A priest is a mediator who stands between God and man β approaching God on behalf of the people with offerings and intercession. In the Old Testament, the Levitical priesthood was established at Sinai (Exod. 28) to offer daily sacrifices, manage the tabernacle/temple, and make atonement on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). All of this pointed forward to Christ, the supreme and final High Priest (Heb. 4:14β16; 7:26β28) who offered Himself once for all. The Levitical priesthood is abolished in Him. Under the New Covenant, all believers constitute a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9) β having direct access to God through Christ alone.
PRIEST, n. [L. presbyter; Gr. elder.] 1. A man who officiates in sacred offices. Among pagans, priests were persons whose appropriate business was to offer sacrifices and perform other sacred rites of religion. In Scripture, the sons of Aaron were consecrated priests for the Jewish nation, to offer sacrifices and perform sacred rites. Christ is called a priest and a high priest, as it was his office to make atonement for sinners. 2. By way of eminence, a minister of the gospel; a man ordained to perform the offices of religion in the Christian church.
Rome's doctrine of a sacrificing priesthood re-erects what the cross demolished. If the Mass is a propitiatory sacrifice, then Calvary was insufficient β a direct contradiction of Hebrews 9β10 ("once for all"). The sacerdotal system places a human priest between the believer and God, functionally denying the sole mediation of Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). Protestantism's recovery of the priesthood of all believers does not eliminate spiritual leadership but abolishes the caste that claims exclusive access to God. Every believer is a priest β not by ordination but by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 4:14β16 β "We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God... Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace."
Hebrews 7:27 β "[Christ] has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily... He did this once for all when he offered up himself."
1 Peter 2:9 β "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession."
1 Timothy 2:5 β "There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 10:11β14 β Every Levitical priest stood daily to offer sacrifices that never took away sin; Christ sat down, His work complete.
G2409 β Hiereus: priest β used of OT priests, Christ as High Priest, and NT believers
G749 β Archiereus: high priest β used extensively in Hebrews of Christ
H3548 β Kohen: priest β the standard OT term for the Levitical priests
β’ The Aaronic priesthood was a shadow; Christ is the substance. To return to a sacrificing priesthood after Calvary is to prefer the shadow to the Sun.
β’ Every Christian exercises his priesthood by offering spiritual sacrifices: prayer, praise, hospitality, and a life given to God (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15β16).
β’ The priestly work of Christ β interceding at the right hand of the Father β continues now; His atoning sacrifice does not.