More Than Sacrifices: What Did an Old Testament Priest Actually Do?

When you hear the words Old Testament priest, what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a man standing at the altar offering a sacrifice. Maybe you think about the high priest dressed in his beautiful garments with the breastplate, ephod, blue robe, and turban.

While sacrifices were certainly an important part of priestly service, that was not all the priests did. Their responsibilities reached beyond the altar into the spiritual life of Israel. They helped the people worship according to God’s instructions and understand what it meant to live as a people set apart for Him.

So, as we continue learning about the priesthood, let’s look a little closer at what an Old Testament priest actually did.

First, Who Were the Priests?

Before we go any further, there is an important distinction to remember: every priest was a Levite, but not every Levite was a priest. If you are unfamiliar with the Levite family tree or want a refresher on the difference between Levites, priests, and high priests, take a moment to read our previous blog post, “Priests, Levites & High Priests: What’s the Difference?” That post walks through the family line and explains how the different roles fit together.

For now, the important point is that the Levites came from the tribe of Levi and were set apart for service connected with the Tabernacle. Within the tribe of Levi, however, God specifically chose Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. In Exodus 28:1, God told Moses, “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” Aaron became Israel’s first high priest, and his sons served as priests alongside him.

Priests Offered Sacrifices

This is probably the responsibility we know best. The priests presented Israel’s sacrifices and offerings before the LORD. The book of Leviticus describes several kinds of offerings, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Each had specific instructions concerning how it was to be presented and what the priest was to do. These sacrifices were not random religious ceremonies. They taught Israel about sin, atonement, thanksgiving, fellowship, worship, and the holiness of God.

Something important to notice is that the priests did not determine how Israel would approach God. God did. The priests were responsible for carrying out His instructions faithfully, reminding us that God’s holiness was never something Israel was supposed to treat casually.

Priests Taught God’s Word

One responsibility we can easily overlook is that priests were also teachers. Leviticus 10:10–11 says that the priests were to “put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” and “teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”

Their ministry was not confined to what happened at the altar. Israel needed to understand what God had commanded and how His covenant instructions shaped their worship and daily lives.

Malachi 2:7 describes this teaching responsibility clearly:

“For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth.”

A priest was expected to know God’s Word well enough to teach it to others. His ministry involved both worship and instruction.

Priests Helped Israel Understand Holiness

Holiness can sometimes sound like a complicated theological word, but at its heart, holiness carries the idea of being set apart for God. Israel was learning what it meant to belong to a holy God, and the priests helped the people recognize the distinctions God had established between holy and common, clean and unclean. Ezekiel 44:23 later summarizes this responsibility:

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”

The Tabernacle, altar, sacred vessels, sacrifices, and priesthood had all been set apart for God’s purposes. This helps us understand why the story of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 is so serious. They approached holy service in a way God had not commanded, and the consequences were severe. Their story reminds us that God’s holiness was not something the priests were free to redefine for themselves.

This responsibility also extended into situations involving ceremonial cleanness. For example, Leviticus 13 gives priests instructions for examining certain skin conditions and contamination in garments. The priest made determinations based on what God had revealed rather than his own opinion. In this way, Israel learned that belonging to God affected more than what happened at the sanctuary. Holiness touched everyday life.

Priests Blessed the People

One of the most beautiful responsibilities of the priests was blessing Israel. Numbers 6:22–27 records what we commonly call the priestly blessing or Aaronic blessing. God instructed Aaron and his sons to bless Israel with these words:

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

Imagine hearing those words spoken over the congregation. The priestly ministry was serious because God’s holiness was serious, but it also carried reminders of His grace, protection, presence, and peace. The God who called His people to holiness was also the God who desired to dwell among them and bless them.

Priests Cared for the Sanctuary

The priests also had practical responsibilities connected with Israel’s daily worship. Exodus 27:20–21 describes Aaron and his sons tending the lamps, Exodus 30 gives instructions concerning the burning of incense, and Leviticus 6:12–13 says that the fire upon the altar was to be kept burning. These duties might sound repetitive, but that is part of what makes them meaningful. Priestly service was not made up only of dramatic moments. Much of it involved faithfully tending what God had entrusted to them day after day. Holy service included ordinary routines performed faithfully before God.

More Than a Job

When we put these responsibilities together, a fuller picture of the priesthood begins to emerge. Priesthood was not simply a religious occupation. The priests had been set apart to serve. Their calling affected how they approached God, how they handled sacred things, and how they served His people. They stood within Israel’s covenant life as servants entrusted with holy responsibilities.

That did not mean the priests were perfect. Scripture gives us examples of priests who failed in their calling, but those failures only reinforce the seriousness of what God had entrusted to them. They were handling things that belonged to Him, and that required reverence, obedience, and faithfulness.

And Then We Come to Jesus

Understanding these responsibilities gives us important background for why the New Testament calls Jesus our great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 says, “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.” The Old Testament priesthood introduces us to important themes such as sacrifice, holiness, mediation, and access to God, but Jesus fulfills the priestly picture in a way the sons of Aaron never could.

The Old Testament priests offered sacrifices repeatedly, but Jesus offered Himself once. Hebrews 10:12 tells us, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” The earthly priests were themselves sinners who needed atonement, but Jesus is our sinless High Priest. Their ministry pointed forward to something greater—a perfect Priest and a perfect sacrifice.

Because of Jesus, Hebrews 4:16 gives believers this beautiful invitation:

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

This is one reason learning about the Old Testament priesthood matters. We are not simply studying an ancient religious system. We are watching God’s redemptive story unfold. The priesthood helps prepare us to understand more fully who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us.

So, the next time you hear the word priest, don’t picture only the sacrifice. Remember that these men were called to a life of sacred service. Through their ministry, Israel was continually reminded that they belonged to a holy God who desired to dwell among His people. And beyond the sons of Aaron, the priesthood pointed forward to the One who would become our perfect and eternal High Priest—Jesus Christ.

Bloom a Little Deeper

As you study this week, read Leviticus 10:8–11, Numbers 6:22–27, Malachi 2:5–7, and Hebrews 4:14–16.

As you read, consider this question: What does the Old Testament priesthood teach me about the holiness of God, and how does Jesus change the way I am able to approach Him?

The more we understand the priesthood, the more beautiful the work of Jesus becomes.