True Christians Respect God’s Word

“Your word is truth.”​—JOHN 17:17.

LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS:

What was the difference between the meeting in Jerusalem in the year 49 and church councils after that?

Who were some of the men who defended God’s Word after the time of the apostles?

How did faithful Christians study the Bible in the late 1800’s? Why was this a good way to study?

1. When you first talked to Jehovah’s Witnesses, what was one important thing you noticed that was different about them?

THINK about the first time you had a conversation with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do you remember about it? Many of us would say that the one thing we remember is that the Witness used the Bible to answer all our questions. How happy we were to learn about God’s purpose for the earth, what happens when we die, and the hope for our dead loved ones!

2. What are some of the reasons why you value the Bible?

² But as we continued to study, we realized that we can learn much more from the Bible than just the answers to our questions about life, death, and the future. We started to value the Bible because it is the most helpful book in the world. The advice from the Bible has always helped people. Those who carefully follow it will be happy and do well in life. (Read Psalm 1:1-3.) True Christians have always accepted the Bible, “not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) A brief review of how people in the past either used the Bible or ignored it will show the difference between those who truly respect God’s Word and those who do not.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM IS SOLVED

3. What problem put the unity of the Christian congregation in danger? Why was this a difficult problem to solve?

³ Thirteen years passed after the first uncircumcised Gentile, Cornelius, was anointed. Many more Gentiles had become Christians. During this time, a problem arose that put the unity of the Christian congregation in danger. Should the Gentile men be circumcised according to the Jewish tradition before they could be baptized? That was a difficult question for a Jew to answer. Jews who obeyed the Law would not enter a Gentile’s home. If they would not even do that, they certainly would never treat a Gentile as a brother! Jewish Christians were already greatly persecuted for leaving the Jewish religion. If they now welcomed uncircumcised Gentiles as their brothers, this would only cause more persecution for the Christians. It would also separate Christians from those of the Jewish religion even more.​—Galatians 2:11-14.

4. Who gathered together to solve the problem? What questions could someone have had about this discussion?

⁴ In the year 49, the apostles and older men in Jerusalem, who were themselves circumcised Jews, “gathered together to see about this affair.” (Acts 15:6) Their meeting was, not a boring religious argument about unimportant details, but an exciting discussion about Bible teachings. Everyone involved in the discussion gave his opinion. How would they solve the problem? Would they allow someone’s preference or prejudice to influence their decision? Would the responsible older men wait until the situation in Israel improved for the Christians and then make a decision? Or would they agree to something that they did not really believe was right just so that a final agreement could be made?

5. In what important ways was the meeting in Jerusalem in the year 49 different from church councils?

⁵ At church councils, or meetings of church leaders, it is common for these leaders to accept ideas that they really do not agree with just so that there can be a final agreement. It is common for some of the leaders to try to make others vote for their ideas. But nothing like that happened at the meeting in Jerusalem. Still, the apostles and older men were able to make a decision that everyone at that meeting agreed with. How could that be? It is because even though they had different opinions, all who were there respected God’s Word, and they used the Scriptures to solve the problem.​—Read Psalm 119:97-101.

6, 7. How did the apostles and older men use the Scriptures to solve the problem about circumcision?

⁶ It was the words at Amos 9:11, 12 that helped to solve the problem. These words are quoted at Acts 15:16, 17. It says: “I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down; and I shall rebuild its ruins and erect it again, in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah.”

⁷ But someone may argue that this text does not say that Gentiles who became Christians did not have to be circumcised. That is true. But Jewish Christians would have understood it that way. Why? Because Jewish Christians thought of circumcised Gentiles as brothers, not as people of the nations, as the scripture says. (Exodus 12:48, 49) For example, Bagster’s version of the Septuagint says at Esther 8:17: “Many of the Gentiles were circumcised, and became Jews.” “Those who remain of the men” were those who remained of the house of Israel. This included Jews and circumcised proselytes. The Scriptures said that they would become one people for God’s name together with “people of all the nations,” that is, uncircumcised Gentiles. So the answer from the Scriptures was clear. Gentiles who wanted to become Christians did not have to be circumcised.

8. Why did Jewish Christians need courage to make the decision that they made?

⁸ God’s Word and his spirit helped those sincere Christians to agree on a decision. (Acts 15:25) Even though the decision would probably cause more persecution of the Jewish Christians, those who were faithful followed that direction based on the Bible.​—Acts 16:4, 5.

THE DIFFERENCE BECOMES VERY CLEAR

9. What is one important reason why false teachings corrupted true worship? What important Christian teaching was corrupted?

⁹ The apostle Paul foretold that after the death of the apostles, true worship would be corrupted by false teachings. (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7.) Even some of those who had responsibilities in the congregation would reject true teachings. (2 Timothy 4:3) Paul warned elders in his time: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:30) The New Encyclopædia Britannica tells us one main reason why false teachings were allowed. It says that some Christians who had training in Greek philosophy began to use this philosophy to explain their Christian beliefs. This made them feel good about their own knowledge, and they thought that it could help educated pagans to accept Christianity. An example of an important Christian belief that they corrupted with a pagan idea is the doctrine, or teaching, about who Jesus Christ is. The Bible calls him the Son of God, but those who loved Greek philosophy taught that he is God.

10. Where could church leaders have found the answer to the question about the identity of Christ?

¹⁰ Later, church leaders argued about this doctrine at several church councils. They could easily have found the answer to the question about the identity of Jesus Christ if they had looked in the Scriptures. But most of them did not think that what the Bible said was important enough. In fact, most of them had made their own decision even before their councils started, and nothing could change their opinion. The decisions made at these meetings rarely said anything about the Bible.

11. On whose authority did church leaders base their decision? Why did they do that?

¹¹ Why did church leaders not use the Scriptures more when they made decisions? Scholar Charles Freeman explains that it is because what the Bible says did not agree with their idea that Jesus is God. Jesus’ own words show that God is greater than Jesus. Because these leaders could not deny his words, church tradition and the opinions of men became more important for them than the Gospels. Even today, many church leaders think that the sayings of those whom they call the Church Fathers are more important than the Word of God! If you have ever discussed the Trinity doctrine with a student of religion, you have probably noticed that.

12. What influence did the emperor have?

¹² The Roman emperors had a great influence on these meetings. For example, Professor Richard E. Rubenstein wrote about what happened at the Council of Nicaea. He says that the new emperor, Constantine, had made the bishops very rich. In less than a year, he had given them back all that had been taken from them, such as their churches, their jobs, and their titles. He had given the bishops the special treatment that the pagan priests had received before them. As a result, Constantine was able to have a strong influence on the decisions made at the Council of Nicaea, perhaps even to change them. And Charles Freeman wrote that after that meeting, the emperor started to have more influence in the church. He gave power to the church and influenced its teachings.​—Read James 4:4.

