Tag Archives: Priesthood

Was Yeshua of both Davidic (Jewish) and priestly lineage?

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Luke 1:36, Elizabeth your relative. While Mary was of the royal lineage of David through her father, she also was a relative on her mother’s side of Elizabeth, the priest-wife of Zacharias, who was a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5).  In Matthew one and Luke three two different genealogies are given for Yeshua, both of which  go back to King David. One is presumed to be that of Joseph and the other is that of Mary. In this way, Yeshua was a direct descendant of David legally through Joseph, his step-father, and genetically through Mary, his mother. Does this mean that Mary was of priestly as well as Davidic lineage. Yes, but not patrilineally, only matrilineally. In the Scriptures, tribal lineage was determined through the father’s family line and not the mother’s.

In the case of Mary and Elizabeth, they would have shared common grandparents making them cousins. Their grandfather would have been a priest. In the case of Elizabeth, her father—the son of her priestly grandfather—would have carried the priestly line making her a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5). In the case of Mary, her mother would have been her priestly grandfather’s daughter meaning that she was of priestly lineage, but not her children, unless she married a priest.

It seems that Yeshua would have carried priestly blood in his genes, but he was legally a priest through patrilineal descent. To be sure, Yeshua was a priest, but not one of Aaronic lineage, but after the order of Melchizedek, which was the priesthood of the firstborn son passed on generationally. Yeshua was the first born son of Elohim eternally, which is why he is presently at the right hand of Elohim acting as our Great High Priest (Heb 1:3 cp. 3:1; 4:4; 8:1).

Therefore, Mary laid claim to a Davidic as well as a priestly lineage (Jesus the Messiah, by Edersheim, p. 105). This means that Yeshua was not only of direct Davidic lineage, but was of priestly lineage as well.

 

Some Troubling Verses in Hebrews 7 Explained

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Hebrews 7:12, Priesthood being changed…a change also of the law [Torah]. The Greek words for being changed and a change are respectively metatithemi (a verb) and metathesis (a noun). The the verb means “to transpose, to transfer, to go or pass over, to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another.” Many people interpret this verse to mean that YHVH’s Torah-law was changed (i.e., invalidated or annulled) by the new covenant, but is this what the author is saying here?

Before going further in our discussion, let’s lay out some basic truths of the Scriptures.

YHVH doesn’t change (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17). The word torah [in English, translated as law] means “instructions, principles, teachings” and came directly from YHVH to his people. The Torah teaches men how to love YHVH and love one’s fellow man. It is YHVH’s instructions in righteousness and reflects his very character and nature. Who YHVH is doesn’t change.

It is a sin (a violation of the Torah) to change the Torah (Deut 4:2; 12:32).

So in this light, what is this verse really saying? It declares that the priesthood was changed. The Levitical priesthood that was temporarily and parenthetically inserted into the Melchizedek priesthood (both priesthoods are revealed in the Torah, see Exod 19:2, 4 cp. 28:1; 32:29). In the former priesthood, a father acted as the priest over his family Continue reading →

 

The High Priest—A Prophetic Picture of the Saints

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Exodus 39:1, The holy garments for Aaron. The vestments of the high priest (kohen hagadol) are symbolic of the robes of righteousness that saints should be wearing in preparation for the return of the Messiah.

High Priest

  • Gold symbolizes purity of heart.
  • Blue symbolizes heaven and spirituality. White linen pictures robes of righteousness.
  • White symbolizes purity and sinlessness.
  • Red represents blood—the blood of Yeshua that cleanses from sin.
  • The high priest wore a belt that represents truth, according to Paul (Eph 6:14).
  • White linen pants represented sexual purity.
  • The white turban represented purity of thought and humility (the opposite of conceit).
  • He wore a gold crown inscribed with the words, “Kadosh l’YHVH” meaning “Set-Apart to YHVH.”
  • The dangling pomegranates represented the fruits of the Spirit of Elohim, which should be manifesting in the life of the saint. The golden bells jingled when the priest walked.

As we walk through life, people should hear and see our good spiritual fruits. All of our actions speak loudly and clearly as to who we are and what we believe. Also, Continue reading →

 

The Glorious Garments of the High Priest Point to Yeshua

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Genesis 28–29

The Garments of the High Priest

(Some of this information is derived from Martyn Barrow’s tabernacle web site and from the ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash along with several other sources as noted in the text.)

High Priest

The high priest was required to wear eight vestments while performing his duties in the tabernacle or else his service was invalid. The garments that the high priest wore along with those of the regular priests set them apart from the rest of Israel thereby elevating them in the eyes of Israel for the special and sacred work of Elohim they were doing.

The priestly attire was called the Eight Vestment (Sh’moneh G’dim) or the Gold Vestments since some of them contained gold. Actually, only seven of his vestments were specifically made for his duties as high priest. His linen breeches would have been worn anyway as a part of his regular dress, so they were not special as were the other seven garments. On certain parts of the Day of Atonement, the high priest wore only four vestments all made of white linen. The ordinary priests wore these four white vestments all the time.

As with so many things found in the tabernacle, the high priest’s garments comprised of four colors: sky blue, royal purple, blood crimson woven onto a background of pure snow white linen. Additionally, the high priest’s head plate was of gold, along with the 72 bells sown onto the hem of his Ephod, the golden chains holding the Breastplate to his shoulders, the bases to the shoulder stones and the gold thread woven into the Ephod. The color blue signifies godliness or heaven. Some see purple as signifying royalty or kingliness. Others see an additional meaning. Red and blue combine to make purple. Blue represents the divine while red speaks of the human, earthly or animal aspect of man (and of Yeshua). After all, red blood is the symbol of life and the name of the first man was Continue reading →

 

The Tribe of Levi: Lemons to Lemonade

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Genesis 49:7, I will scatter/divide them. For Simeon, this prophecy was fulfilled in that they had an inheritance both in the area Judah and among the region of northern tribes.

