Topical Bible: Priest: Duties of Teach the Law

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In the biblical context, priests held a significant role in the spiritual and communal life of Israel, with one of their primary duties being the teaching of the Law. This responsibility was integral to maintaining the covenant relationship between God and His people, ensuring that the statutes and commandments given by God were understood and followed by the Israelites.

The duty of teaching the Law is rooted in the Levitical priesthood, established by God through Moses. The tribe of Levi was set apart for this sacred task, as seen in Deuteronomy 33:10, which states, "They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel." This verse underscores the priestly obligation to instruct the people in God's decrees and laws, ensuring that the community lived in accordance with divine expectations.

The priests were not only responsible for the sacrificial system and temple rituals but also for the dissemination of God's Word. In Leviticus 10:11, the Lord commands Aaron and his sons, "You must teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses." This directive highlights the educational role of the priesthood, emphasizing their duty to communicate God's laws to the people.

The importance of this teaching role is further illustrated in the book of Malachi, where the prophet rebukes the priests for failing in their duties. Malachi 2:7 declares, "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts." This passage indicates that priests were expected to be knowledgeable and reliable sources of divine instruction, serving as intermediaries between God and His people.

In addition to their teaching responsibilities, priests were also tasked with interpreting the Law. This interpretative function is evident in passages such as Deuteronomy 17:8-11, where the priests and judges are called upon to resolve difficult legal cases. Their role in interpretation ensured that the application of the Law was consistent and just, reflecting God's will in various circumstances.

The priestly duty to teach the Law was not limited to formal settings but extended to everyday life. In Nehemiah 8:7-8, we see an example of this as the Levites helped the people understand the Law during the public reading of the Torah: "The Levites...instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. They read from the Book of the Law of God, clearly explaining and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read." This passage demonstrates the priests' commitment to ensuring that the Law was accessible and comprehensible to all Israelites.

Throughout the Old Testament, the teaching of the Law by the priests was a vital component of Israel's religious life, serving to guide the nation in righteousness and obedience to God. The priests' role as teachers was essential for the spiritual health and covenant faithfulness of the community, as they imparted the divine wisdom necessary for living in accordance with God's commands.

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Leviticus 10:11
And that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.
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Deuteronomy 24:8
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so you shall observe to do.
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Deuteronomy 27:14
And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
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Deuteronomy 31:9-13
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, which bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
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Deuteronomy 33:10
They shall teach Jacob your judgments, and Israel your law: they shall put incense before you, and whole burnt sacrifice on your altar.
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Jeremiah 2:8
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
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Malachi 2:7
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.
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Library

Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Teach, Preach, and the Like?
... is not unlawful for religious to preach, teach, and do ... is an obstacle to the fulfilment
of such like duties. ... orders; and it is unlawful for a priest to deliver ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 13.htm

High Priest
... and ordained of God, not only to teach the people ... Duties of the priests: The priests
were required to ... The priest's daughter who committed whoredom was to be ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... whatever else of the stars he did not teach him, to ... required the aid of the Levites
in certain inferior duties. ... when that day is over and the priest has come ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Covenant Duties.
... of Moses."[289] These were therefore to teach it to ... as they honour the Father."[295]
These duties are, it ... He is the great High Priest of his people's profession ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

The Impotence of the Law.
... aim of the Epistle to the Hebrews, to teach the insufficiency ... the guilty to, the
great High Priest, the Messiah ... Whoever attempts the discharge of duties for the ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the impotence of the law.htm

On the Difficulties and Duties of the Christian Life.
... ourselves to be, and our "High Priest continueth for ... us endeavour conscientiously
to perform those duties which religion ... Open our eyes, O God, and teach us out ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part iii on the difficulties.htm

The Westminster Larger Catechism
... Question 5: What do the Scriptures principally teach? ... 44: How does Christ execute
the office of a priest? ... Question 104: What are the duties required in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/

Phil. 1:01 the Rights and Duties of Lay Churchmen.
... to Timothy and Titus, where his duties are clearly ... of New Testament proof that he
is a sacrificing priest. ... the slightest obligation to warn, to teach, to rebuke ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xvii phil 1 1 the.htm

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. ...
... they considered woman's mission and duties as lying in ... academies which the wicked
high-priest Jason tried ... Deuteronomy 11:19), Ye shall teach them.' Afterwards ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 8 subjects of study.htm

Matt. vii. 28
... no more be perplexed at seeing Him teach in this ... Wherefore he saith, "Show thyself
to the priest, and offer the ... mind, let us also fulfill all our duties to our ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxv matt vii 28.htm