13. Why, do you think, did church leaders not accept the clear truths from the Bible?

¹³ Church leaders could not accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but many of the common people thought differently. That is because the common people clearly understood and accepted what they read in the Scriptures. But the church leaders instead wanted the money and power that the emperor could give them, so they ignored the Bible. Gregory of Nyssa, who was a religious leader during this time, made a critical comment on how the common people, such as clothes salesmen, money changers, grocers, and servants, talked about religion. Gregory did not like that many of the common people explained that the Son is different from the Father, that the Father is greater than the Son, and that the Son was created out of nothing. The common people were able to explain these truths by using the Bible. This is something that Gregory of Nyssa and the church leaders were not doing. They should have listened to the common people!

“WHEAT” AND “WEEDS” GROW TOGETHER

14. How do we know that there have always been some true anointed Christians on earth from the first century on?

¹⁴ What Jesus said in one of his parables tells us that from the first century on, there would always be some true anointed Christians on the earth. He compared them to “wheat” that grew among “weeds.” (Matthew 13:30) Of course, we do not know for sure which men or groups were part of the anointed class. But we do know that there have always been some who had the courage to defend God’s Word and to speak against the false teachings of the church. Let us talk about a few examples.

15, 16. Who were some of the men who respected God’s Word?

¹⁵ Archbishop Agobard of Lyons, France, who lived between the years 779 and 840, spoke against the worship of idols, churches dedicated to saints, and church practices and worship. Bishop Claudius, who lived at the same time as Bishop Agobard, also rejected church tradition and did not approve of prayers to saints and the worship of objects. In the 11th century, Archdeacon Berengarius of Tours, France, was excommunicated, or expelled from the church, because he rejected the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation. He also believed that the Bible is a greater authority than church tradition.

¹⁶ Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne, who lived in the 12th century, were two other men who loved Bible truth. Peter of Bruys stopped serving as a priest because he believed that the Catholic teachings of infant baptism, transubstantiation, prayers for the dead, and worship of the cross did not agree with the Scriptures. In 1140, Peter was burned to death because of his beliefs. Henry, who was a monk, spoke against corrupt practices and wrong worship in the church. He was arrested in 1148 and was in prison for the rest of his life.

17. What important things did Waldo and his followers do?

¹⁷ About the time that Peter of Bruys was killed, a person was born who would later have great influence on the spread of Bible truth. His last name was Valdès, or Waldo.a (See footnote.) He did not have religious training like Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne, but he valued God’s Word so much that he gave up his material things and had parts of the Bible translated into a language that many common people in southeastern France spoke. Some were so happy to hear the Bible’s message in their own language that they too gave up their material things and used their lives to speak about Bible truth with others. The church leaders did not like that at all. In 1184 these zealous men and women, who were later called the Waldenses, were excommunicated by the pope and were not allowed by the bishop to go back to their homes. This actually helped spread the Bible’s message to other areas. In time, in many parts of Europe, there were followers of Waldo, Peter of Bruys, and Henry of Lausanne as well as others who separated themselves from the church. In later centuries, others defended Bible truth: John Wycliffe (who lived from about 1330 to 1384), William Tyndale (who lived from about 1494 to 1536), Henry Grew (who lived from 1781 to 1862), and George Storrs (who lived from 1796 to 1879).

“THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND”

18. How did sincere Bible students in the 19th century study the Bible? Why was this a good way to study?

¹⁸ Enemies of the Bible have not been able to stop Bible truth from spreading. At 2 Timothy 2:9, we read: “The word of God is not bound.” In 1870 a group of sincere Bible students began to search for the truth. How did they study? First, someone asked a question about a certain subject. Then, they talked about it. Next, they read all the scriptures that were about that subject. When they agreed on how these scriptures related to one another, they decided on an answer and wrote it down. This was a good way to study because it followed the example of the apostles and older men in the first century. It is encouraging to know that these faithful men in the early history of Jehovah’s Witnesses made sure that their beliefs were based completely on God’s Word.

19. What is the yeartext for 2012, and why is it appropriate?

¹⁹ Our beliefs are still based on the Bible. That is why the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has chosen Jesus’ words at John 17:17 as our yeartext for 2012: “Your word is truth.” Everyone who wants to have God’s approval must live according to the truth. So we should all continue to do our best to be guided by God’s Word.

[Footnote]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

If we respect God’s Word, we think of it as the highest authority on all matters and base all our beliefs on it

Circumcision: Removal of a man’s foreskin. The Law of Moses required all males to be circumcised. Usually, Gentiles were not circumcised. They were uncircumcised

Proselyte: Proselytes were Gentiles who had converted to the Jewish religion. They accepted the God of Israel and the Law of Moses, and males were circumcised

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The apostles and older men in Jerusalem respected God’s Word

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Our yeartext for 2012: “Your word is truth.”​—John 17:17

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Waldo

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Wycliffe

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Tyndale

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Grew

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Storrs

Learn Watchfulness From Jesus’ Apostles

“Keep on the watch with me.”​—MATTHEW 26:38.

WHAT CAN YOU LEARN ABOUT:

Watching for direction on where to preach?

Being vigilant with a view to prayers?

Preaching even when there are trials?

1-3. What mistake did the apostles make during Jesus’ last night on earth? What shows that they learned from their mistake?

IMAGINE the scene on the last night of Jesus’ life on earth. Jesus has come to one of his favorite places, the garden of Gethsemane, just east of Jerusalem. He has come here with his faithful apostles. Jesus has many important things to think about, so he needs to find a place where he can be alone to pray.​—Matthew 26:36; John 18:1, 2.

² The apostles Peter, James, and John follow Jesus farther into the garden. He tells them: “Stay here and keep on the watch with me,” and then he leaves to pray. When he comes back, he finds his friends sleeping. Again he tells them: “Keep on the watch.” But Jesus finds them sleeping two more times! Later that same night, none of the apostles are ready for what happens. They do not keep on the watch. They even abandon Jesus and run away!​—Matthew 26:38, 41, 56.

³ The apostles certainly felt sorry about not keeping on the watch. Those faithful men quickly learned from their mistake. The Bible book of Acts shows that they became an excellent example of how to keep watchful. Their example must have helped other Christians in the first century to do the same. Now more than ever, we need to keep on the watch. (Matthew 24:42) Let us talk about three lessons that we can learn from the book of Acts that will help us to keep on the watch.

THEY WERE WATCHFUL FOR DIRECTION ON WHERE TO PREACH

4, 5. How did holy spirit direct Paul and his traveling companions?

⁴ The first lesson is that the apostles were watchful for direction on where to preach. The Bible shows us how Jesus used God’s spirit to guide the apostle Paul and his companions on a very interesting journey. (Acts 2:33) Let us read about it from the beginning.​—Read Acts 16:6-10.

⁵ Paul, Silas, and Timothy had left the city of Lystra in southern Galatia. Some days later, they came to a Roman highway that would take them west to the most populated area in the district of Asia. They wanted to follow that road to visit cities where thousands of people needed to learn about Christ. But something suddenly stopped them. Verse 6 says: “They went through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, because they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the district of Asia.” The Bible does not say how, but in some way the holy spirit stopped the travelers from preaching in the district of Asia. Paul and his companions understood that this direction from the holy spirit meant that Jesus wanted them to preach somewhere else.

6, 7. (a) What happened to Paul and his companions near Bithynia? (b) What decision did the disciples make? What was the result?

