2. Clergy - Our English definition is a. Dictionary - "clergy |ˈklərjē| noun (plural clergies) [usually treated as plural] the body of all people ordained for religious duties, especially in the Christian Church: all marriages were to be solemnized by the clergy. b. Thesaurus - nouna group of clergy who want to promote religious tolerance: clerics, clergymen, clergywomen, churchmen, churchwomen, priests, ecclesiastics, men/women of God; ministry, priesthood, holy orders.
3. Laity - English Dictionary / laity |ˈlāədē| noun (usually treated as plural the laity) lay people, as distinct from the clergy.• ordinary people, as distinct from professionals or experts.
4. Sanctify - Strong's NT#37 from G40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:—hallow, be holy, sanctify.
The acknowledgment of the Lordship of Christ, 1Pe 3:15. "Since every believer is sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1Cr 1:2, cp. Hbr 10:10, a common NT designation of all believers is 'saints,' hagioi, i.e., 'sanctified' or 'holy ones.' Thus sainthood, or sanctification, is not an attainment, it is the state into which God, in grace, calls sinful men, and in which they begin their course as Christians, Col 3:12; Hbr 3:1." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 113, 114.]
5. Continually - Their life was dedicated to ministering unto the Lord in the Tabernacle. (Exod.28:30; 30:7- 8, 11-17. Lev.24:2-4, 1Chron.16:40, 2Chron.8:14, Ezra.3:3-4, Num.18:20-23) 6. Charge - Strong's OT#4931 / watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively preservation, or (concretely) safe; figuratively observance, i.e. (abstractly) duty or (objectively) a usage or party:—charge, keep, or to be kept, office, ordinace, safeguard, ward, watch.
7. Priesthood began - Some think that Moses copied the heathen Nations. Their thinking is that ancient civilizations had high priests and priests long before the Biblical record. They think that Melchisedec, (Gen.14:17-24) the High Priest (who was centuries before Moses) was a Canaanite king, proving that Moses copied. This reasoning (thinking that Melchizedek was a Canaanite king) is the foolishness of man's wisdom. (1Cor.1:20-29; 2:1-14) The truth is, Melchisedec was a pre-Cross revelation of Jesus Christ. (Heb.6:20; 7:1-28) God's Word says that, Jesus is "made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb.6:20) Why would God pattern Himself after a heathen king? The Bible says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2Cor.6:14-15)
a. Jesus was before all things
For "by him (Jesus, the Word made flesh John.1-14, Heb.1:1-2) were all things created are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers..." He is before any man made counterfeit Canaanite "so-called" high priest or any other high priest of any culture or religion.
b. All things consist by Jesus
All "things were created by him, and for him: And He (Jesus) is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-17) Note: The Biblical record declares that God had all the ideas first. Not man! It is absurd (ridiculous, illogical) to say that God copied man unless you do not believe the Bible is God's Word to us.
8. Beseech - Strong's NT#3870 from G3844 and G2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):—beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray. 9. Firstlings of the flock - Strong's OT#6629 from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men):—(small) cattle, flock (+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep(-cote, - fold, -shearer, -herds). The KJV translates Strong's H6629 in the following manner: flock (138x), sheep (110x), cattle (15x), shepherd (with H7462) (2x), lamb (with H1121) (2x), lamb (1x), sheep (with H4480) (1x), sheepcotes (with H1448) (1x), sheepfold (with H1448) (1x), sheepfold (with H4356) (1x), sheepshearers (with H1494) (1x), shepherd (with H7462) (1x).
10. Blind - The Offering must not be "blind" (Lev.22:21-23) The blemish of "blindness" (2Peter.1:5-9, Matt.13:10-17, Eph.1:18) Some translations use "heart" instead of eyes." This does not change the thought of our lack of understanding is being blind. (Matt.13:16, Luke.24:16, 25-31, 2Cor.3:13-16, Eph.4:18) To offer a "spiritual sacrifice" (i.e. The Sin, Trespass, Burnt, Meal or Peace Offering) devoid of the Word of God is a blemish of blindness, and is robbing God.(Mal.1:8; 3:8) Note: Matt.23:23 11. Broken - The Offering must not be "broken"(Lev.22:22-23) Unfaithfulness. (Prov.25:19) To offer any of these five offerings with unfaithfulness in our life towards God is a blemished offering (Eph.5:26-27) and is robbing God.(Mal.1:8; 3:8) Note: Matt.23:23
12. Maimed - The Offering must not be "maimed" (Lev.22:22-23) Maimed is to be crippled or damaged. English: is to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously. The Hebrew word is to point sharply, i.e. (literally) to wound. To offer any crippled offering is to deprive yourself the of capability for service or of strength, efficiency, or wholeness.
13. Having a wen - The Offering must not be "having a wen"(Lev.22:22-23) Having an offering that is mutilated, disfigured, or wounded seriously is robbing God. (Mal.1:8; 3:8 / Note: Matt.23:23) Paul spoke of those the "corrupt the Word of God. (2Cor.2:17) Jude wrote, that there were "certain men crept in unawares...turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and or Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude.1:4) These "certain men" were disfiguring the Grace of God. 14. Scurvy - Each Offering must not have "scurvy"(Lev.22:22-23) The word "Scurvy" is from an unused root meaning to scratch;[ to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching11) scurf (from itching12) In these "last days," there are those that "heap to themselves teachers itching ears," because they will not "endure sound doctrine." (2Tim.4:3) When we offer our "spiritual" sacrifices with the "scurvy" of the doctrines of men that appease our flesh, it is "robbing" God. (Mal.1:8; 3:8)
15. Scabbed - Each Offering must not have "scurvy"(Lev.22:22-23) The word "Scurvy" is from an unused root meaning to scratch;[ to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching11) scurf (from itching12) In these "last days," there are those that "heap to themselves teachers itching ears," because they will not "endure sound doctrine." (2Tim.4:3) When we offer our "spiritual" sacrifices with the "scurvy" of the doctrines of men that appease our flesh, it is "robbing" God. (Mal.1:8; 3:8)
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Priest (from Greek presbyteros: “elder”), in some Christian churches, an officer or minister who is intermediate between a bishop and a deacon. A priesthood developed gradually in the early Christian church as firstbishops and then elders, or “presbyters,” began to exercise certain priestly functions, mainly inconnection with celebration of the Eucharist. By the end of the 2nd century, the church's bishops were called priests (Latin: sacerdos). Although the priestly office was vested primarily in the bishop, a presbyter shared in his priestly functions and, in hisabsence, could exercise certain of them as his delegate. With thespread of Christianity and the establishment of parish churches, the presbyter, or parish priest, adopted more of the bishop's functions and became the principal celebrant of the Eucharist. In this capacity, as well as by hearing confession and granting absolution, the priest eventually assumed the role of the church's chief representative of God to the people. The development of eucharistic theology resulted in a further emphasis of the priest's supernatural powers and qualities. (Britannica) During the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, the Reformers rejected the Roman Catholic doctrine of the sacrifice of the mass and the conception of the priesthood that went with it. The priesthood of all Christians was emphasized. Consequently, ministers were substituted for priests in Protestant churches. The Church of England Reformers retained the title priest in The Book of Common Prayer, in order to distinguish priests, who can celebrate Holy Communion, from deacons, who are not entitled to do so. Ministers were generally called clergymen until the 19th century, when the Roman Catholic heritage of the Church of England was emphasized and priest again became the common term.