Outline of Hebrews
THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:9
PRIEST (Heb. = "Cohen") – "One who stands for and mediates for another; one who offers sacrifice" (Heb. 5:1-8:3)
OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD "POINTED FORWARD" TO THE "BETTER PRIESTHOOD" OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Levi was the third son of Jacob (Israel). He died in Egypt aged 137 (Read Gen. 29:34; Ex. 6:16)
His line was: Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - Levi - Kohath - Amram - Aaron
He had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merrari (Gen. 46:11)
They all were Levites, but only the family of Aaron, from the line of Kohath were chosen as priests. So that all priests were Levite but not all Levites were priests!
Those Levites (from the line of Gershon and Merrari) performed other tasks for the Tabernacle and Temple, but did not offer sacrifices or partake in the priestly office
LEVITES TRUE TO GOD AT SINAI (Ex. 32:26-29). Their service in the Tabernacle was done
in shift-work, or "courses" (Luke 1:5). They were eligible for service at 30 (Num. 4:1-3)
General duties (1 Chron. 23:27-32)
QUALIFICATIONS:
Genealogical (Ex. 28:1). Must be of the family of Aaron. Had to prove genealogy (1 Chron. 24:1, 2; Ezra 2:61-63, when Israel came out of captivity)
Physical (Lev. 21:16-23; Num. 8:5-16)
Marriage laws (Lev. 21:13, 14)
Social (Lev. 10:8-11)
HOW SUPPORTED?
Tithes (Num. 18:20, 21)
Their lot in the division of Canaan (Josh. 21:41, 42)
THE HIGH PRIEST
First one – Aaron (Ex. 28:1)
Hereditary (Num. 20:23-29)
Only Aaron’s sons priests (Num. 3:3, 10)
Consecration (Ex. 29:20)
DAY OF ATONEMENT (Lev. 23:26-28)
Atonement from "copher." Hebrew meaning "to cover"
On the tenth day of the seventh month. It is the Jewish New Year (about October on our calendar), known as Yom Kippur
High Priest only on this day allowed into the Holy of Holies; never at any other time. To make offering for sins of Israel. It was the only fast ever commanded by God and came to be known as "the fast" (Acts 27:9).
Scape-goat type of Jesus. Sent into the wilderness on this day (Lev. 16:20, 21)
There have been no sacrifices since the year 70 a.d. as all the genealogies were destroyed in the destruction of the Temple and no Jew today can prove that he comes from the priestly tribe of Levi, although they still celebrate their New Year. But there can be no sacrifice as there are no priests!