⁶ Where did Paul and his companions go? Verse 7 explains: “Further, when getting down to Mysia they made efforts to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not permit them.” Because God’s spirit stopped them from preaching in Asia, they went north and planned to preach in the cities of Bithynia. But when they got near Bithynia, Jesus again used the holy spirit to stop them. The men must have wondered why. They knew what to preach and how to preach, but they did not know where to preach. It was as if they had knocked on a door that led to Asia, but it had not opened. Then they tried again in Bithynia, and the same thing happened. Did those zealous preachers stop trying? No, they did not!

⁷ The decision that they made next might have seemed a bit strange. Verse 8 tells us: “They passed Mysia by and came down to Troas.” The travelers turned west and walked 563 kilometers (350 miles). They passed by one city after another until they came to the port of Troas. From this port, people would travel to Macedonia by ship. Verse 9 tells us what happened next: “During the night a vision appeared to Paul: a certain Macedonian man was standing and entreating him and saying: ‘Step over into Macedonia and help us.’” Finally, Paul and his companions knew where to preach. It was as if they had knocked on a door for the third time, but this time it opened wide for them! They immediately sailed for Macedonia.

8, 9. What can we learn from Paul’s journey?

⁸ What can we learn from this? Note that it was only after Paul began his journey to Asia that God’s spirit started to direct him. Then, it was only after Paul came near Bithynia that Jesus gave him more direction. Finally, it was only after Paul came to Troas that Jesus directed him to Macedonia. Jesus is still the head of the congregation, and he may direct us in a similar way. (Colossians 1:18) For example, you may have been thinking about serving as a pioneer or moving to a place where the need is greater. But it may be that it is only after you make an effort to reach your goal that Jesus will use God’s spirit to direct you. It is like driving a car. A driver can direct his car to turn left or right but only if the car is moving. In the same way, Jesus may direct us to do more in our ministry but only if we are moving, that is, if we are working hard to reach our goal.

⁹ But what if your efforts do not have immediate results? Should you think that God’s spirit is not guiding you and then stop trying? Remember that things did not immediately happen the way Paul expected that they would. But he kept trying. He kept knocking until he found a door that opened. If you continue to search for “a large door that leads to activity,” you can have good results too.​—1 Corinthians 16:9.

“VIGILANT WITH A VIEW TO PRAYERS”

10. What shows that to keep on the watch, we must continue to pray?

¹⁰ Let us now talk about a second lesson that we learn from our brothers in the first century. They were “vigilant with a view to prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) To keep on the watch, we must continue to pray. Remember that in the garden of Gethsemane just before his arrest, Jesus told three of his apostles: “Keep on the watch and pray continually.”​—Matthew 26:41.

11, 12. Why did Herod treat the Christians, including Peter, badly? What did Herod do?

¹¹ Peter heard these words of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Later, he experienced how important the prayers of others can be. (Read Acts 12:1-6.) In the first verses of Acts chapter 12, we learn that Herod treated the Christians badly because he wanted to please the Jews. He likely knew that James was an apostle who had been very close to Jesus. So Herod had James killed “by the sword.” (Verse 2) The congregation loved James very much, so this was a great test for the brothers!

¹² What did Herod do next? Verse 3 explains: “As he saw it was pleasing to the Jews, he went on to arrest Peter also.” But earlier some apostles were miraculously released from prison. Peter was one of them. (Acts 5:17-20) Herod may have known that. He wanted to make sure that Peter would not escape. Herod had “four shifts of four soldiers each to guard him, as he intended to produce him for the people after the passover.” (Verse 4) Imagine that! Herod had Peter chained between 2 guards, with 16 guards working day and night to make sure that this apostle did not escape. Herod’s idea was to please the crowds by killing Peter after the Passover. In this terrible situation, what could the brothers do?

13, 14. (a) What did the congregation do when Peter was arrested? (b) What can we learn about prayer from what the congregation did?

¹³ The congregation knew exactly what to do. Verse 5 says: “Peter was being kept in the prison; but prayer to God for him was being carried on intensely by the congregation.” Their prayers for Peter were intense and from the heart. The death of James did not cause them to become hopeless or to think that their prayers were useless. On the contrary, they knew that the prayers of faithful worshippers are precious to Jehovah. If these prayers are in harmony with his will, he answers them.​—Hebrews 13:18, 19; James 5:16.

¹⁴ What can we learn from what the congregation did? That if we want to keep on the watch, we need to pray not just for ourselves but also for our brothers and sisters. (Ephesians 6:18) Do you know of brothers and sisters who are enduring trials? Some may be enduring persecution or natural disasters. Others live in countries where the government wants to stop the preaching work. It would be good to pray intensely for these brothers and sisters. You may know of some who are having problems that others would not easily know about, such as family troubles, discouragement, or sickness. It would be good to think of people you can mention by name when you speak to Jehovah, the “Hearer of prayer.”​—Psalm 65:2.

15, 16. (a) How did Jehovah’s angel free Peter from prison? (See the picture on page 12.) (b) Why does it strengthen our faith to think about the way that Jehovah rescued Peter?

¹⁵ But what happened to Peter? While Peter was sleeping during his final night in the prison, something amazing happened. (Read Acts 12:7-11.) Imagine: Suddenly, there was a bright light in his prison cell. Peter was chained to two guards, but they did not see that an angel was standing by him. The angel told him to get up quickly. And the chains simply fell off Peter’s hands! The angel led him out of the cell and right past the guards who were standing outside. Then the huge iron gate opened on its own, and Peter and the angel went through it. After they left the prison, the angel disappeared. Peter was free!

¹⁶ It strengthens our faith to think about Jehovah’s power to rescue his servants. Of course, we do not expect Jehovah to rescue us in a miraculous way today. But we have strong faith in Jehovah’s power to help his people. (2 Chronicles 16:9) By using his powerful holy spirit, he can strengthen us to endure any trial. (2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Peter 2:9) And Jehovah will soon give Jesus the power to resurrect millions who are now like prisoners of death. (John 5:28, 29) Our faith in God’s promises can give us great courage to endure trials today.

TRIALS DID NOT STOP THEM FROM “BEARING THOROUGH WITNESS”

17. How was Paul an excellent example of someone who preached with zeal and urgency?

¹⁷ Here is a third lesson about keeping on the watch that we can learn from the apostles: They did not allow trials to stop them from preaching. To keep on the watch, we must preach with zeal and urgency. The apostle Paul was an excellent example of someone who did this. He worked hard in the preaching work. He traveled to many places and started many congregations. Even though he endured many trials, he kept preaching with zeal and urgency.​—2 Corinthians 11:23-29.

18. How did Paul continue to preach when he was a prisoner in Rome?

¹⁸ The last time we read about Paul in the book of Acts is in chapter 28. Paul arrived in Rome to be put on trial before the Roman ruler Nero. Paul was a prisoner, maybe chained to a guard, but this could not stop the zealous apostle! Paul continued to find ways to preach to others. (Read Acts 28:17, 23, 24.) Just three days after Paul arrived, “he called together those who were the principal men of the Jews” so that he could witness to them. The local Jews chose a day to see Paul again, and this time, he gave an even greater witness. Verse 23 says: “They now arranged for a day with him, and they came in greater numbers to him in his lodging place. And he explained the matter to them by bearing thorough witness concerning the kingdom of God and by using persuasion with them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.”

