visionary
26th November 2004, 01:35 PM
The nineteenth chapter of Exodus, was this: "Now, therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation."
They were conditionally offered equal nearness of access to God, - they should be all priests. But this was rescinded, for they broke the covenant; and then a special family is put into the place of priests, the rest of the people being put into the outer court, and only able to draw near to God through the ministry of the priests. Thus a separate and intermediate priesthood characterized Judaism which was never God's intent or purpose. Yeshua came to show the direct connection, while acknowledging the priesthood of His day by sending the cleansed lepers to the priests for verification. Yeshua and Paul talked extensively about eternalizing the internalization of the true kingdom of God.
They were conditionally offered equal nearness of access to God, - they should be all priests. But this was rescinded, for they broke the covenant; and then a special family is put into the place of priests, the rest of the people being put into the outer court, and only able to draw near to God through the ministry of the priests. Thus a separate and intermediate priesthood characterized Judaism which was never God's intent or purpose. Yeshua came to show the direct connection, while acknowledging the priesthood of His day by sending the cleansed lepers to the priests for verification. Yeshua and Paul talked extensively about eternalizing the internalization of the true kingdom of God.