Simply Put – "Priest"

Host: Barry Cooper
Podcast: Simply Put (Ligonier Ministries)
Date: January 13, 2026

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Barry Cooper unpacks the rich theological term "priest," exploring its meaning in both the Old and New Testaments, and its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He discusses how every believer now shares in the priestly privilege of access to God, offering clear biblical insights and practical reflection for Christians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Access Illustrated: JFK and His Children

• Opening Illustration: Barry describes a famous image of President Kennedy in the Oval Office, relaxing with his children, to illustrate exclusive access granted not by merit, but by relationship.
  • Quote [00:07]:

    "What people wouldn't give for that kind of access to the world's most powerful person? What if we had that kind of access to God?"

2. The Role and Function of Priests in the Old Testament

• Definition: Priests as mediators and go-betweens, who:
  • Interceded for God's people (spoke to God on their behalf)
  • Made sacrifices to deal with sin
• Key Roles [00:33]:

  "Priests essentially performed two roles on behalf of God’s people. They interceded for them... and they made sacrifices for them to deal with their sin."

3. Jesus Christ: The Great High Priest

• Fulfillment: Jesus is described in the New Testament as the ultimate, "great high priest."
  • Combines interceding and sacrificing in a greater sense than any Old Testament priest.
  • Quote [01:05]:

    "He himself is the sacrifice for the sins of his people. He’s both the offering and the offerer."

• Once-for-all Sacrifice:

  "Jesus’ sacrifice of himself was made once and for all time because it really does fully and finally atone for the sin of his people." [01:23]

4. All Believers as Priests

• A Royal Priesthood: Through Christ, all believers are called a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
  • Not for offering atoning sacrifices, but sharing in priestly access to God.
  • Quote [01:47]:

    "This doesn't mean that we offer atoning sacrifices... But it does mean that we now have the kind of access those priests had."

• God’s Original Intention: Echoing Exodus, Cooper notes that God always intended for His people to serve as a “kingdom of priests,” but true access awaited necessary atonement.

5. The Historical Background: Levites and Sacrifice

• Restricted Access: Only select Levites could serve as priests before Christ, due to unresolved sin.
  • Quote [02:25]:

    "God chose a very select band of people who were called specifically from the tribe of Levi to be priests. And they alone represented the people before God."

6. Jesus Fulfills the Symbolism; Opens Access

• Old Testament sacrifices anticipated Christ:

  "They were a symbolic gesture, anticipating the time when the ultimate priest would come..." [02:36]

• Result: Now all believers have free access to God, embodying a "kingdom of priests."

7. Martin Luther and the Priesthood of All Believers

• Historical Quote:

  "In his book, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, Martin Luther says, 'All we who are Christians are priests.'" [03:05]

8. What Does It Mean for Us?

• Nature of Christian Priesthood:
  • Not offering atoning sacrifices, but spiritual ones.
  • Spiritual sacrifices include:
    • The sacrifice of praise:

      "Through Christ, then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God..." (Hebrews 13) [03:47]

    • Holy living:

      "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12) [04:13]

• Privilege and Responsibility:

  "If we're in Christ, the great high priest, you and I can rightly call ourselves priests." [04:19]

9. The Believer’s Access to God

• Confidence in Relationship:
  • Quote [04:39]:

    "As priests, we can enter God's presence because of Christ's priestly work, and we can do it freely. We have the kind of access that a dearly beloved child has to a smiling, doting Father."

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Access to God through Christ:

  "We are all priests thanks to Jesus." [03:18]

• On the privilege of priesthood:

  "Just think about that for a second. If you’re a believer in Christ, you have full access to the Creator and can approach Him without fear of destruction." [03:10]

• Summary of priestly calling:

  "You are a chosen race... a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." [04:19]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–00:34 — JFK anecdote and the longing for access to powerful figures
• 00:35–01:34 — Old Testament priests' roles and Christ’s fulfillment as High Priest
• 01:35–02:24 — Believers as a royal priesthood; God’s design for His people
• 02:25–03:04 — Levitical priesthood and the necessity of a final atonement
• 03:05–03:47 — Martin Luther's theology and believer’s priestly status
• 03:48–04:19 — The Christian's spiritual sacrifices: praise and holy living
• 04:20–End — Emphasizing privilege, access to God, and closing encouragement

Final Thoughts

Barry Cooper’s engaging storytelling and clear explanations make this episode a concise yet profound look at what it means to be a "priest" in the biblical sense. He draws listeners from historical context to practical application, leaving them awed by the unmatched privilege believers have through Christ: direct and joyful access to God.

For more episodes, visit simplyputpodcast.com