19, 20. (a) Why did Paul have good results in his preaching? (b) Even though some did not accept the good news, what did Paul do?

¹⁹ Why did Paul have good results in his preaching work? Verse 23 gives us some of the reasons. (1) He taught about God’s Kingdom and about Jesus Christ. (2) He helped his listeners “by using persuasion,” that is, by giving them good reasons for believing. (3) He used the Scriptures to reason with people. (4) He showed that he cared more about people than about himself by bearing witness “from morning till evening.” Paul gave a powerful witness, but not everyone accepted the good news. Verse 24 says: “Some began to believe the things said; others would not believe.” This resulted in disagreement, and the people left.

²⁰ Did Paul become discouraged because not everyone accepted the good news? Not at all! Acts 28:30, 31 tells us: “He remained for an entire two years in his own hired house, and he would kindly receive all those who came in to him, preaching the kingdom of God to them and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with the greatest freeness of speech, without hindrance.” With these encouraging words, the inspired book of Acts ends.

21. What can we learn from Paul’s example when he was a prisoner in a rented home?

²¹ What can we learn from Paul’s example? While he was kept as a prisoner in his rented home, Paul was not able to preach from house to house. But he did not allow this to discourage him, and he kept preaching to all who came to visit. In the same way, many of God’s people today keep their joy and keep preaching even though they are in prison because of their faith. Some of our dear brothers and sisters are not able to leave their homes or may even live in nursing homes because of old age or sickness. As much as they can, they preach to doctors and staff, visitors, and others. Their desire is to bear thorough witness about God’s Kingdom. We value their example very much!

22. (a) What publication is helping us to benefit from the Bible book of Acts? (See box above.) (b) What do you want to do while you wait for the end of this old system of things?

²² When we read about the apostles and other Christians in the first century in the Bible book of Acts, we learn a lot about being watchful. We certainly want to imitate them by preaching with courage and zeal while we wait for the end of this old system of things. The greatest honor we can have is to bear thorough witness about God’s Kingdom!​—Acts 28:23.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

We are watchful when we accept Jehovah’s direction, pray continually, and keep our zeal and urgency in the preaching work

We bear thorough witness by giving a good witness at every opportunity we have

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Jesus may direct us if we work hard to reach our goals

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“THE BOOK OF ACTS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FOR ME”

A traveling overseer explained how he felt after reading the book “Bearing Thorough Witness” About God’s Kingdom: “The book of Acts will never be the same for me.” He had read the Bible book of Acts many times, but now that he had read this publication, he felt he could benefit much more from reading the book of Acts.

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An angel led Peter through the huge iron gate, which opened on its own

Learn From ‘the Framework of Truth’

“[You have] the framework of the knowledge and of the truth in the Law.”​—ROMANS 2:17-20.

WHAT ARE YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS?

What did the sacrifices in the Law of Moses represent?

In what way are our sacrifices similar to certain sacrifices that the Israelites offered?

Which sacrifices does Jehovah accept, and which ones does he not accept?

1. Why is it important for us to understand what Paul said about the Law of Moses?

WHAT the apostle Paul wrote in the Bible helps us to understand the importance of many parts of the Law of Moses. For example, Paul explained in his letter to the Hebrews that Jesus was a “faithful high priest” who offered a sacrifice once for all time. Those who put faith in it can be at peace with God and get “an everlasting deliverance.” (Hebrews 2:17; 9:11, 12) Paul also explained that the tabernacle was only “a shadow of the heavenly things.” Jesus was the Mediator of a covenant that was better than the Law of Moses. (Hebrews 7:22; 8:1-5) It was very helpful to Christians in Paul’s time that he explained what the parts of the Law of Moses represented. What he explained can help us too to be more grateful for all that God has done for us.

2. Why did Jewish Christians know more about God and the reasons for his laws than people who were not Jewish?

² Some of what Paul wrote to Christians in Rome was for the Jewish Christians who lived there and who had been taught about the Law of Moses. He told them that since they knew the Law, they already had “the framework of the knowledge and of the truth” about Jehovah and his righteous reasons for the laws he makes. They understood and loved the basic truth taught in the Law. So like faithful Jews before them, they could teach others the basic truth about Jehovah.​—Read Romans 2:17-20.

SHADOWS OF JESUS’ SACRIFICE

3. How do we benefit from learning about Jewish sacrifices?

³ The basic truth found in the Law of Moses, which Paul described as the framework of the truth, helps us to understand Jehovah’s purposes. The lessons Jehovah taught his people by means of the Law are still important. So we will now learn about the sacrifices and offerings required by that Law. These offerings led humble Jews to Christ and helped them to understand what God required of them. And since Jehovah requires the same basic things of his servants today, his laws to the Israelites about sacrifices can help us to examine the way we serve him.​—Malachi 3:6.

4, 5. (a) Of what did the Law of Moses remind the Jews? (b) The sacrifices were “a shadow” of what?

⁴ Many parts of the Law of Moses reminded the Jews that they were sinful. For example, anyone who touched a dead human body had to cleanse himself. For this to happen, the priest would kill a healthy red cow, burn it, and use its ashes to make “water for cleansing.” On the third and the seventh day after the person became unclean, the priest would sprinkle this water on the person to purify him. (Numbers 19:1-13) When a woman gave birth, she was unclean for a time. After that time had passed, she had to offer a sacrifice for her uncleanness. All of this reminded the Jews that everyone is born with imperfection and sin.​—Leviticus 12:1-8.

⁵ The Jews had to offer animal sacrifices for forgiveness in many other situations in life. Whether they realized it or not, the sacrifices they offered at the tabernacle and later on at the temple were “a shadow” of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.​—Hebrews 10:1-10.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ABOUT SACRIFICES

6, 7. (a) What did the Israelites need to remember when they chose a sacrifice? What did an acceptable sacrifice represent? (b) What questions might we ask ourselves?

⁶ Jehovah required the Israelites to offer only animals that were “sound,” or healthy, not blind, injured, deformed, or sick. (Leviticus 22:20-22) When the Israelites offered fruits or grains to Jehovah, these offerings needed to be the “firstfruits” and “the very best” of their harvests. (Numbers 18:12, 29) Offerings that were not the best were unacceptable to Jehovah. When the Israelites offered the best animal sacrifices, this represented that Jesus’ sacrifice would be spotless and unblemished. Jehovah would sacrifice what was best and most precious to him in order to save mankind from sin and death.​—1 Peter 1:18, 19.

⁷ If the person making a sacrifice was truly grateful to Jehovah for all of His goodness, then he would be happy to choose the very best from what he had. The person could choose what to offer. But he knew that God would not be happy with a sacrifice that was not the best he had. If he offered something that had defects, he would show that he did not think that sacrifices were important or even that he felt that Jehovah was asking too much of him. (Read Malachi 1:6-8, 13.) This example should make us think about the way we serve God. We can ask ourselves: Why am I serving Jehovah? Do I need to change the way I am serving him? Am I giving him my best?

