The responsibilities of a priest are central to serving God with dedication and reverence. God claimed the entire tribe of Levi for full life service to Him, making the Levites the priests of Israel, devoting their lives to maintaining and enforcing the correct worship of God, first in the tabernacle, and eventually in the temple. A major responsibility of the priesthood was to give their lives in service to God, though often they did so reluctantly, as seen in the time of Malachi. Personal, moral purity was essential to the priesthood, with God requiring physical perfection in His priests to teach the lesson of purity and holiness. The high priestly family of Aaron and his sons held the highest responsibility and privilege to serve in the holy place and the most holy place of the tabernacle and the temple. Priests were to act as guardians and defenders of God's truth and creation, a role that extends to all humans in a broader sense. The prophet Malachi warned the priests of Israel about their declining spiritual conditions, highlighting their lack of honor and reverence through despising God's name, pride, disobedience, unacceptable attitudes, laziness, failure to magnify God's name, hypocrisy, weariness for things related to God, and deception in offerings. As spiritually holy and royal priests today, we must take our responsibilities seriously, recognizing the honor and privilege of being called to such glorious service. We are compelled to live a life of sacrifice to God through our conduct, faith, and acceptable spiritual sacrifices. Under the spiritual High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is faithful and pure, we must emulate Him as His royal priesthood, ensuring we do not fall into the same attitudes of dissatisfaction or contempt as the ancient priests, but instead honor and revere Him in all we do.

God is preparing us for a great purpose, which includes not only ruling in His Kingdom but also serving as priests. We are called to be a royal priesthood, as stated in Revelation 5:10, where it is declared that we have been made kings and priests to our God and shall reign on the earth. This dual role emphasizes that we must actively prepare to be priests just as we prepare to rule. Even now, we bear priestly responsibilities, offering up spiritual sacrifices, which are as crucial today as they will be in the future. If we do not practice being a priest in the present, we will not be ready for the responsibilities of the World Tomorrow. A priest's primary function is to assist people in accessing God, mediating and reconciling between God and humanity to foster union with Him. This role involves not only reconciliation but also teaching a way of life to strengthen and improve that relationship. During the Millennium, represented by the Feast of Tabernacles, the priestly work will be immense, with more sacrifices required than in any other period of God's plan, indicating the significant responsibility we will carry in offering spiritual sacrifices on behalf of the people before God. In the past, God provided saviors and leaders to deliver and teach Israel, and He will follow this pattern in the future with king-priests who are His sons, serving under the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Our role as priests includes judging, teaching, and mediating, helping to lead others out of sin and into fellowship with God. This fellowship, established through sacrifice, must be renewed daily through continued sacrifices, as our relationship with God fluctuates and requires constant strengthening. A priest is a bridge-builder, aiding in accessing God by offering sacrifices, which are gifts to Him meant to establish or maintain fellowship. These sacrifices are not limited to death but include the offering of a life lived in dedication, devotion, and service. The greatest sacrifice is self-sacrifice, giving of oneself in obedience to God's will, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, Who offered His life entirely to align with the Father's purpose. We are called to present our bodies as living, holy, and acceptable sacrifices before God, following His example in practical, daily application of His teachings in every aspect of our lives. This preparation is essential to fulfill our future roles as kings and priests in His Kingdom.

The responsibility of a priest is to embody and reflect the holiness of God, serving as a constant reminder to the entire nation and church that everyone is to strive for holiness as God is holy. Priests, through their religious instruction and living example, act as intermediaries between God and the people, bridging the gap with guidance and demonstration of a holy life. Under the New Covenant, all believers are called to be a kingdom of priests, created in the image of Jesus Christ, bearing priestly responsibilities to each other under the High Priest, the Lord Christ. This intimate association with the Father, the Son, and each other within God's family demands that the whole family become holy as He is holy. Holiness is paramount for those called to serve God, requiring priests to maintain a high standard of moral and ceremonial purity. Physical imperfections or deformities disqualified a priest from service until healed, reflecting the perfection of God in body and spirit. Priests were to avoid defilement, adhering strictly to God's commands without deviation or innovation, as seen in the severe consequences faced by Nadab and Abihu for using unauthorized fire in their offering. Ceremonial regulations further emphasized the carefulness with which priests must conduct their lives, prohibiting service when unclean until purification was achieved. The priest's life was hedged with restrictions to maintain a state of holiness, including strict rules on marriage within their lineage to ensure purity of descent, and prohibitions against imitating pagan practices. Even temporary defilement, such as contact with the dead, rendered a priest unfit for duty until cleansed, underscoring that sin and death are enemies of God and defiling to those who handle holy things. These stringent standards, while burdensome, were designed to typify the perfection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate model of holiness for all priests, emphasizing the highly responsible position of representing God before the people. God demands a very high level of holiness from all called to this office, expecting the highest conduct and attitude before Him, the world, and the church.