A Prophetic Picture of New Testament Priests

And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Luke 6:1-5 (KJV)

Jesus and His disciples went through a corn field. As they went, they ate some of the corn. It was on a sabbath, which means a rest and ceasing day. The Pharisees said this was not lawful, which was true based on the Old Testament Law. Jesus brought up King David. David himself and the men with him were hungry and went into God’s house and ate the shewbread, which only the priests could eat, according to the Law.

We see a prophetic picture regarding David and his men and Jesus’s disciples. The disciples ate corn on the sabbath. David and his men ate the shewbread in God’s house, which was lawful only for priests. They were all prophetically acting as New Testament priests.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; I Peter 2:9 (KJV)

We are now called priests of God. God speaks this to New Testament believers in Christ. So, now we act out what David and his men did prophetically, as well as Jesus’ disciples.. Since Jesus died and rose again, we are now kings and priests (Revelation 1:6). As priests, we have New Testament rights to come into God’s house to receive the Bread of Life, Jesus, and the written Word of God.

Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, which gives Jesus legal authority on earth. He is Lord of the sabbath and the Law, so everything comes under His lordship. Jesus, the Lord of the sabbath has now become our sabbath. He is our rest. We cease from our works to rest in Christ, in His finished work. Rest and worship Jesus Christ daily.

Yet, the sabbath day is still a priciple we can observe. We can set aside one day to rest and worship the Lord. Jesus is Lord of the sabbath, and Jesus is Lord of all.