For Levi’s part, his descendants were given the priesthood and were scattered in 48 cities throughout Israel (Num 35:7).

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YHVH put this tribe’s passion against evil to good use. Levi’s vengeful anger against Shechem for raping Dinah was excessive and outside the bounds of Torah-law (Gen 38). However, this passion for righteousness and justice became further evident as Levi’s descendants were the ones who stood up against the rebellious Israelites at the golden calf.

Moses used this tribe to execute YHVH’s judgment against the golden calf worshippers (Exod 32:25–29). This time, Levi acted in accordance to and within the bounds of the Torah as prescribed by Moses. For this, they were granted the priesthood and as such, were scattered throughout Israel (in fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy) to better accomplish their duties. They became responsible for teaching Israel YHVH’s Torah and for acting as judges of the law (Deut 33:10; 24:8; Lev 24:10–11).

The beauty of this story is that YHVH can take the flawed character traits or misguided and even carnal passions of an individual or of a family or a society and redeem them by redirecting them along righteous lines in accordance with Torah principles. Zeal and passion are wonderful character attributes, but they need to be channeled in the right direction.

To the Laodiceans in Revelation YHVH said he would rather they be hot or cold in their passions (Rev 3:15–16). He had no use for lukewarmness, which is apathy. One who is cold or dead is waiting to be awakened spiritually. One who is hot with passion already simply needs direction. One who is lukewarm does even care enough to go one way or the other.

With YHVH Elohim all things are possible. He knows how to take our lemons and turn them into lemonade for his glory! HalleluYAH!

 

 

The Levitical and Melchizedek Priesthoods Compared

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Hebrews 7:12, Priesthood being changed…a change also of the law [Torah]. The Greek words for being changed and a change are respectively metatithemi (a verb) and metathesis (a noun). The root of the noun is the verb, which means “to transpose, to transfer, to go or pass over, to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another.” Many people interpret this verse to mean that YHVH’s Torah-law was changed (i.e., invalidated or annulled) by the new covenant, but is this what the author is saying here?

Before going further in our discussion, let’s lay out some basic truths of the Scriptures.

YHVH doesn’t change (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17). The word torah [in English, translated as law] means “instructions, principles, teachings” and came directly from YHVH to his people. The Torah teaches men how to love YHVH and love one’s fellow man. It is YHVH’s instructions in righteousness and reflects his very character and nature. Who YHVH is doesn’t change.

It is a sin (a violation of the Torah) to change the Torah (Deut 4:2; 12:32).

So in this light, what is this verse really saying? It declares that the priesthood was changed. The Levitical priesthood that was temporarily and parenthetically inserted into the Melchizedek priesthood (both priesthoods are revealed in the Torah, see Exod 19:2, 4 cp. 28:1; 32:29). In the former priesthood, a father acted as the priest over his family interceding for them before Elohim via sacrifices and offerings (Gen 8:20; 12:7,8; 13:18; 22:9; 26:25; 33:20; 35:1, 3, 7; Exod 17:15; Job 1:5). In the latter priesthood, YHVH Continue reading →

 

Cleansing the Temple; Preparing the Priesthood

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The following are the talking points of Natan’s Shavuot message that he gave at Shavuot NW 2105. I hope you find these thought provoking and edifying. Natan

YHVH Is Preparing a Kadosh (Set-Apart) Priesthood

  • Ezekiel 43:8 teaches us that man’s religious thresholds (standards) must be the same as YHVH’s, and man’s entry points into relationship must correspond with those of YHVH. Usually, men’s standards are lower than YHVH’s. Men’s low spiritual standards are abominable in the eyes of YHVH and prevent us from coming into close relationship with him. Men’s lower standards can even bring YHVH’s fiery and fierce judgment against us as this verse teaches us.
  • In Numbers 18:7 and 20 we learn that the Levitical priesthood of old who had no inheritance in the land and had no share among Israel. Similarly, we as YHVH’s holy priesthood have no inheritance or share in this world. Our inheritance is in YHVH and in his world to come.
  • Elohim exists outside of the physical dimension and transcends human understanding and is unknowable except by divine revelation. Religious systems tend to reduced Elohim’s righteousness down to more manageable proportions and trivialize his glory and transcendence. In so doing, we risk making and worshipping a god in our own image, which is idolatry.
  • Before Yeshua went to the cross, he went in and cleansed the outer courtyard of corporatism and greed. When Yeshua returns, he’s going to come suddenly to his temple and to cleanse the sons of Levi (Mal 3:1–4). He’s coming back for pure priesthood who’s not part of a corporate, greedy religious system and everything that defiles, profaned it. All syncretistic systems and traditions of men will be eliminated. He wants living stones in his new temple, not dead ones that are spiritually lifeless. Those who abide in the outer court will be judged. The outer court is for the gentiles (Rev 11:1–2). It’s a place of an unholy mixture of worldly and religious affairs. Gentiles need to cease being Gentiles and become grafted in redeemed Israelites. The Laodiceans are those who are unacceptable to YHVH. They haven’t progressed past the outer court.
  • In Malachi’s day, the priests were to bring only perfect, undefiled, unblemished and worthy of YHVH’s holiness (Mal 1:6–7, 10–13). Today YHVH’s royal priesthood is to bring him the kadosh sacrifice of a broken, contrite spirit and circumcised heart and the offering of their dedicated Continue reading →