The Sacrament of Priesthood
The Sacrament of Priesthood
The priest is a minister of the altar.
The existence of the altar and the sacrifice in the New Testament.
The Sacrament of the Eucharist was instituted by the Lord Himself and entrusted to His apostles, not to all the people.
It is not merely a memorial; rather, it contains many blessings and requires worthiness and preparation.
34. Those Who Deny the Altar and Also Deny the Sacrifice
They do not dare to minister at the altar, for they do not possess priestly authority. Therefore, they deny the altar and claim that it exists only in the Old Testament and not in the New Testament. Likewise, they deny the sacrifice.
35. First, We Will Establish the Existence of the Altar and the Sacrifice in the New Testament, and Consequently the Priest Who Serves Them
The Apostle Paul says:
“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat” (Hebrews 13:10)
This is the altar of the New Testament, from which the Jews—those who serve the tabernacle—have no authority to partake, because of their unbelief.
Scripture also refers specifically to an altar in the land of Egypt. This is found in the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet, who says:
“In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 19:19–20)
This did not occur except in the New Testament era—when Egypt entered into the faith—since in the Old Testament the altar existed only in Jerusalem.
What confirms that this is an altar of the New Testament is that the prophet calls it “an altar to the Lord” and also says:
“Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering” (Isaiah 19:21)
The Egyptians did not know the Lord or offer sacrifices to Him except through Christianity.
Since there is an altar in general, and an altar in Egypt in particular, let us now speak about the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrifice offered by the priest.
36. The Sacrament of the Eucharist Was Entrusted by Christ to the Apostles, Not to All the People
He entrusted it to the Twelve on Covenant Thursday, to them alone and not to the general public, saying:
“Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19)
The following passages testify to the Sacrament of the Eucharist:
Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; John 6:32–58; John 13; 1 Corinthians 10:16–21; 1 Corinthians 11:23–30.
From these passages, we observe several important points:
37. First: Christ Himself Is the Founder of This Sacrament
He is the One who offered it to His disciples and said:
“This is My body… This is My blood” (Matthew 26:26, 28; Mark 14:22, 24)
And He said:
“Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19)
Thus, the celebration of this sacrament is obedience to a divine command.
38. Second: The Lord Commanded That This Sacrament Continue Until His Coming
The Apostle says:
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
This means that this divine sacrament remains with us until the end of the age.
39. Third: This Sacrament Was Entrusted to the Disciples, Not to All the People
This clearly shows that it is an act of priesthood.
The worthy among the people partake of it, but only the clergy perform its sacramental service.
Christ entrusted this sacrament to the Twelve in the Upper Room of Zion. He later entrusted it to the Apostle Paul, and the apostles entrusted it to their successors through the laying on of hands.
Paul says concerning this sacrament:
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you…” (1 Corinthians 11:23)
40. Fourth: This Sacrament Is Communion in the Body and Blood of the Lord
The Lord said:
“Take, eat; this is My body… Drink… this is My blood” (Matthew 26:26–28)
And in John 6:
“The bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51)
“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed” (John 6:55)
41. Fifth: This Body Is the Bread That Came Down from Heaven
Christ says repeatedly in John 6:
“I am the bread of life… I am the bread which came down from heaven…
This is the bread which comes down from heaven…
The bread that I shall give is My flesh…
He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 50, 51, 58)
42. Sixth: This Bread Is Not Ordinary Bread or a Mere Memorial
It has great blessings.
Christ said:
“The bread that I shall give is My flesh” (John 6:51)
He called it:
- “The bread of life” (v. 35)
- “Which gives life to the world” (v. 33)
- “That one may eat of it and not die” (v. 50)
- “Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (v. 58)
Such bread cannot be ordinary bread for remembrance.
43. Seventh: Christ Linked Life Itself to Communion
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” (John 6:54)
“He who eats Me will live because of Me” (John 6:57)
Thus, this is not merely a memorial, but life itself.
44. Eighth: Christ Declared That This Communion Is for the Forgiveness of Sins
“This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27–28)
45. Ninth: A Severe Warning Was Given for Not Partaking
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53)
Such a warning would be meaningless if the matter were merely symbolic.
46. Tenth: Communion Is Abiding in Christ
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56)
47. Eleventh: Paul Spoke Clearly of the Sacrifice, the Altar, and Communion
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:15–21)
48. Twelfth: Preparation and Worthiness Are Required
“Let a man examine himself…
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28–29)
49. Thirteenth: Severe Consequences for Unworthy Communion
“For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:27–30)
50. Fourteenth: Shed Blood Necessitates a Sacrifice and an Altar
“This is My blood which is shed for yo” (Luke 22:20; Mark 14:24)
51. Fifteenth: Bread and Wine Recall the Priesthood of Melchizedek
(Genesis 14:18; Psalm 110; Hebrews 7)
52. Sixteenth: In Offering This Sacrifice, We Proclaim the Lord’s Death
“As often as you eat… and drink…” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
53. Seventeenth: Shall We Ignore All This Because of the Word ‘Remembrance’?
Some focus solely on the phrase “Do this in remembrance of Me” and ignore everything else Scripture teaches about forgiveness of sins, eternal life, abiding in Christ, worthiness, and judgment.
The rest of Scripture is dismissed under the claim of defending biblical truth.
