Jeremiah 33:18

18 and the 1Levitical priests shall never lack a man before * Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to 2prepare sacrifices continually *.' "

Jeremiah 33:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 33:18

Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me,
&c.] The Levitical priesthood has been abolished long ago; that was typical of Christ's priesthood, and is succeeded by it; who is a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek; and who, having offered up himself a sacrifice here on earth for his people, ever appears in heaven, in the presence of God, on their behalf, making intercession for them; and as long as he continues to do so, which will be always, a man shall not be wanting before the Lord: to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do
sacrifice continually;
that is, to present that sacrifice before him, and plead the efficacy and virtue of it with him, which was typified by all those sacrifices, and has superseded them, being much better than they. Some understand this of a continuance of Gospel ministers unto the end of the world, who succeeded the priests and Levites; but as they are never called priests and Levites in the New Testament; nor were they properly the successors of the priests and Levites; rather it may be applied unto all believers now, who are priests unto God, and offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ; but the first sense is best.

Jeremiah 33:18 In-Context

16 'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.'
17 "For thus says the LORD , 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
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 .' "
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
20 "Thus says the LORD , 'If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Numbers 3:5-10; Deuteronomy 18:1; Deuteronomy 24:8; Joshua 3:3; Ezekiel 44:15
  • 2. Ezra 3:5; Hebrews 13:15

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "there shall not be cut off for the Levitical priests"
  • [b]. Lit "all the days"
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