Topical Bible: Priests were Sometimes: Unjust

Bible > Topical > Priests were Sometimes

◄ Priests were Sometimes: Unjust ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In 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 spiritual welfare of the nation. However, the Scriptures also record instances where priests acted unjustly, failing in their divine responsibilities and leading the people astray.

One of the most notable examples of priestly injustice is found in the account of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These priests, who served 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 and engaging in immoral behavior with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:13-17, 22). Their actions not only dishonored God but also caused the people to despise the sacrificial offerings.

The prophet Malachi also addressed the issue of priestly injustice during his time. He rebuked the priests for their failure to honor God's name and for offering blemished sacrifices on the altar, which was a direct violation of the Law (Malachi 1:6-8). Malachi accused them of turning aside from the covenant of Levi, causing many to stumble by their instruction, and showing partiality in matters of the law (Malachi 2:8-9).

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself confronted the religious leaders, including the priests, for their hypocrisy and injustice. In Matthew 23, He pronounced a series of woes upon the scribes and Pharisees, who were often associated with the priestly class, for their outward displays of piety that masked their inner corruption. Jesus criticized them for neglecting "the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness" (Matthew 23:23).

The unjust actions of priests throughout biblical history serve as a sobering reminder of the human propensity to fall short of God's standards, even among those set apart for His service. These accounts underscore the need for integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to God's commands among those who lead His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 6:13
For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Saybrook Platform and the Toleration Act
... taxes which the Quakers still considered unjust. ... missionary churches and missionary
priests throughout the colonies ... the strangers, and were sometimes willing to ...
/.../chapter vii the saybrook platform.htm

Whether it is Lawful for Clerics and Bishops to Fight?
... comes upon the sheep, when any unjust and rapacious ... Now it is sometimes right and
meritorious to make ... Old Testament (Joshua 6:4) the priests were commanded to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for.htm

Our Glorious Transforming
... made us priests and kings." We are all priests if we ... Ye were sometimes far off, but
he has made you nigh. ... Christ, and then through the blood we were made nigh. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/our glorious transforming.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

Dread of Ridicule.
... It made him very red with shame and annoyance sometimes. ... and spears, who do not use
them, those priests blowing the ... day all the women and children were on the ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxi dread of ridicule.htm

The Institution of Deacons, and the History of Stephen.
... although the conversion of so many priests, who were ... may have sometimes had recourse
to it, to brand ... The people, the elders, and the scribes, were alarmed; and ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture viii the institution of.htm

Whether the Judicial Precepts were Suitably Framed as to the ...
... and thou shalt come to the priests of the ... carefully examined, and that those who
were found untruthful ... of the Divine Persons, Who are sometimes mentioned as two ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the judicial precepts were 3.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... The heathen priests, and others interested in the support of ... have finished their
career, have sometimes impressed those ... Its advocates were felt to be in earnest ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

Whether the Evidence of Two or Three Persons Suffices?
... may be determined, the evidence might sometimes be unjust ... or fine, whether the house
were painted or not ... refers specially to the bishops, priests, deacons and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the evidence of two.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... of the Temple,' Judicature of the Priests,' or Elders ... that their assertions of purity
were sometimes conjoined with ... But it would be grossly unjust to identify ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm