holds the offices of both David the king and Joshua the high priest. He took on both offices because He is the perfect Son of God.

Jesus is the king who rules over the people and the priest that goes to God on behalf of the people. Our Lord appears to delegate some of that power to His people when He comes in His kingdom.