8, 9. What do we learn from the way the Israelites felt when they offered a sacrifice?

⁸ An Israelite could give Jehovah a sacrifice that was voluntary to show gratitude. Or he could ask for Jehovah’s approval by voluntarily giving a burnt offering. In such cases, it was probably easy for him to choose the best animal. He would feel happy to give that animal to Jehovah. Today, we do not need to offer the sacrifices mentioned in the Law of Moses, but we make other sacrifices. We use our time, energy, and resources to serve Jehovah. The apostle Paul talked about the “public declaration” of our hope and “the doing of good and the sharing of things with others” as sacrifices that please God. (Hebrews 13:15, 16) Our attitude, or how we feel, about serving Jehovah shows how grateful we are for all that he has given us. So just like the Israelites, we need to examine the way we feel about serving God and why we serve him.

⁹ In some situations, the Law of Moses required an Israelite to make a sin offering or a guilt offering if he had sinned. Since these offerings were required, do you think that it was difficult for the Israelite to offer them willingly? (Leviticus 4:27, 28) Not if he really wanted to keep a good relationship with Jehovah.

10. What “sacrifices” might we have to make if we have done something wrong?

¹⁰ Today, we may say something that offends a brother, either without realizing it or because we do not think carefully before we speak. Or maybe our conscience tells us that we have done something wrong. If we really want to please Jehovah, we will do all that we can to correct the wrong. This could mean that we have to apologize sincerely to the brother we offended. Or if we have done something seriously wrong, we should seek help from the elders. (Matthew 5:23, 24; James 5:14, 15) To correct a sin against a brother or against God requires action on our part. It is like making a sacrifice. When we are willing to do so, we can have a good relationship with Jehovah and our brother, and we will have a clean conscience. These good results convince us that Jehovah knows what is best for us.

11, 12. (a) What were communion sacrifices? (b) What can we learn from communion sacrifices?

¹¹ Other sacrifices mentioned in the Law of Moses were communion offerings. They showed that a person was at peace with Jehovah. The person making such an offering and his family would eat the meat of the sacrificed animal, perhaps in one of the temple’s dining rooms. The priest who sacrificed the animal as well as the other priests who were serving at the temple each received a piece of the meat. (Leviticus 3:1, footnote; 7:31-33) The reason that the person made this offering was that he wanted to have a good relationship with God. It was as if he, his family, the priests, and Jehovah himself were all having a meal together with joy and in peace.

¹² So making a communion sacrifice was like inviting Jehovah to a meal. What a great honor it was for an Israelite when Jehovah accepted his invitation to such a meal. He surely wanted to offer God the very best. Communion sacrifices were part of the framework of truth found in the Law of Moses, and they showed that all who want to have a peaceful relationship with their Creator can do so by means of Jesus’ greater sacrifice. Today, we can be Jehovah’s friends if we willingly sacrifice, or use, our resources and energies in his service.

EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICES THAT GOD DID NOT ACCEPT

13, 14. Why did Jehovah not accept what Saul wanted to sacrifice?

¹³ Jehovah accepted sacrifices if the person offering them had the right attitude. But the Bible also has some examples of sacrifices that God did not accept. Why was he not pleased with those sacrifices? Let us learn about two situations.

¹⁴ The prophet Samuel told King Saul that the time had come for Jehovah to destroy the Amalekites. He told Saul to kill all of them and their animals. But after Saul won the battle, he allowed his soldiers to let Agag, the king of the Amalekites, live. Saul also kept the best of their animals to sacrifice to Jehovah. (1 Samuel 15:2, 3, 21) What did Jehovah do? Because of Saul’s disobedience, Jehovah did not want him to be king over Israel anymore. (Read 1 Samuel 15:22, 23.) What do we learn from this? That God accepts our sacrifices only if we obey his commands.

15. What did the Israelites show when they offered sacrifices while doing bad things?

¹⁵ There is another example in the book of Isaiah. The Israelites in Isaiah’s time were offering sacrifices to Jehovah only because this was required of them. At the same time, they continued to do many bad things. Because of this, Jehovah did not accept their sacrifices. He asked: “Of what benefit to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?” He told them: “I have had enough of whole burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed animals; and in the blood of young bulls and male lambs and he-goats I have taken no delight.” He also said to them: “Stop bringing in any more valueless grain offerings. Incense​—it is something detestable to me.” Why did he not want their offerings? God said: “Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed your very hands have become filled. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the badness of your dealings from in front of my eyes; cease to do bad.”​—Isaiah 1:11-16.

16. What sacrifices does God accept?

¹⁶ Jehovah did not accept the sacrifices of those who continued doing what was wrong. But he accepted the prayers and sacrifices of those who did all they could to obey his commands. The framework of truth that was in the Law of Moses taught such individuals that they were sinful and needed Jehovah’s forgiveness. (Galatians 3:19) When an Israelite understood what the Law was trying to teach him, he felt very sorry for his sins and wanted Jehovah to forgive him. Today, we too need to remember that only by means of Christ’s sacrifice can Jehovah forgive our sins. If we understand the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and are truly grateful for it, Jehovah will be “delighted” with all that we do in his service.​—Read Psalm 51:17, 19.

SHOW FAITH IN JESUS’ SACRIFICE!

17-19. (a) How can we show Jehovah that we are grateful for Jesus’ ransom sacrifice? (b) What will we learn about in the next article?

¹⁷ The Israelites saw only “a shadow” of God’s purposes. But we have the reality. (Hebrews 10:1) The laws about sacrifices taught the Israelites what they needed to do in order to have a good relationship with God. They needed to show him their gratitude, have a desire to give him their best, and understand that they needed his forgiveness. Today, the Christian Greek Scriptures help us to understand that by means of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, Jehovah will remove sin and death forever. By means of the ransom, he can forgive our sins so that we may have a good conscience even now. The ransom is a wonderful gift from Jehovah!​—Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:9, 14.

¹⁸ To benefit from the ransom sacrifice, we need to do more than just understand what it means. Paul wrote: “The Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith.” (Galatians 3:24) We must show our faith by our actions. (James 2:26) Jewish Christians in the first century understood the framework of truth because they knew the Law of Moses. Paul encouraged them to act according to what they learned from it. In this way, they would be living according to the truth that they taught others.​—Read Romans 2:21-23.

¹⁹ Although we are not required to obey the Law of Moses, we must still offer sacrifices that please Jehovah. In the next article, we will learn how we can do this.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Framework of truth: The basic truth about God found in the Law of Moses. This expression is used at Romans 2:20

Shadow: Something described in the Bible that gives some idea of an important thing that would happen later. Various parts of the Law of Moses were shadows that represented greater things that would happen when Jesus came

Mediator: One that helps humans to benefit from an agreement with God so that they can be at peace with him. Moses was the mediator of the Law covenant between Jehovah and the nation of Israel, and Jesus was the Mediator of the “better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22)

Attitude: The way we think and feel about something, such as how we feel about serving Jehovah. We show our attitude by our actions

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We can be Jehovah’s friends if we willingly sacrifice our resources and energies in his service

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Jehovah’s basic requirements for his servants never change

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God accepts our sacrifices only if we obey his commands

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Jehovah accepts our offerings if we give him our best

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Which animal would you have offered to Jehovah?

