Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice
by Annie Yorty
I’ve heard people say, “I like to concentrate on the New Testament of the Bible. We don’t really need to know about the Old Testament now that Jesus came to earth. Didn’t He do away with all the temple, priest, and sacrifice practices?”
I’ve read that the Old Testament is quoted in the pages of the New Testament over two hundred times, many of them by Jesus Himself. That tells us we should never write off the Old Testament as irrelevant. So let’s examine the temple, priest, and sacrifice to understand how they relate to Jesus—and to us.
Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice in the Old Testament
In Old Testament times, God met with His chosen people in a temple that was built by Solomon, King David’s son. God gave exact specifications for its design, which were followed to the letter. He also ordained priests from the tribe of Levi to offer sacrifices in the temple.
The temple, priest, and sacrifice from those times all pointed to Jesus.
Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice in the New Testament
When Jesus stepped into our world in human form, He fulfilled all these roles from the Old Testament.
Cornerstone of Temple: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22 WEB)
High Priest: Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. (Hebrews 4:14 WEB)
Sacrifice: For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:25a NLT)
We see in Scripture that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection changed the requirement of a physical building for God’s dwelling because now His presence stays with us always. Since Jesus is High Priest, we now go through Him instead of a human to receive forgiveness from God. And as the once-for-all sacrifice, Jesus eliminated the need to offer animals to atone for sin. Doesn’t our wonderful Savior thrill you?
But wait, there’s more!
Our Identity in Christ
Though Jesus came to fulfill the roles of temple, priest, and sacrifice, He didn’t wash His hands of people. Let’s dig into Scripture to learn how God brings each one who repents and believes in Him into the temple, priest, and sacrifice dynamic.
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (1 Peter 2:4-5 NLT)
In these verses, Apostle Peter says that in Christ, we become stones in God’s temple, we become holy priests, and we become sacrifices. How kind of God to allow us to imitate Jesus in these roles.
I suspect we don’t stop and think about these roles as often as we should. Sure, we have churches. But ornate temples? Priests? And our culture is far removed from the practice of bloody animal sacrifice.
In Christ, we become stones in God’s temple, we become holy priests, and we become sacrifices. #annieyorty #perceivegod Click To TweetTo better understand how God transforms us into temple, priest, and sacrifice, let’s look once again to the Bible.
Temple: Peter says we are “living stones” in God’s temple. Paul said it another way. “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17a WEB). With Christ as the cornerstone of our lives and dwelling within us, others experience His presence when they’re with us.
Priest: Because we have Jesus as our High Priest, we can enter God’s presence with confidence and ask for his mercy and grace. “Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 WEB).
Sacrifice: Jesus died to save our lives and to empower us to carry out God’s purposes. “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service” (Romans 12:1 WEB). In gratitude for new life, we offer ourselves back to His service. By obeying His will instead of our own, we display God’s glory to a watching world.
The Reason for Temple, Priest, and Sacrifice
Continuing in his first letter, Peter explained why God gave us these sacred roles.
That you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9b WEB)
If you’ve glossed over the parts in the Bible about the temple, priest, and sacrifice because they’re hard to understand, I hope you now see their relevance for your life in Christ today.
Join the conversation:
How does the significance and opportunity represented by these three roles impact your life?
I welcome your comments!
Copyright ©2023 Annie Yorty
20 Comments
Katherine Pasour
What greater gift can we give to our Savior than to be a living sacrifice for Him in all we do. Thank you for this informative and encouraging message, Annie. Our Lord gave everything for us–what can we give back to Him?
Annie Yorty
When we offer our lives back to Him as a living sacrifice, God blesses us even more. How amazing is that? Thanks for adding to the conversation, Katherine!
Kim Conner
Good morning,
Thank you for allowing open discussion to anyone who seeks further understanding to Bible prophecy. My questions, will the man of sin be a believer himself and if so, since you cannot serve two Gods, does he go apostate and this man (human being) decieve many (believers) to fall away and idolize him to be their God and Savior? How can he sit in the temple if we are the temple. Does that mean a building (physical structure or a human being believer being the temple structure itself). In Ezekiel’s 40-48, it describes more of the new city of Jerusalem and a temple in the millennium reign than it does a temple built in this current age. It also speaks of water running from the temple healing the land, which also seems to refer to a new Jerusalem and Israel. It lays out plans for the twelve tribes and plots for those tribes in the land in Ezekiel’s vision. How does Satan and his army go inside a temple other than him creating his army, referring to their physical bodies being the temple (of reprobate minds, a church deceived by lies, saying it is truth that the man of sin speaks and hardens their hearts and sends their minds into a dillusional state. I am in discussions about a true temple built on the Temple Mount, Gods Holy Hill, the most holy site or Gods most Holy site being his people in the land of Israel and Jerusalem. Now, my next questions is about the Jewish community. Why do they believe they need a temple to be built for their messiah to return when the Bible tells us Jesus died for us and through the Holy Spirit placed into each believer, to now be Temples of God. How come they do not believe Jesus is their Lord and Savior. What God do they believe is their Lord and Savior? For the Bible tells us but they don’t believe and they mourn at the wailing wall for their God to return. Thank you for your time.
