JoeT
Member
No such biblical teaching of a sacramental priest.
Your short-hand, leave it out of the bible tradition does away with sacramental priests - isn't that a grave sin, to leave it out? God said, "And you shall be to me a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation. Those are the words thou shalt speak to the children of Israel." [Exodus 19:6]. Aaron's priests and the Levite priests had altars, sacraments and sacrifices offered to God
St. Peter said: "you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation" [1 Peter 2:9]. We have a sacrifice every day, every place in every nation which requires altars, sacraments and sacrifices to be offered to God.
Core made the same argument as you did - believe me when I say the outcome was not good for Core.
"And behold Core the son of Isaar, the son of Caath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab, and Hon the son of Pheleth of the children of Ruben, Rose up against Moses, and with them two hundred and fifty others of the children of Israel, leading men of the synagogue, and who in the time of assembly were called by name. And when they had stood up against Moses and Aaron, they said: Let it be enough for you, that all the multitude consisteth of holy ones, and the Lord is among them: Why lift you up yourselves above the people of the Lord? When Moses heard this, he fell flat on his face: And speaking to Core and all the multitude, he said: In the morning the Lord will make known who belong to him, and the holy he will join to himself: and whom he shall choose, they shall approach to him. Do this therefore: Take every man of you your censers, thou Core, and all thy company. And putting fire in them tomorrow, put incense upon it before the Lord: and whomsoever he shall choose, the same shall be holy: you take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And he said again to Core: Hear ye sons of Levi. Is it a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath spared you from all the people, and joined you to himself, that you should serve him in the service of the tabernacle, and should stand before the congregation of the people, and should minister to him? Did he therefore make thee and all thy brethren the sons of Levi to approach unto him, that you should challenge to yourselves the priesthood also," [Numbers 16:1-10]
And opening her mouth, [the earth] devoured them [Core and Dathan and Abiron and their hapless friends] with their tents and all their substance.[Numbers 16:32]
At the Last Supper Christ, the high priest, instituted the priesthood in the Apostles, commanding them to make his sacrifice continuously. He was to present those sacrifices each and every minute before the in the Holy of Hollies,Throne of God. Our High priest needed to enter but one time till His return as God commanded for the Jew's high priest.
For the priestly office is indeed discharged on earth, but it ranks among heavenly ordinances; and very naturally so: for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete Himself, instituted this vocation, and persuaded men while still abiding in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels. . . For when you see the Lord sacrificed, and laid upon the altar, and the priest standing and praying over the victim, and all the worshippers empurpled with that precious blood, can you then think that you are still among men, and standing upon the earth? Are you not, on the contrary, straightway translated to Heaven, and casting out every carnal thought from the soul, do you not with disembodied spirit and pure reason contemplate the things which are in Heaven? Oh! What a marvel! What love of God to man! He who sits on high with the Father is at that hour held in the hands of all, and gives Himself to those who are willing to embrace and grasp Him. And this all do through the eyes of faith! Do these things seem to you fit to be despised, or such as to make it possible for anyone to be uplifted against them? [John Chrysostom, Book III, 4]
JoeT