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We can have Jehovah’s approval if we offer sacrifices that please him

Making Whole-Souled Sacrifices for Jehovah

“Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah.”​—COLOSSIANS 3:23.

SEE IF YOU CAN ANSWER:

How can we honor Jehovah in our daily activities?

What sacrifices do we make in our worship of God?

What things can we give to Jehovah?

1-3. (a) Since Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice, does this mean that Jehovah no longer requires any kind of sacrifices from us? Explain. (b) What question may we have about our sacrifices?

IN THE first century, Jehovah made it clear to his people that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice had ended the Law of Moses. (Colossians 2:13, 14) Jehovah no longer required any animal sacrifices and other offerings that the Jews had been making for hundreds of years. The Law had fulfilled its role as a “tutor leading to Christ.”​—Galatians 3:24.

² This does not mean that Christians are no longer interested in sacrifices. In fact, the apostle Peter spoke of the need to “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) Also, the apostle Paul had made it clear that every part of a Christian’s life is like “a sacrifice” dedicated to God.​—Romans 12:1.

³ We make sacrifices for Jehovah, either when we offer certain things to him or when we give up certain things so that we can serve him better. From what we know about the sacrifices that the Israelites offered, how can we make sure that our sacrifices are acceptable to Jehovah?

SACRIFICES IN DAILY LIFE

4. What must we remember about daily activities of life?

⁴ It might be difficult to understand how the things we do every day can be involved in our making sacrifices to Jehovah. Such activities as housework, schoolwork, secular work, or shopping may not seem to be activities that could affect our relationship with him. But if you have dedicated your life to Jehovah or hope to do so in the near future, it is important to remember that these daily activities really can affect your relationship with him. We are Christians 24 hours a day, and we need to use Bible principles in every situation of our lives. That is why Paul encouraged us: “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.”​—Read Colossians 3:18-24.

5, 6. What can help us decide how we should behave and dress?

⁵ Our daily activities are not part of our service to God. Yet, the fact that Paul encouraged us to work “whole-souled as to Jehovah” makes us think about how we should behave at all times. So, what do we learn from this? Do we always behave and dress as Christians should? Or in our daily activities, might we be ashamed to say that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses, either because of the way we behave or because of the way we dress? We should never let that happen! We do not want to do anything that might make people think badly of God’s name.​—Isaiah 43:10; 2 Corinthians 6:3, 4, 9.

⁶ Let us discuss how a desire to work “whole-souled as to Jehovah” affects how we think and act in different situations. During our discussion, we need to remember that all sacrifices that the Israelites presented to Jehovah had to be the very best.​—Exodus 23:19.

HOW YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED

7. What is involved in our dedication to God?

⁷ When you dedicated yourself to Jehovah, you made a good decision. You promised to use your entire life in his service. This meant that you would put him first in every situation in life. (Read Hebrews 10:7.) No doubt you have had excellent results when you have made an effort to learn what Jehovah thinks about a specific matter and then acted according to his will. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) We are a holy and happy people because we imitate Jehovah, who instructs us.​—Leviticus 11:44; 1 Timothy 1:11.

8. Why is it important for us to remember that the sacrifices of the Israelites were holy to Jehovah?

⁸ Jehovah thought of the sacrifices of the Israelites as holy. (Leviticus 6:25; 7:1) The Hebrew word translated “holiness” has the meaning of being separate, or belonging only to God. If we want Jehovah to accept our sacrifices, we must stay away from anything in the world that is unclean. We cannot love any of the things that Jehovah hates. (Read 1 John 2:15-17.) This means that we avoid anyone or anything that would cause God to view us as unclean. (Isaiah 2:4; Revelation 18:4) Also, it means that we cannot keep looking at or thinking about things that are unclean or immoral.​—Colossians 3:5, 6.

9. Why is the way we treat others important?

⁹ Paul encouraged fellow believers: “Do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16) So if we always do what is good and if we help others, Jehovah will view our actions as an acceptable sacrifice to him. If we show love for others, we prove that we are true Christians.​—John 13:34, 35; Colossians 1:10.

SACRIFICES IN WORSHIP

10, 11. How does Jehovah view our preaching work and our worship? What should this motivate us to do?

¹⁰ One way that we can do good things for others is through “the public declaration of our hope.” Do you use every opportunity to give a witness? Paul said that we need to “offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” (Hebrews 10:23; 13:15; Hosea 14:2) It can be helpful to think about how much time we use to preach the good news and how we can improve the way we preach. Many Service Meeting parts help us to do this. But what we really must remember is that our field service and informal witnessing activities are “a sacrifice of praise,” a part of our worship, so our sacrifice should be the very best that we can offer. Of course, we have different circumstances, but our attitude about serving Jehovah often affects how much time we use to preach.

¹¹ We regularly worship Jehovah both at home and in the congregation. He requires that we do this. Although we no longer have to obey the law of the Sabbath or go to Jerusalem for festivals, we can still learn from those laws. Every day we have many things to do, but God still expects us to use some of our time to study the Bible, pray, and attend meetings. And the head of the family has the responsibility to study the Bible with the rest of the family. (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 10:24, 25) So it is good to ask ourselves, Could I improve my worship to God?

12. (a) The offering of incense in ancient worship can be compared to what today? (b) How can we offer our prayers like incense?

¹² King David sang to Jehovah: “May my prayer be prepared as incense before you.” (Psalm 141:2) It is good to think about how often we pray and what we pray about. The book of Revelation compares “the prayers of the holy ones” to incense. It says that acceptable prayers rise to Jehovah like a pleasant odor. (Revelation 5:8) In ancient Israel, the incense that was regularly offered on Jehovah’s altar had to be carefully prepared according to a special recipe. It was acceptable to Jehovah only if offered according to the guidelines that he had given. (Exodus 30:34-37; Leviticus 10:1, 2) Similarly, if we pray in the way that Jehovah has instructed us to pray and view prayer as something holy, we can be sure that he will accept our prayers.

WE GIVE AND WE RECEIVE

13, 14. (a) What did Epaphroditus and the Philippian congregation do for Paul? How did Paul feel about it? (b) How can we follow the example of Epaphroditus and the Philippians?

¹³ The money we contribute to support the worldwide work is like a sacrifice, whether we give a lot or a little. (Mark 12:41-44) In the first century, the congregation in Philippi sent Epaphroditus to Rome to care for Paul’s needs. Epaphroditus brought Paul some money as a gift from the congregation. This was not the first time that the Philippians had shown generosity to Paul. They sent this gift to Paul because they did not want him to worry about money but, rather, wanted him to use more of his time in the ministry. What did Paul think about the gift? He called it “a sweet-smelling odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” (Read Philippians 4:15-19.) Paul was truly grateful for the kindness of the Philippians, and Jehovah was pleased too.

¹⁴ Today, Jehovah is also very pleased with our contributions to the worldwide work. And he promises that if we continue to seek first his Kingdom, he will give us what we need to keep our faith strong and to live each day.​—Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38.

