The Great Priest Over The House Of God

by F. McCormick | Category: The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ | Dec 1958

There is much confusion of thought generally, relative to the Lord's ministry as priest, yet words could not be clearer than those found in Hebrews 10.21, 22, "Having a Great Priest over the house of God; let us draw near." There are some who think that each company or assembly of believers which comes together to break bread is a house of God, in which case there would be numerous houses of God throughout the world. Scripture does not say that the Lord is Priest over the houses of God, but over the house (singular). Scripture teaches that there is only one house of God, composed of all churches of God. We would that all believers would search the Scriptures on these important issues. Where in the New Testament is any mention made of houses of God relative to God's together people? There are many churches of God, but only one house of God, and this should speak volumes to seekers after truth.

In Peter's first epistle those in the five provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, are described as being "built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ " (1 Peter 1.1 and 2.5). No one could reasonably suppose that in such a large area there were not many churches of God, and these are in view in the exhortation to overseers, " Neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you " (1 Peter 5.8), yet the whole together is spoken of as one thing, "a spiritual house," "a holy priesthood," "a holy nation." Peter indicates this when he says, "Ye also... are built up a spiritual house."

John, in writing to the seven churches in Asia says "And he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto His God and Father" (Revelation 1.6).

These seven churches were therefore in one kingdom, and John himself, who was in the Isle of Patmos, was a partaker with them in that kingdom (verse 9). In these scriptures we see the truth of one house, one kingdom and one priesthood. The same persons constitute the house, kingdom, and priesthood. In the typology of the past the same principles are seen,

"Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shalt be a peculiar treasure unto Me from among all peoples:

for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Exodus 19.5, 6).

When Israel had solemnly undertaken to obey God's voice, saying "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do, and be obedient," then, upon these conditions, God took them into covenant relationship, recognized them as His people, and as a kingdom of priests. and made provision for them to fulfil their obligations and functions in association with the LORD'S dwelling place, for He said,

"Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25.8).

And again,

"See ... that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8.5).

God would not dwell in a tabernacle of human design, nor be served by men in a system of human origin. His will and way must be paramount. Let us learn the lesson.

The conditional character of the house, kingdom and priesthood was thus set forth, and so it is today, "Whose house are we, if we hold fast." Over the house of God Christ is both Son and Priest. As Son He imparts a glory and dignity to the house worthy of the One whose house it is. He is its great Exemplar, the supreme example and living exponent of godliness (1 Timothy 3.16), hence the demands upon those in God's house to "follow after godliness." The standard of God's house is high, and human frailty is ever present, hence the need for a Priest over God's house.

There are two spheres of service associated with God's house

(1) manward in testimony, in connexion with which prayer is vital, and (2) Godward, in holy priesthood service in praise. In both spheres the Lord Jesus renders service as priest over God's house. In the epistle to the Hebrews He is seen bringing many sons to glory through a hostile world ; He is their princely Leader, and at the same time the High Priest of their confession. In the past, Israel's confession was bound up with the law given by Moses which they undertook to keep. Today it is bound up with "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" which they are responsible to hold and contend for. It would have been utterly impossible for Israel to maintain their status as a peculiar people and a kingdom of priests apart from the work of the high priest of their confession, even Aaron. He stood between the people and God in his work of making atonement for the holy place, the tent of meeting, the altar, and for all the assembly of Israel, by which the relationship of a weak and failing people was maintained with God. So also our High Priest by the all-sufficiency of His sacrifice and acceptability as Priest is able to make propitiation for the sins of the people, i.e., God's together-people. (See Hebrews 2.17). He maintains the sanctity and righteousness of God's holy throne in faithfulness, and is able also to meet the needs of a failing people in mercy. With true sympathy He can enter into the difficulties and temptations besetting the path of the sanctified and faithful, and" He is able to succour them that are tempted." Indeed, "He is able to save to the uttermost (completely R.V.M.) them that draw near to God through Him," otherwise, the wilderness of this world would be strewn with the spiritual wreckage of countless lives of God's saints. We cannot go on without Him; He is our Hope in God's presence; all our resources are in Him who is after the order of Melchizedek, of whom it is written that he was "priest of God Most High possessor of heaven and earth," and He has gone into God's presence on our behalf. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul. If we fail to lay hold of this Hope we shall drift and fall away from the living God. May we know increasingly by experience the value of this wondrous ministry of our High 'Priest!

"Having then a Great High Priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

"Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need" (Hebrews 4.14, 16).

The Lord Jesus is also Priest over God's house as they draw near as worshippers. In His incarnation He sought worshippers for His Father, in His resurrection as a Priest He is over the kingdom of priests. Aaron was over the kingdom of priests in the past, being divinely called and authorized to act on behalf of the nation in their Godward approach. No sacrifice could ever reach the divine presence apart from the ministry of the high priest, so also it is impossible for those in God's house to bring their offerings to God with acceptance apart from Him who is Priest over God's house.

In the law clear and precise instructions are given relative to the sacrifices which were to be brought, the place to which they were to be brought, and the manner of their presentation. In these matters Aaron the priest was to "teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD bath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses," so that they should put a difference between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean (Leviticus 10.10, 11).

"For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts"

(Malachi 2.7).

The Great Priest over God's house is the Divine Instructor through the Holy Spirit. This may be implied in the words of Acts 1. 1, " The former treatise I made, 0 Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began to do and to teach," so that in resurrection He continues to do and also to teach, though He does so by the work of the Holy Spirit through men.

At this point it may be well to note the difference between the house of God and the holy place, or Holies. The house of God is composed of the Lord's obedient disciples in churches of God, such as the church of God in Corinth which could be "known and read of all men" and the church in Antioch which could be called together when so desired (see 2 Corinthians 3.2; Acts 14.27), or "may come together in the church" (1 Corinthians 11. 18); all this shows saints together on earth.

It was this people who were addressed collectively in Hebrews 10.19, as " Having ... boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus." The holy place therefore is not the house of God, nor is it the meeting room or hall where the church gathers. The holy place or holies is where a holy priesthood may enter "to offer up spiritual sacrifices." It is in heaven, where the High Priest is seen as "a minister of the sanctuary (or holy things, R.V.M.)." It is thither that we are exhorted to "draw near," "having a Great Priest over the house of God," and right of access by the blood of Jesus, to worship in spirit and in truth, and to fill the hands of our High Priest, for it is necessary that this High Priest also should have somewhat to offer. The way into the Holies has been secured by the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven, but in our entering in we must be in that right spiritual condition essential for such service, for

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?

And who shall stand in His holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (Psalm 24.3, 4).

Let us cleanse ourselves then from all defilement of flesh and spirit, and,

"Through Him ... let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which snake confession to His Name" (Hebrews 13.15).

We know that whatever we may offer is imperfect by reason of our imperfect thought and apprehension, but we are assured that through Him who bears the iniquity of our holy things, and who is Himself the Leader of the praise in the great congregation, our praises are "acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

F. McCormick | Dec 1958
The Glories And Excellencies Of Christ