A Priestly People 

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

Of the images used by the apostles to describe the Body of Messiah, one of the most beautiful is that of a priestly people gathered in the presence of the Lord. The New Testament does not just portray the faithful as forgiven sinners awaiting their departure to heaven; it presents the redeemed as a holy priesthood, called to minister before the Lord and to serve others in His name. This imagery draws deeply from the language of the Hebrew Scriptures, where Israel is called a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). Now, through Messiah Jesus, that ancient calling finds its fulfillment in the ekklesia, those called out. 

The Hebrew word most often used for priest is kohen (כֹּהֵן), a term describing one who stands before the Lord on behalf of the people and before the people on behalf of the Lord. The priest was entrusted with sacred service, teaching the Word of God, offering sacrifices, and preserving holiness among the covenant community. The Greek word used in the Septuagint and reflected in the New Testament priestly tradition is hiereus (ἱερεύς), also referring to one consecrated for holy service. The hiereus (ἱερεύς) is one devoted to sacred service and care of holy things. While the New Testament recognizes Yeshua as our great High Priest, the apostles teach that all believers participate in His priestly ministry through union with Him.

 The Apostle Peter makes this truth explicit when he writes, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). Just a few verses later he declares, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Peter intentionally echoes Exodus 19, showing that the Church participates in Israel’s priestly vocation through Messiah. It would be incorrect to see ourselves as individuals with a private faith; rather, we are living stones joined together into the Lord’s holy temple. The priesthood of the believer is profoundly communal. Priests are not called to exist in isolation. They belong to the sacred household and participate in a shared ministry before the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul develops this same temple imagery throughout his letters. To the Corinthians he writes, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Significantly, the pronoun “you” is plural. Paul is speaking not just to individual bodies, but to the gathered community of the faithful. Further, in Ephesians 2:21-22, he describes the Church as a holy temple being fitted together into a dwelling place for God by the Holy Spirit. The apostolic vision is not that of disconnected Christians pursuing personal spirituality, but of a covenant people being formed into sacred space where the Lord’s presence dwells. 

The priestly identity carries with it a call to holiness. Priests were consecrated for the Lord’s service and distinguished from the surrounding culture. Holiness does not mean withdrawal from the world, but faithful dedication to the Lord’s purposes while living in it. Peter exhorts the faithful, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16; cf. Lev. 19:2). The Church’s witness depends not only upon its proclamation but upon its character. Indeed, the Church is called to shine forth Christ into a darkened world. A holy priesthood reflects the holiness of the Lord it serves. 

Yet priesthood is never solely about personal sanctification. It is also about ministry. The New Testament teaches that the faithful offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, generosity, intercession, and obedient lives. As priests, we carry the burdens of others before the throne of grace. We pray for the sick, encourage the discouraged, teach the faith, serve the needy, and embody the Lord’s mercy within our communities. The priesthood of the believer is not a license for independence from the gathered assembly; rather, it is a call to active participation in the life of the Body. Every member has a ministry because every member shares in Messiah’s priestly work. 

Individualism is prized in our culture, but the apostolic vision reminds us that we belong to Someone greater than ourselves. We are living stones in a spiritual temple, members of a holy priesthood, and participants in His mission to the world. The Church exists not just to gather for worship, but to show forth His presence through lives of holiness, service, and love. As priests of the Most High God, we stand together before Him, offering ourselves as living sacrifices and carrying His light into a world that desperately needs His grace. 

May we never forget the dignity of this calling. Through Jesus the Messiah, our great High Priest, we have been brought near to the Father and commissioned as His priestly people. Let us therefore serve faithfully, walk holy lives, and minister to one another with the humility and compassion that is befitting those who dwell in the courts of the King. 

Maranatha. Shalom. 

Ephesians Part 4

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn podcast, Torah AudioLeave a comment
Tap pic for link!

