Topical Bible: Injustice: Priests

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In the biblical narrative, priests hold a significant role as mediators between God and the people, responsible for teaching the law, offering sacrifices, and maintaining the sanctity of worship. However, instances of injustice perpetrated by priests are documented throughout Scripture, highlighting the potential for corruption and failure within this sacred office.

Old Testament Instances

One of the earliest examples of priestly injustice is found in the account of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, in 1 Samuel. These priests are described as "worthless men" who "did not know the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:12). They abused their priestly privileges by taking the best portions of the sacrifices for themselves and engaging in immoral behavior with the women serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:13-17, 22). Their actions led to God's judgment against Eli's household, as a prophet declared, "I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke about his family, from beginning to end" (1 Samuel 3:12).

In the book of Malachi, the prophet rebukes the priests for their failure to honor God and uphold the covenant. Malachi accuses them of offering blemished sacrifices and showing partiality in their judgments (Malachi 1:6-8, 2:9). The priests' corruption led to a broader spiritual decline among the people, as they were meant to be the custodians of God's law and examples of righteousness.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the religious leaders, including the chief priests, are often depicted as opposing Jesus and His ministry. The Gospels record numerous instances where the priests, along with the Pharisees and scribes, sought to undermine Jesus' authority and ultimately conspired to bring about His crucifixion. In Matthew 21:13, Jesus condemns the temple practices by declaring, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" This statement underscores the priests' role in allowing and perpetuating corrupt practices within the temple.

The book of Acts also highlights the tension between the early Christian community and the Jewish religious authorities. In Acts 4:1-3, the priests, along with the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees, arrest Peter and John for preaching about Jesus' resurrection, demonstrating their resistance to the new movement that challenged their authority.

Theological Implications

The instances of priestly injustice in the Bible serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of spiritual leadership divorced from genuine faith and obedience to God. The priests' failure to uphold justice and righteousness not only led to personal judgment but also had far-reaching consequences for the community they served. These narratives emphasize the importance of integrity, accountability, and faithfulness in those who hold positions of spiritual authority.

The biblical portrayal of priestly injustice also points to the need for a perfect High Priest, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As the book of Hebrews explains, Jesus is the "high priest who meets our need—one who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26). Unlike the flawed human priests, Jesus' priesthood is marked by perfect justice and mercy, offering a model for all who serve in spiritual leadership.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 4:3
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold to the next day: for it was now eventide.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether the Sin of those who Crucified Christ was Most Grievous?
... bidding, not out of cupidity like Judas, nor from envy and hate like the chief priests. ...
Consequently Christ's slayers are not excused of their injustice. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sin of those.htm

Jesus and Pilate
... by convoking a representative gathering of all classes, 'chief priests and the ... Pilate
knew that he was perpetrating flagrant injustice in such a suggestion ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/jesus and pilate.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... Woe to who builds his house by injustice, XXII.13 His storeys by ... through, and stoutly
denouncing the great religious orders"the priests, natural believers in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

Pilate
... disentangled His claim from the political associations which the high priests intended
that it ... In no man was an act of deliberate injustice, or complaisance to ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 15 1-20 pilate.htm

Zacchaeus
... set apart for the priests, and at this time large numbers of priests had their ... they
abhorred, and which was regarded as another name for injustice and extortion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 61 zacchaeus.htm

Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... If, then, the order of the priests is the illuminating, entirely has he fallen ... the
superior, even though perhaps they were first guilty of injustice; how then ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm

Matt. xxvi. 67, 68
... [3052] And the chief priests took the ... stripped the one that had the garment, thou
wert to clothe the naked, wouldest thou not have committed an injustice? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxv matt xxvi 67.htm

part viii.
... Ahab himself did not act so cruelly towards the priests of God, as this man has ... For
Pilate, when he perceived [1743] the injustice of the deed, washed his hands ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/part viii.htm

Of the Right of Bishops not to be Accused or Hurt by Detraction.
... hold the highest office of the priesthood, that ye should put all injustice out
of ... works calumny and reproach, and act for the help of the Lord in His priests. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/ii of the right of.htm

Toleration
... out of his kingdom all things which offend, and all that work injustice, and whatsoever ...
but in those of society and order; and so the chief priests and Pontius ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxii toleration.htm