For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. – Malachi 2:7
Every member of the body of Christ has been made a priest, as affirmed in Revelation 1:6. The glory of God is revealed through His knowledge — for Scripture declares that “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
As believers, we are custodians of this knowledge — carriers of the living water. Within us flows the eternal spring meant not to be contained, but to be dispensed. It is our divine assignment to saturate the earth — and even the world to come — with the wisdom of God.
We are not merely recipients of truth but active stewards of His eternal counsel, called to spread His glory through the knowledge of Him.
Core Duties of a Priest According to Malachi 2:7
From this verse, we can identify three main responsibilities of the priesthood, which are deeply spiritual and instructional in nature:
1. Preserve and Teach Knowledge
The preservation of spiritual knowledge is key to the function of any priest of God. Moses, when given the first tablet of the law, broke it — but God made another and gave it to him again. It is one thing to receive the knowledge of truth; it’s also a herculean task to preserve the integrity and trueness of that same knowledge.
“For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge…”
He is to store, guard, and accurately pass on the teachings of God. This is where the survival of every nation lies — even the principalities and powers in heavenly places survive through this knowledge (Ephesians 3:10, KJV).
2. Be a Source of Guidance
The reason why the Holy Spirit is the best guide is because He is the source of knowledge; through Him, we search and know the deep things of God. Man, by nature, was created to receive guidance — in fact, God guided Adam in the beginning like a shepherd. Now, through the person of the Holy Spirit, the Church serves as a guiding light in families, communities, and nations.
People should be able to come to the priest for wise counsel and instruction in righteousness, and also to gain clarity on God’s law. The priest doesn’t only teach — he also guides. The way and manner in which he or she lives makes people trust their counsel.
3. Serve as God’s Messenger
“…for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
Some Christians think the word messenger makes them seem lesser than the sons and daughters they are. They feel it is a lowly title. But without being a messenger, we cannot fully carry out our mandate. In fact, the members of the Church are called sent ones. We are called to deliver the message of the Word that God upholds. We represent God’s divine authority; we convey His will to the people. We communicate God’s truth.
Therefore, we must not be foolish messengers. We must deliver His message with reverence, accuracy, and humility.
Summary: Core Duties of a Priest (from Malachi 2:7)
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Preserve and teach God’s truth
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Be a trustworthy spiritual guide
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Act as God’s faithful messenger
These responsibilities show the New Testament role of believers as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), reminding us all to uphold and share God’s truth with the world.
