Metaphors of the Church: A Kingdom of Priests

Yahweh brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and led them to Mount Sinai to give them the Law and enter into covenant with them. He told Moses to tell the people,

⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ (Exodus 19:5,6)

Though He established one clan from whom priests would be chosen, Levi, He wanted all Israelites to be priests to the nations, carrying out the function of the priest to teach who God is and how to make yourself acceptable to Him. The nation was to be a nation of evangelists who represented God to all the other, unbelieving, nations.

This kingdom of priests would have the responsibility of knowing the true God, of knowing what He requires, and of knowing how to teach Him to others. And that is what God says is true of the church.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

It should be easy to declare His praises given what He has done for us. Peter also tells us to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

and has made us to be a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:6)

As priests we also serve God. There are none of us who is uniquely to serve Him. We all serve Him. The priesthood is for every believer. We each have unfettered access to God and connection to Him. No special class exists among us with special connection to God. We are a kingdom of priests.