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19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. Eph 2:19

[In this metaphorical description of Jesus Christ, he is called a stone, to denote his invincible strength and everlasting duration, and to teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the foundation on which they are built, and a rock of offense to all their enemies. He is the living stone, having eternal life in himself, and being the prince of life to all his people.}

[A living stone. Christ is often called a Stone, or Rock, as the foundation whom which we build our spiritual life, and of the church; a “living stone” because he imparts life to all who build upon him, and himself lives eternally. See 1 John 1:1; Rev. 1:18; Acts 4:11]

[11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone., 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” ]

Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ac 4:11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house,

A spiritual house - the church?

[not the glorious temple the Jews worshipped at but something even more glorious built with living stones]

are being built

[the union of stability, growth, and activity in the ideal church.]

to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

[Believers not only make up the church but serve in it, ministering as a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. All believers are priests (cf. 1 Peter 2:9; Heb. 4:16; Rev. 1:6 - and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.)]

and need no mediator other than Jesus Christ to approach God directly. Such priestly service requires holiness (cf. 1 Peter 1:16, 22). Praise to God and doing good to others are spiritual sacrifices that please Him (Heb. 13:15).

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

However, “living stones” may also offer themselves as “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1),

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.]

[leaders in the church are called presbyters, not priests. Our culture equates the two.]

[Men, you are not the priest of your family; you are the elder, head, but each member who knows Christ is a priest. That doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t intercede, pray, for them. But you cannot be their priest.]

6 For it stands (contained) in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and honored cornerstone,

and the one who believes in him

will never be put to shame., (Isa. 8:14; 28:16)

7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—

this one has become the cornerstone,

8 and

A stone to stumble over,

and a rock to trip over.,

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

V.7 -8 are about the unbeliever

9 But you

[to all who believed in Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles, and who received baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.]

[Mt 28:19 - Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,]

are a chosen race,

The strange title, “the third race,” probably invented by the heathen, but willingly accepted by the Christians without demur, showed with what a bitter spirit the heathen regarded the faith of Christ. “The first race” was indifferently called the Roman; Greek, or Gentile. “The second race” was the Jews; while “the third race” was the Christian. The cry in the circus of Carthage was Usque quo genus tertium? “How long must we endure this third race?”

[generation or nation]

a royal priesthood,

The church of Christ is further defined as being “a royal priesthood.” Not only are we called to render ministry to God (carrying on a ministry of service similar to that of the Old Testament priest)

[First, as mentioned above, the entire tribe of Levi was dedicated by God for religious service. Although all priests were Levites, not all Levites were priests. All priests, in fact, not only had to be descended from Levi but also from Aaron, Moses’ brother. The nonpriestly Levites served as helpers to the priests, and probably as singers, instrumentalists, and the like. The priesthood was strictly national, strictly Jewish. Second, the Levites were subject to the king just as much as were the other tribes. Their priestly functions were not under the control of the king, but in all other matters they were ordinary subjects. They were in no way a ruling class. A Levite, in fact, could not be king. They were set aside as a first fruit to God for special priestly service (Num. 8:14–16). Third, the priestly sacrifices, including the one by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, were not permanent. They had to be repeated and repeated and repeated—continually. They had no permanence. They provided no permanent forgiveness, no permanent righteousness, no permanent peace. Fourth, the Levitical priesthood was hereditary. A man who served as a priest did so because he was born into the right family, not because he lived a right life. Fifth, just as the effects of the sacrifices were temporary, so was the time of priestly service. A priest served from the age of 25 until the age of 50, after which his ministry was over (Num. 8:24–25).

[

Aaron as the High Priest

In Exodus 28, Yahweh calls for Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Exodus 29 records instructions for an initial consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons, which seems to occur in Exod 40 at the completion of the tabernacle. Leviticus 8 appears to present a more detailed account of this event (or perhaps a second ceremony). Although these passages do not use the term “high priest,” the text makes it clear that Aaron’s status and responsibilities are elevated. For example, Yahweh explains that “Aaron will bear the judgment of the Israelites on his heart before Yahweh continually” (Exod 28:30).

Canonically, the priesthood of Aaron predates the exaltation of the Levites as a tribe. Aaron’s status possibly enhanced the Levites’ status, though Aaron’s family retained the priesthood (Wellhausen, Prolegomena, 122). While Aaron is portrayed as the first high priest, Exod 19:24 indicates that some sort of priestly caste existed before Aaron’s ordination—though this may be an anachronism. Yahweh’s command that the tribe of Levi be assigned to serve Aaron (Num 3:5–9) is directly related to Aaron’s priestly role.

At first, Aaron’s priestly duties are rather limited: Exodus 30 lists only the daily burning of incense, the nightly lighting of the lamp, and the yearly presentation of the atonement tax. Leviticus 9 describes Aaron and his sons performing sacrifices at the tent of assembly. Aaron’s duties expand considerably in Lev 16, as he is charged with mediating the Day of Atonement (TWOT, s.v. “אַהֲרוֹן, aharon”). As the only person with direct access to the ark of the covenant, Aaron seems to have been responsible for depositing its contents: the omer of manna (Exod 16:32–34—possibly an anachronistic reference), the tablets of the covenant, and his budding staff.

Swann, J. T., & Babota, V. (2016). Aaron the High Priest. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1983). Hebrews (p. 174). Chicago: Moody Press.]

a holy nation,

a people for His possession,

so that you may proclaim the praises, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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