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Three major leadership offices in the Old Covenant that God instituted to serve the nation of Israel: Prophet, Priest, King.
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Prophet: Spoke on behalf of God
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Priest: Mediator between God and Man
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King: Governed God's People
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Jesus made the claim He was the greatest prophet, the greatest priest, the greatest king.
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Matthew 12:6: I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
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He is declaring He is greater than what the Temple represents. His superior priesthood, and with that, Him being the superior and all-sufficient sacrifice. He's both the priest and the sacrifice. Hebrews declares that over and over.
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Matthew 12:41: The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
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The miracle of Jonah being in the belly of the fish pointed to the Resurrection, but He is declaring He is greater than the office of prophet.
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Matthew 12:42: The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
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Greater than the Temple, greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon - Jesus was the greatest Priest, Prophet, and King.
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These roles being occupied by one person was totally foreign to the Jews and was in fact illegal.
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Saul attempted a sacrifice, and God tore his kingdom from him. Uzziah attempted to give incense in the Temple, and God struck him with leprosy.
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Hebrews 1:1-4: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
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Prophet - by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. He is the Word.
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Priest - after making purification for sins
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King - sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
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Is there Old Testament anticipation of a Messiah who will unify all three roles and eclipse every other attempt of delivering the people of God?
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Psalm 110:1 - The Lord says to my Lord:
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“Sit at my right hand,
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until I make your enemies your footstool.”
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Psalm 110:2 - The Lord sends forth from Zion
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your mighty scepter.
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Rule in the midst of your enemies!
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Royalty.
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Psalm 110:3-4 - Your people will offer themselves freely
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on the day of your power,
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in holy garments;
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from the womb of the morning,
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the dew of your youth will be yours.
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The Lord has sworn
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and will not change his mind,
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“You are a priest forever
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after the order of Melchizedek.”
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So as David sings this, he's confronted with this knowledge that one of his sons will be exalted by God to a heavenly throne, but He would also be a priest. And not after the order of Levi but Melchizedek.
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Zechariah 6:13-14 - And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’"'
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Priest on the throne! He will build a temple, and that temple will be His headquarters where He exercises His sovereign rule as king.
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PAGE 30
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The Acts of Thomas is another Gnostic text, and it contains a Manichaeist hymn that is much older. Why do you think these groups with a dualistic worldview used Thomas instead of, say, Peter or Paul or something?
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He is traditionally considered the twin brother of Jesus, so I think it's pretty natural for a Gnostic to take it a step further and represent Jesus as the heavenly twin and Thomas as the earthly twin. In the Acts of Thomas, Jesus is like this spiritual guide, leading Thomas from heaven.
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