Ephesians 2:11–22 Part1, we study this in two parts. This section stands at the heart of Paul’s vision for the ekklesia. Having just declared that salvation comes by grace through faith and not through human boasting, Paul now addresses one of the greatest questions facing the first-century community of believers:

How can Jews and Gentiles truly become one people in Messiah without erasing the covenantal story of Israel?

When Storms Come

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

While out kayaking yesterday, my wife and I watched the clouds begin to gather and move across the sky. As we made our way back to shore, they grew darker and more threatening. Thankfully, the storms arrived much later in the day, giving us plenty of time to get home. Yet the storms did indeed come, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and the kind of downpour that can quickly change the landscape. 

Watching these clouds build reminded me of the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:24-27, Yeshua/Jesus speaks of two men who built houses and of storms that eventually came against them. The rain fell, the floods rose, and the winds beat against both houses. The difference was not the severity of the storm but the strength of the foundation. 

The Sermon on the Mount reaches its majestic conclusion in Matthew 7:24-29. He teaches us about the Kingdom of God, righteousness, prayer, forgiveness, integrity, and discipleship, but He ends with a vivid, relatable and unforgettable picture: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). 

When you read the full parable, the difference between the two builders is not what they heard. Both heard His words. Neither is distinguished by knowledge, intelligence, or even exposure to truth. The difference is found in what they did with what they heard. This same truth is echoed by James, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (Jas. 1:22). Genuine faith is not content with just hearing God’s Word; it seeks to put His Word into practice.

The wise man not only listened to the words of Messiah; he built his life upon them. He received them, trusted them, and obeyed them. The teachings of Jesus became the foundation upon which every part of his life rested. 

The Rock is Messiah Himself, and we build upon that Rock by hearing and obeying His words. Faith in Messiah and obedience to Messiah are never separated. To trust Him is to take His words seriously and to order our lives according to them. 

Yeshua says that such a life is like a house built upon a rock. 

The image is powerful. Rarely, when admiring a beautiful house, do we comment on the beauty of the foundation. Foundations are often unseen, but they determine whether a structure will endure. The house may appear beautiful, strong, and secure, but when storms come, its true foundation is revealed. In the same way, our faith is tested not only in times of comfort, which we naturally prefer, but in seasons of trial. 

Notice that Jesus does not promise the absence of storms, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:25). The rain did come to the wise man’s house. The floods did rise against it. The winds did batter it. There is no promise in the New Testament stating that followers of Messiah are exempt from hardship. 

Faith in Messiah is not a guarantee that life will be easy. The faithful will experience illness, grief, disappointment, financial pressures, broken relationships, and unexpected trials. The storms of life visit every household. Still, there is a difference. The house built upon the rock remains standing. 

Why? 

Because it was built upon the words of Messiah. 

When circumstances shake us, His promises remains. When emotions fluctuate, His truth endures. When the future appears uncertain, His faithfulness does not change. Those who have built their lives upon Christ discover that what sustains them is not their own strength but the stability of the One in whom they trust. 

By contrast, Jesus describes a foolish builder who hears His words but does not act upon them. This man also builds a house, but he chooses sand rather than rock as his foundation. When the storm arrives, the result is devastating: “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matt. 7:27). The tragedy is not that he lacked opportunity. He heard the same words as the wise man. His downfall came because hearing was never joined with obedience. 

The application is clear. We are called not just to admire the teachings of Jesus but to practice them. His words are meant to shape our attitudes, guide our decisions, govern our relationships, and direct our daily walk. Today, we need to ask ourselves: What foundation am I building upon? Having heard the word, are there areas in our lives where we have not acted upon His Word? Where the Spirit reveals such areas, let us not despair, but repent and begin anew in faithful obedience.

Dear reader, take heart. The storms will come, but they do not have the final word. Our confidence does not rest upon circumstances, but on the Rock Himself. Every act of obedience, every step of faith, and every decision grounded in His Word strengthens our foundation. The rains will fall. The floods will rise. The winds will blow. But the house built on the Rock will stand. Messiah remains faithful, and His Word endures forever. 

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:25).

Maranatha. Shalom.