Annie Yorty
Kim, thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate your desire to understand the Word of God. There’s probably more in your questions than I can address in a brief comment, but let me add some food for thought as you continue to search the Scripture. First, if by “man of sin” you refer to the antichrist, I have found no indication in the Bible that he was ever a follower of God. I think that like Satan, though, he will be good at twisting the truth to make lies seem believable. Second, as you consider the various temples described in the Bible, remember that there are both physical and spiritual realities. Though the physical world is important, Jesus always pointed people to be aware of what is spiritual and eternal. God bless you as you continue to dive deep in the Word.
Nancy E. Head
Living stones to represent our cornerstone of faith! Great job, Annie, of showing how the New Testament is an outgrowth of the Old Testament. We need both. God bless!
Annie Yorty
Thanks, Nancy. Understanding the Old Testament deepens the meaning of the New Testament. Bless you!
J.D. Wininger
I’ve long been humbled when I think that God believes in me enough that He trusts me to serve in these roles for His kingdom. I often think of how poor a job I do in these roles some days. Challenging and inspiring at the same time Ms. Annie. Great post ma’am.
Annie Yorty
Thanks, J.D. Like you, I’m blown away by the privilege to add my feeble attempts to God’s great big plan. I guess when you really think about it, He’s trusting His own ability and perfect knowledge since He is our Creator. I praise Him for giving us significance in His plan.
Barbara Latta
Paul tells us in reference to the Old Testament that these were written for our learning (1Cor. 10:11-13). Jesus said He came to fulfill the law not destroy it. In Him, we are the temple, priest and living sacrifice because of what He did as the final sacrifice. Thanks for sharing, Annie.
Annie Yorty
Exactly, Barbara. We absolutely cannot ignore the Old Testament when we study God’s Word. Thanks for visiting!
Jeannie Waters
I’m comforted to remember Jesus is our high priest whose role and presence with God opens the door for us to enter the throne room and communciate with God. What a blessed gift He offers.
Annie Yorty
Yes, Jeannie, and we can come to the throne of our Father with all the confidence of a well-loved child. A wonderful gift indeed! Thanks for visiting.
Karisa Moore
While in College, I had a Navigator Bible. One of the devotions was from Romans 12 on what it means to be a “living sacrifice.” As a new believer, I was reading through the Old Testament and seeing the sacrifices that were good and dead before they hit the altar. That Jesus asks us to willingly climb up on the altar and lay down our will for his made me tremble.
The Old Testament temple, priest, and sacrifice helps me to recognize what it takes to be clean and the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice for me.
Annie Yorty
What an awesome thing to realize at such a young age! It’s easy to emphasize the love of God and overlook His sacrifice when we teach kids. When we really contemplate His supreme sacrifice for our sin, our response should be to turn over everything we possess to His control. That used to make me nervous, but the more I know Him and His kindness toward me, the easier I relinquish my self-reliance. Thanks for adding to this conversation, Karisa.
Debbie Wilson
Annie, I love how the Old and New Testaments fit together. I appreciate how you connected the temple, sacrifice, and priesthood with us. “others experience His presence when they’re with us.”
Annie Yorty
Thank you, Debbie, for visiting and adding your thoughts. The two parts of the Bible communicate the same message of God’s fierce love and faithfulness.
Jimmie Kepler
Just the words I needed for today. I needed the reminder I am the living stnes He is using asstones in His temple. Thanks.
Annie Yorty
I’m thankful you were encouraged, Jimmie. Blessings to you!
Yvonne Morgan
I love the way you described the role of the priest and how Jesus is our high priest and we are the cornerstone of His temple. Beautiful message
Annie Yorty
Bless you, Yvonne. Thanks for visiting!