SHOW THAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL

15. What are some of the things for which you are grateful to Jehovah?

¹⁵ We have many reasons to be grateful to Jehovah. Each day we should thank him for the gift of life. He gives us everything we need to be alive, such as food, clothing, shelter, and the air we breathe. Also, we are grateful for the accurate knowledge of Bible truths that gives us faith and a hope for the future. So we should worship Jehovah and offer sacrifices of praise to him because of who he is and what he has done for us.​—Read Revelation 4:11.

16. How do we show that we are grateful for Christ’s ransom sacrifice?

¹⁶ The previous article mentioned that Christ’s ransom sacrifice is a precious gift of God to mankind. This gift shows how much God loves us. (1 John 4:10) How do we show that we are grateful for it? Paul said: “The love the Christ has compels us, because this is what we have judged, that one man died for all.” He continued: “He died for all that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised up.” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15) Paul was saying that if we are really grateful for what God has done, we will use our lives to honor God and His Son. We show our love and gratitude to God and Christ by our obedience and by our desire to preach and make disciples.​—1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 1 John 5:3.

17, 18. In what ways have some increased their sacrifice of praise to Jehovah? Give an example.

¹⁷ Would it be possible for you to improve the sacrifice of praise that you offer to God? After thinking about all the good that Jehovah has done for them, many have been motivated to make changes to have more time for the preaching work and other work for Jehovah’s organization. Some have been able to auxiliary pioneer for one or more months each year, and others have been able to regular pioneer. Some others have helped with constructing buildings that are used for Jehovah’s service. These are excellent ways to show our gratitude. If we serve God with the right motive, that is, to show him gratitude and give him thanks, God will accept what we do for him.

¹⁸ Many Christians have been motivated to show their gratitude to Jehovah. Morena is one of them. She was raised as a Catholic but had many questions about God and the meaning of life. She searched for the answers both in Catholicism and in Asian philosophy. But it was only when she began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses that her questions were clearly answered. Morena was very grateful to Jehovah for what she learned in the Bible because it gave her real happiness. So she wanted to thank him by using all her energies in his service. Immediately after her baptism, she regular auxiliary pioneered, and as soon as her circumstances allowed for it, she became a regular pioneer. That was 30 years ago, and Morena is still in full-time service.

19. How could you increase your sacrifices to Jehovah?

¹⁹ There are many faithful servants of Jehovah whose circumstances do not allow them to pioneer. Whatever we can do in Jehovah’s service, all of us can offer acceptable sacrifices to him. In our conduct, we apply Bible principles and remember that we represent Jehovah at all times. In faith, we need to trust that God will fulfill his purposes. In fine works, we help spread the good news. We show that we are truly grateful for all that Jehovah has done for us. So let us continue to make whole-souled sacrifices for Jehovah.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Spiritual sacrifices: Things that are part of our worship, including field service, prayer, and meeting attendance

Whole-souled: We give whole-souled sacrifices to Jehovah when we give him our very best

Sacrifice of praise: Publicly declaring Jehovah’s name (Hebrews 13:15)

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Our conduct is a sacrifice to Jehovah if we please him at all times

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Our faith is a sacrifice to Jehovah if we trust that he will fulfill his purposes

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Does appreciation for Jehovah’s goodness move you to improve in your ministry?

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Do you use every opportunity to give a witness?

A Royal Priesthood to Benefit All Mankind

“You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession.’”​—1 PETER 2:9.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

When did Jehovah first promise a royal priesthood?

How do members of the new covenant become a royal priesthood?

How will the royal priesthood benefit mankind?

1. Why is “the Lord’s evening meal” also called the Memorial? What is the purpose of this observance?

DURING the evening of Nisan 14 in the year 33, Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles observed the Jewish Passover for the last time. Then, Jesus told Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray him, to leave. Next, Jesus introduced a different observance. This observance was later called “the Lord’s evening meal.” (1 Corinthians 11:20) Jesus twice said: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” This occasion is also known as the Memorial. It is a special occasion when we remember what Christ did, especially that he died for us. (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25) Jehovah’s Witnesses all over the world obey this command by holding the Memorial every year. In 2012, Nisan 14 of the Bible calendar begins at sunset, Thursday, April 5.

2. What did Jesus say about the bread and the wine?

² The disciple Luke tells us in a simple way what Jesus did and said on that occasion: “He took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: ‘This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: ‘This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.’” (Luke 22:19, 20) How did the apostles understand these words?

3. How did the apostles understand Jesus’ words about the bread and the wine?

³ The apostles were familiar with the animal sacrifices that priests offered to God at the temple in Jerusalem. These sacrifices were made to gain Jehovah’s approval, and many were sacrifices for forgiveness of sins. (Leviticus 1:4; 22:17-29) So when Jesus said that his body would be given in their behalf and his blood would be poured out in their behalf, the apostles understood that he would give his own perfect life as a sacrifice. His sacrifice would have much more value than animal sacrifices.

4. What did Jesus mean when he said: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood”?

⁴ What did Jesus mean when he said: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood”? The apostles knew Jeremiah’s prophecy about that new covenant. (Read Jeremiah 31:31-33.) Jesus’ words showed that he was now introducing that new covenant. This new covenant would replace the Law covenant that Jehovah had made with Israel through Moses. Were these two covenants connected?

5. What opportunities did the Law covenant give Israel?

⁵ Yes, their purposes were closely connected. When Jehovah introduced the Law covenant to Israel, he said: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. And you yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5, 6) How did the Israelites understand these words?

THE PROMISE OF “A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD”

6. What promise did the Law covenant help to fulfill?

⁶ The Israelites knew what a “covenant,” or serious agreement, was because Jehovah had made covenants before with Noah and Abraham. (Genesis 6:18; 9:8-17; 15:18; 17:1-9) As part of his covenant with Abraham, Jehovah had promised: “By means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves.” (Genesis 22:18) Jehovah made the Law covenant to help fulfill this promise. Based on this covenant, Israel could become Jehovah’s “special property out of all other peoples.” For what purpose would Israel become a special property? So that they could become “a kingdom of priests” to Jehovah.

7. What did the Scriptures mean by “a kingdom of priests”?

⁷ The Israelites were familiar with kings and priests. But there was only one man of ancient times who had been both king and priest at the same time with Jehovah’s approval. That was Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:18) Through the Law covenant, Jehovah gave the Israelites the opportunity of having “a kingdom of priests” chosen from their nation. The Scriptures later speak of these chosen ones as “a royal priesthood,” that is, kings who would also be priests.​—1 Peter 2:9.

8. What do priests appointed by God do?

⁸ A king, of course, rules. But what does a priest do? Hebrews 5:1 explains: “Every high priest taken from among men is appointed in behalf of men over the things pertaining to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” A priest appointed by Jehovah represents the people before God. He begs Jehovah to forgive the sins of the people by offering Jehovah sacrifices. Also, a priest represents Jehovah before the people by teaching them God’s law. (Leviticus 10:8-11; Malachi 2:7) In these ways, the priest helps sinful people to be reconciled to God, that is, to have a friendship with God again.

