The Offices of Christ: Prophet and Priest
Notes
Transcript
The Offices of Christ
The Offices of Christ
There are 3 significant offices that are held in the New Testament.
The role of Prophet - we see this with Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Isaiah, Micah, etc.
The role of (High) Priest: Aaron, Eli, the Levites, Abiathar, Ahimilech, Joshua son of Jehozadak (priest during Haggai), etc.
Origin of this theology dates back to Eusebius, a third century Church Historian. In his book Church History he describes Christ by applying the titles of prophet, priest and king and then stating:
“… He alone is known to all men throughout the entire world as Christ; that He is acknowledge and witnessed to by all men under this title, and is spoken of thus by Greeks and non-Greeks alike; and that to this day He is honoured by His devotees throughout the world as King, revered more than a prophet, and glorified as the true and only High Priest of God, and in addition t all this as the Word of God, pre-existent, having his being before all ages and having received from his Father the right to be worshiped; and that he is adored as God.”
(That was all one sentence - and I started part of the way through.)
Eusebius wrote this in the early 4th century - probably between 312 and 324.
Then no one really developed these ideas until John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (first published in 1535, final edition published in 1559) (Which is a remarkable work - and likely not what you expect. Easily the most significant work of Systematic Theology in the history of the church.) Calvin in book II Chapter XV titles his chapter: “To know the purpose for which Christ was sent by the Father, and what he conferred upon us, we must look above all at three things in him: the prophetic office, kingship and the priesthood.”
From there Calvin significantly expounds upon the topic. One of the first things that he notes as he begins to discuss the role of prophet is that these three roles al by law are roles that are anointed by oil in the Old Testament - and Christ/Messiah means “The Anointed One.”
Since then theologians have come to know this as the Threefold office of Christ, or in latin munus triplex.
Prophet
Prophet
What is the definition of a prophet?
Many times people will identify prophets ONLY by future telling. That is not the biblical definition of prophet.
The simplest definition I can give is “The mouthpiece of God.”
Wayne Grudem defines a prophet as “one who reveals God to us and speaks to us the words of God…”
There are many new testament references to Jesus being a prophet.
11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
Even on the road to Emmaus, after Jesus’ death… Cleopas and the other disciple describe Jesus as a prophet in Luke 24:19
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
However, Jesus is more than just a prophet.
However, there is this office of The Prophet.
We see this distinction made in John’s Gospel.
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
Interestingly, those in John 7 seem to think that this office of the Christ is separate from the role of the prophet.
This role of “The Prophet” comes from Deuteronomy.
If you recall back to Deuteronomy a few months ago we spoke of Deuteronomy 18:15-19 and the raising up of a new prophet like Moses, but greater than Moses.
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
So here we get the definition for the prophet and the basis for the office of Jesus as the prophet.
Definition: I will put my words in my mouth.
Basis: I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their prophets.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
This is Peter speaking at Solomon’s Portico specifically identifying Jesus as being this prophet greater than Moses.
So Jesus isn’t merely a prophet but he is the greatest of the prophets.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
To shift slightly I want to address the question:
What does Jesus’ prophet ministry look like?
Jesus rightly interprets Scripture.
He teaches it rightly and properly.
He also reveals how Scriptures points to him.
Jesus does speak of future events. And I addressed this on May 7th of last year, in reference to the Olivet Discourse where Jesus speaks of the fall of Jersualem, disciples persecution and the fall of the temple in Luke 21:5-24.
Due to time constraints I wont rehash those details - but in that text Jesus speaks of events that when compared to the historical records in Josephus and Tacitus show us that Jesus clearly and specifically predicted events that would happen 37 years after his death resurrection and ascension. (It also reaffirms my belief that the gospels, and possibly the entire New Testament was completed prior to the fall of Jerusalem.)
Priest
Priest
The other significant office that is described in the old testament is the priest.
“Although God under the law commanded animal sacrifices to be offered to himself, in Christ there was a new and different order, in which the same one was to be both priest and sacrifice.” John Calvin 502.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
One issue that someone might notice is that the role of priest is limited to the Levitical family. However, Hebrews also answers this issue as well. Jesus is from the line of Judah, this is necessary for Jesus to be King.
Hebrews 7 shows us that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. One of the significant quotations in this text is Psalm 110… which again is the most quoted OT Text in the NT. And it’s a text about Jesus role as King… but also Jesus role as priest.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
“Making purification for sins.” This is Jesus role of the priest.
Hebrews 5 gives us a lot of information concerning what it means to be a priest, how Jesus is a priest, and how he functions in his priestly role.
Immediately before this are the verses we just read a moment ago from Hebrews 4:14-16.
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
Role definition in 5:1: Appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
The earthly priests in Lev 16 had to offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves first.
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus called as priest by God the Father - as asserted in Psalm 110, and as we see publicly affirmed in the baptism of Jesus, and in the transfiguration.
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
The role of Jesus as High Priest is well defended by the book of Hebrews. However, I do not have time this morning to exhaust this idea. You can review Heb 6-8 for this topic.
As Jesus is a better prophet than Moses, Jesus is a better priest than Aaron.
Munus Triplex
Munus Triplex
Theologians generally speaking of these three roles together. However, there was far too much content to address them all in one lesson. Probably too much to address in 2. However, these roles of Prophet Priest and King are connected. The prophetic office significantly focuses on the coming of the Kingdom of God… and to answer the questions who is the King (Jesus) and how do we get into the kingdom (through the priest Jesus)