Topical Bible: Priests were Sometimes: Profane and Wicked

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Throughout the biblical narrative, priests held a significant role as mediators between God and the people of Israel. They were entrusted with the sacred duties of offering sacrifices, teaching the Law, and maintaining the holiness of the sanctuary. However, the Scriptures also provide accounts where priests deviated from their divine calling, engaging in profane and wicked behavior.

Eli's Sons: Hophni and Phinehas

One of the most notable examples of priestly corruption is found in the account of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These priests, serving at the tabernacle in Shiloh, were described as "wicked men" who "had no regard for the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:12). They exploited their position by taking the best portions of the sacrifices for themselves, contrary to the prescribed portions for priests (1 Samuel 2:13-16). Furthermore, they engaged in immoral acts with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:22). Their actions led to God's judgment, resulting in their deaths on the same day (1 Samuel 4:11).

Corruption in the Time of Malachi

The prophet Malachi also addressed the corruption among the priests during his time. The priests were accused of despising God's name and offering defiled sacrifices on the altar (Malachi 1:6-8). They were rebuked for their failure to uphold the covenant of Levi, which was characterized by reverence and awe for God's name (Malachi 2:4-8). Instead, they caused many to stumble by their instruction and showed partiality in matters of the law.

Ezekiel's Vision of Unfaithful Priests

In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet received visions concerning the unfaithfulness of the priests. Ezekiel 22:26 states, "Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common, and they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean." This indictment highlights the priests' failure to maintain the sanctity of their office and their role in leading the people astray.

The New Testament Perspective

The New Testament also reflects on the shortcomings of the priestly class, particularly the chief priests and religious leaders during the time of Jesus. These leaders were often depicted as being more concerned with their own power and influence than with true worship and justice. Jesus criticized them for their hypocrisy and for burdening the people with legalistic demands while neglecting the weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23-28).

Conclusion

The biblical accounts of profane and wicked priests serve as a sobering reminder of the potential for corruption within religious leadership. These narratives underscore the importance of integrity, reverence, and adherence to God's commandments for those who serve in positions of spiritual authority.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 2:22-24
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A New Order of Priests and Levites
... I pray God sometimes that he would save a great multitude ... are called to be; you are
made priests and Levites. ... you would soon become if his grace were to depart ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/a new order of priests.htm

The Middle Ages.
... Sometimes these threats were of great benefit ... to the clergy, as the Sanctuary did
to the priests of old ... who had not been unkind to the pilgrims, were subdued by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxxi the middle ages.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... faith by false dogmas, whereas the latter sometimes, even while ... and they knew that
the Levitical priests, whom the ... over sacred matters, and who were not yet ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

Article xxiii (xi): of the Marriage of Priests.
... They know likewise that they must sometimes retire, in ... impudent falsehood that the
marriage of priests is the ... are not ignorant of this, they were unwilling to ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 28 article xxiii xi .htm

Of the State of the Primitive Church, and the Mode of Government ...
... they discharged was not some profane stewardship, but ... worthy or refusing unworthy
priests, he immediately ... But as they were sometimes too slowly assembled, and ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 of the state.htm

Epistle Lxvii. To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain ...
... midst of the disciples, and the multitude were in one ... in the ordinations of bishops
and priests, but also ... For that unworthy persons are sometimes ordained, not ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxvii to the clergy.htm

The Private Thoughts and Words of Jesus
... but he is condemned to die by the chief priests, and then ... Ridicule sometimes breaks
hearts that are hardened against pain; and the ... They were maliciously witty. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the private thoughts and words.htm

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly ...
... same manner, though with difference of form [1203] and, sometimes, nomenclature,
by ... of Israel, and the wider that of the Priests, in which were the great ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x in the house.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... that the number of the high priests belonging to ... married persons, that had children,
were sometimes called eunuchs ... years and ten months: yet were his actions ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and
the priests praising the ... Sometimes the vow and oath were used together. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm