And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
The chapter containing the verse sets forth the condition of the inhabitants of the land and belongs to a message calling God's people to prepare for the Lord's coming.
Like people, like priest means priests and people become alike in evil and share responsibility and fate. God holds both accountable and will punish them for their ways and repay them according to their doings. The leaders' crimes reflect the people's corruption, and the people follow their leaders into sin, so both stand under the same judgment for the same course.
The likeness comes about because people tend to reflect the character and spirit of their priests. A minister shapes his congregation after himself, impressing his own characteristics upon his people and begetting the same spirit in the church by his work. A fervent, earnest, God-fearing minister who is full of faith and love for souls impresses those qualities on the congregation and fosters the same spirit in the church.
The verse also means the people take their words from the lips of priests and human lawmakers and are blinded by error. Those who trample upon God's law make human laws and force the people to accept them, devising and counseling and planning what they will do. This applies to demanding Sunday observance on the ground that the whole world keeps Sunday and God's people are few, as if it does not matter if they do not keep the law instituted in Eden when the foundations of the earth were laid. That law is God's memorial given to honor the living God who made the world in six days and sanctified and blessed the day of His rest.
The verse applies to false shepherds who turn men away from the laws of God's kingdom to exalt their own theories and suppositions in opposition to God's law. Their course produces prevailing impiety and wickedness growing to fearful proportions, and their work reacts upon themselves. The verse is fulfilled when God's judgment falls upon mystic Babylon, when priest and people together receive retribution according to their conduct.
The chapter containing the verse sets forth the condition of the inhabitants of the land and belongs to a message calling God's people to prepare for the Lord's coming.
Like people, like priest means priests and people become alike in evil and share responsibility and fate. God holds both accountable and will punish them for their ways and repay them according to their doings. The leaders' crimes reflect the people's corruption, and the people follow their leaders into sin, so both stand under the same judgment for the same course.
The likeness comes about because people tend to reflect the character and spirit of their priests. A minister shapes his congregation after himself, impressing his own characteristics upon his people and begetting the same spirit in the church by his work. A fervent, earnest, God-fearing minister who is full of faith and love for souls impresses those qualities on the congregation and fosters the same spirit in the church.
The verse also means the people take their words from the lips of priests and human lawmakers and are blinded by error. Those who trample upon God's law make human laws and force the people to accept them, devising and counseling and planning what they will do. This applies to demanding Sunday observance on the ground that the whole world keeps Sunday and God's people are few, as if it does not matter if they do not keep the law instituted in Eden when the foundations of the earth were laid. That law is God's memorial given to honor the living God who made the world in six days and sanctified and blessed the day of His rest.
The verse applies to false shepherds who turn men away from the laws of God's kingdom to exalt their own theories and suppositions in opposition to God's law. Their course produces prevailing impiety and wickedness growing to fearful proportions, and their work reacts upon themselves. The verse is fulfilled when God's judgment falls upon mystic Babylon, when priest and people together receive retribution according to their conduct.