New Testament Believer Priest
Comparing Old Testament & New Testament Priests
Similarity of Duties
• Offer Sacrifices – Leviticus 1:4-17 (see 1 Pet. 2:5; Heb 13:15-16)
• Offer First Fruits – Leviticus 23:10-11(see Rom. 12:1; 1Cor 15:20)
• Pronounce benedictions – Numbers 6:22-27 (most New Testament epistles close with
benedictions)
• Teach – Leviticus 10:11(see Matt. 28:20)
• Keep the sacred fire always burning – Lev. 6:12-13(see Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4)
• Be present at and supervise the tithing – Neh. 10:38 (see 2 Cor. 8:2-5)
• Purify the unclean – Lev.15:31 (Our High Priest made the unclean clean. See Act 10 and
11)
• To act as magistrates – Num. 5:14-31(see 1 Cor. 6:2-3)
• Officiate in the Holy Place – Hebrews 9:6 (see Heb. 4:16)
• To encourage the army on the eve of battle – Deut. 20:2-4 (see 1 Thess. 5:8-11)
• Value things devoted, Leviticus 27:8 & 12 (see Matt. 10:31)
© 2004 n Prest
© Revised 2023
| OLD VERSUS NEW COVENANT Sacrificial System |
| © Dr. Vallen Prest 2004 |
| Old System of Sacrifice | New System of Sacrifice |
| Was temporary (Hebrews 8:13) | Is permanent (Hebrews 7:21) |
| Aaron first high priest (Leviticus 16:32) | Jesus only High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) |
| From tribe of Levi (Hebrews 7:5) | From tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14) |
| High Priest ministered on earth (Hebrews 8:4) | High Priest ministers in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2) |
| Used blood of animals (Leviticus 16:15) | Uses blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:5) |
| Required many sacrifices for sin (Leviticus 22:19) | Required one sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:28) |
| Needed perfect animals (Leviticus 22:19) | Needed a perfect life (Hebrews 5:9) |
| Required careful approach to the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:2) | Encourages a confident approach to throne (Hebrews 4:16) |
| Looked forward to new system (Hebrews 10:1) | Sets aside old system (Hebrews 10:9) |
| Other Priests related to Aaron (Exodus 29:9) | Other priests related to Christ (Revelations 1:6) |
| Spiritual Sacrifices for New Testament Priests | |
| Sacrifice of Praise | Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 69:30-32 |
| Doing Good | Hebrews 13:16 |
| Sharing with Others (koinonia) | Hebrews 13:16 |
| Prayer | Psalms 141:2; Proverbs 15:8; Rev. 5:8; Rev 8:3-4 |
| Mercy | Hosea 6:6 |
| Knowledge of God | Hosea 6:7; 2 Cor. 2:14 |
| Doing Justice | Micah 6:6; Proverbs 21:3 |
| Doing His Will | Psalm 40:6-8; Isa. 1:11-17 |
| Being Obedient | 1 Sam 15:22-23 |
| Walking Humbly with God | Micah 6:7-8 |
| Being Righteous & Walking in Righteousness | Proverbs 21:3; Psalm 4:5; Psalm 51:19 |
| Witnessing | Romans 15:16 |
| Giving | Phil 4:18 |
| All of Our Lives | Romans 12:1-2 |
© Dr. Vallen Prest 2017
1 Peter 2:5, 9 (NIV)
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable [emphasis mine] to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