9. (a) What did Israelites need to do to have the opportunity to be “a kingdom of priests”? (b) Why did Jehovah appoint some as priests within Israel? (c) Why could the Israelites not be “a kingdom of priests” under the Law covenant?

⁹ The Law covenant gave Israelites the opportunity to become kings and priests to benefit “all other peoples.” But there was something that the Israelites needed to do to have this wonderful opportunity. God said: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant.” Could they “strictly obey” Jehovah? Yes, but not perfectly. (Romans 3:19, 20) It is for this reason that Jehovah appointed some as priests within Israel. These priests did not serve as kings. They made animal sacrifices for the sins of the people. (Leviticus 4:1–6:7) These sins also included the sins of the priests themselves. (Hebrews 5:1-3; 8:3) Even though Jehovah accepted these sacrifices, they could not completely remove sin from the Israelites. The priesthood under the Law covenant could not completely reconcile even sincere Israelites to God. It is as the apostle Paul said: “It is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take sins away.” (Hebrews 10:1-4) Because the Israelites did not obey all the things in the Law, they came under a curse. (Galatians 3:10) In that condition, they could not serve all other peoples as a royal priesthood.

10. What was the purpose of the Law covenant?

¹⁰ This does not mean that Israelites could never become part of “a kingdom of priests” as Jehovah had promised. If they sincerely tried to obey Jehovah, they would have this opportunity, but not while they were under the Law. Why not? (Read Galatians 3:19-25.) To understand this, we need to know what the purpose of the Law covenant was. The Law protected obedient Israelites from false worship. It also helped them to understand that they were sinners and needed a greater sacrifice than their high priest could offer. The Law was a “tutor” that would prepare them to accept the Christ, or Messiah. These names mean “Anointed One.” However, when the Messiah arrived, he would introduce the new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied about. Those who accepted the Christ became part of the new covenant and would actually become “a kingdom of priests.” Let us talk about how.

MEMBERS OF THE NEW COVENANT BECOME A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

11. How did Jesus become the foundation of a royal priesthood?

¹¹ In the year 29, Jesus of Nazareth became the Messiah. He was about 30 years old when he got baptized. His baptism showed that he was willing to do Jehovah’s special will for him. Jehovah then said about him: “This is my Son, the beloved.” And Jehovah anointed him, not with oil, but with holy spirit. (Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 10:38) God anointed Jesus so that he could be High Priest and future King for the benefit of everyone who believes in him. (Hebrews 1:8, 9; 5:5, 6) He would then make it possible for others to become part of a truly royal priesthood.

12. What did Jesus’ sacrifice make possible?

¹² As High Priest, what sacrifice could Jesus offer that would make it possible for the inherited sin of those who believe in him to be completely forgiven? What Jesus said when he introduced the Memorial of his death helps us to understand that the sacrifice was his own perfect human life. (Read Hebrews 9:11, 12.) After Jesus was anointed to be High Priest, he allowed himself to be tested and trained until his death. (Hebrews 4:15; 5:7-10) After he was resurrected, he went to heaven and offered the value of his sacrifice to Jehovah. (Hebrews 9:24) From that time on, Jesus could “plead” with Jehovah for those who exercise faith in his sacrifice. He could help them to serve God with the hope of receiving everlasting life. (Hebrews 7:25) His sacrifice also made the new covenant valid.​—Hebrews 8:6; 9:15.

13. What would happen to those in the new covenant?

¹³ Those in the new covenant would also be anointed with holy spirit. (2 Corinthians 1:21) Faithful Jews and then Gentiles were included. (Ephesians 3:5, 6) What would happen to those in the new covenant? Their sins would be completely forgiven. Jehovah had promised: “I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) Now that Jehovah had forgiven their sins, they could become “a kingdom of priests.” Peter told the anointed Christians: “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) The apostle Peter quoted the words that Jehovah used when He introduced the Law to Israel. Peter here repeats these words and applies them to Christians in the new covenant.​—Exodus 19:5, 6.

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD THAT BENEFITS ALL MANKIND

14. Where does the royal priesthood serve?

¹⁴ Where do those in the new covenant serve? They serve on earth. As a group, they are a priesthood. They represent Jehovah to people by preaching about “the excellencies” of Jehovah and by giving spiritual food, or instruction. (Matthew 24:45; 1 Peter 2:4, 5) After their death and resurrection, they are completely able to do the work of both kings and priests with Christ in heaven. (Luke 22:29; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 1:6) In a vision, the apostle John saw many spirit creatures near Jehovah’s throne in heaven. They are singing “a new song” to “the Lamb.” They sing: “With your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10) In another vision, John said about these kings: “They will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6) These kings, together with Christ, form a royal priesthood that benefits all mankind.

15, 16. In what ways will the royal priesthood benefit mankind?

¹⁵ How will the 144,000 benefit people on earth? Revelation chapter 21 describes these priests as a heavenly city, New Jerusalem, called “the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation 21:9) Verses 2 to 4 say: “I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’” These are wonderful blessings! There will be no more tears, grief, pain, or cries of sorrow because death will no longer exist. Mankind will then become perfect and be completely reconciled to God.

¹⁶ Revelation 22:1, 2 tells us more about the blessings that come from this royal priesthood. It says: “He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its broad way. And on this side of the river and on that side there were trees of life producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month. And the leaves of the trees were for the curing of the nations.” This vision shows us how “the nations,” or family groups of mankind, will be completely cured of the imperfection inherited from Adam. Truly, the former things will have passed away.

THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD COMPLETES ITS WORK

17. What will the royal priesthood have done by the end of 1,000 years?

¹⁷ By the end of 1,000 years of service, the royal priesthood will have helped mankind to become perfect. The High Priest and King, Jesus Christ, will then present the perfect human family to Jehovah. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:22-26.) The royal priesthood will have completed its work.

18. After the members of the royal priesthood have completed their work, how will Jehovah use them?

¹⁸ How will Jehovah use the members of the royal priesthood after that? Revelation 22:5 says: “They will rule as kings forever and ever.” Whom will they rule over? The Bible does not say. But they will continue to have great value to Jehovah. They will have immortal and incorruptible life and experience in helping imperfect mankind. So they will continue to be kings and to be used by Jehovah to fulfill his purposes forever.

19. Of what will all those who attend the Memorial be reminded?

¹⁹ We will be reminded of these Bible teachings when we observe the Memorial of Jesus’ death on Thursday, April 5, 2012. The anointed Christians still on earth will show that they are part of the new covenant by partaking of the unleavened bread and the red wine. This will remind them of their wonderful privileges and responsibilities in God’s eternal purpose. All of us who attend want to show deep gratitude for the royal priesthood that Jehovah God has chosen to benefit all mankind.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

The royal priesthood that will benefit all mankind is formed by Jesus Christ and 144,000 anointed Christians who will be both kings and priests over mankind for 1,000 years

Sinful people need to be reconciled to God, that is, to have their sins forgiven so that they can have God’s approval and friendship again

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The Israelites had the opportunity to become “a kingdom of priests”

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Jesus made it possible for others to be part of a royal priesthood

[Picture on page 31]

The royal priesthood will benefit mankind forever