Christ is Prophet, Priest & King 1

The role of prophet, priest and king were very important in the O.T. Some men filled one role – in some cases one man filled two of the roles – but not one man in the O.T. filled all three roles 2

Noah – prophet and priest Melchisedec – king and priest Abraham – priest and prophet Samuel – prophet and priest David – King and prophet 3

Only Jesus Christ filled all three roles of prophet, priest and king! 4

Heb. 1:1-3 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 5

[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Prophet), whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 6

[3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, (Priest) sat down on the right hand (King) of the Majesty on high; 7

As prophet He is God’s spokesman to us in the gospel dispensation As high priest He has made sacrifice (shed His blood) for man’s redemption from sin 8

As king He is our Supreme Ruler 9

I. Jesus Christ is our Prophet 10

Prophecy - Deut. 18:15, 18 [15] The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 11

[18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 12

Fulfilled --- Acts 3:22-23 [22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. [23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 13

Jn. 6:14 [14] Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 14

Mt. 17:5 [5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 15

Mt. 21:11 [11] And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 16

Luke 24:19 [19] And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 17

Lessons for us: Jesus has told us plainly what to do to be saved He has told us what to do to remain saved He warns us not to add, delete, substitute or modify any of His message 18

II. Jesus Christ is our High Priest 19

Under the Old Law dozens of men served as high priest Under the New Testament we have only one high priest – Christ Jesus 20

Heb. 3:1 [1] Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 21

As our High Priest Christ: Works in heaven and not on the earth He acts on our behalf for we have continual needs He is accessible 22

He was tempted as we are – yet He is without sin 23

Heb. 4:14-16 [14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 24

[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 25

[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 26

Zech. 6:13 [13] Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 27

Heb. 8:4 [4] For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 28

By His blood he obtained redemption for us – Heb. 9:12 [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 29

He is after the order of Melchisedec – Heb. 6:20 [20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 30

Melchisedec was priest and king at the same time upon an earthly throne – CHRIST is priest and king sitting upon His throne in heaven 31

Heb. 2:17 [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 32

Lessons for us: Christ is our High Priest We need His blood as we become Christians We need His blood as erring children 33

III. Jesus Christ is our King 34

Triumphal entry into Jerusalem – Mt. 21:5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 35

Prophesied 100’s of years before – Zech. 9:9 [9] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 36

Jn. 18:36 [36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37

Christ is now reigning as King – Acts 2:29-36 [29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. [30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 38

[31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. [32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 39

[33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 40

[34] For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, [35] Until I make thy foes thy footstool. [36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 41

Lessons for us: As King – Jesus has supreme rule We are to be subject to Him in all things He speaks on morals, marriage, forgiveness, worship, service, opposing false teaching, the work of evangelism, etc. 42

He is the one and only lawgiver He has all authority in heaven and on earth 43

Now we can better understand why: We are immersed for the remission of sins – He commands it We eat the Lord’s Supper every Sunday Why we do not use mechanical instruments of music in worship – He has not commanded it 44

Now we can better understand why: We do not support denominations – the religions of men We teach that there is only one church – that is all He established 45

“We are not to believe, obey, or defend anything He has not set forth as King of His kingdom.” 46

References – Article by Robert R. Taylor --- Article by B. J. Naylor 47