Q. Jer 33:17-18 says: “For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’” I assume the one sitting on the throne of Israel refers to Jesus as the king forever. Who do the Levitical priests refer to? I thought Jesus was the sacrifice once and for all, why would there be continually burnt offerings and sacrifices?
Jer 33:17-18 is part of God’s promise in Jer 33:14-18:
- V 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth, and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.
- V 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
- V 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices continually.’”
It is clear that vs 15 and 17 are fulfilled in our Lord Jesus:
- Jer 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’
- 1 Co 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
- Php 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God based on faith,
- 2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Who then are the Levitical priests in v 18? The Levitical priesthood passed away in the New Covenant. Who replaced them? Scholars proposed two possibilities:
A. Christ:
Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for based on it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Heb 7:24-25 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
Christ is the priest according to the order of Melchizedek, superior to and superseding the Levitical priests, who offered up Himself once and for all and continues to make intercession for His people.
B. Christians:
1 Pet 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Rev 1:6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.
What sacrifices do we offer?
- Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- Heb 13:15-16 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect to do good and share, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
I do not hold the dispensationalism idea that Jews saved during the Millennium will offer burnt and grain offerings, though not for atonement but as a memorial for Christ’s once for all offering of Himself. This ignores replacements clearly articulated in the NT and pushes beyond literal interpretation.
RayKLiu 