This goes here as well.
Firstly, they explain exactly what the role of a priest is ..."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 also represents Jehovah before people, instructing them in divine law. (Lev. 10:8-11; Mal. 2:7) In these ways, a divinely appointed priest works to reconcile people to God...."
Assuming this is an accurate quote from the Watchtower, it reflects the JWs' fundamental lack of understanding with respect to the role of Christ as high priest, priests in general, and the so-called 144,000 anointed Jehovah's Witnesses which in reality do not even exist because they are fabrications, mere inventions.
The JWs rely too heavily on OT concepts of the "high priest" which Paul was describing at Hebrews 5:1, as it applied to Christ, yet quoted by the JWs as also applying to the 144,000. The OT high priest's role, however, was superseded by the high priest Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. Their reliance on Hebrews 5:1 as a standard in the Christian era is unfounded. The role the 144,000 claim for themselves has been made superfluous, made unnecessary by the atonement because it is their futile attempt to redeem man even though no man can redeem another man (Psalm 49:7-9).
A "priest" in a general sense can be regarded as a minister in any religion, Christian or heathen. However, the Aaronic priest in the OT performed additional functions; he offered sacrifices day after day, repeatedly, to atone for the sins of the people and himself, and other things. But, "Unlike the other high priests, he [Jesus] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself." (Heb. 7:27). Therefore, there is no need for the 144,000 "to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins,” as the JWs claim. It is unnecessary for the 144,000 to reconcile people to God, as they claim; it is a task they are incapable of performing.
These symbolic Old Testament acts of atonement, i.e., the sprinkling of the blood, were temporary, a shadow of what was to come, namely, the one final sacrificial atonement of Christ for the remission of sins for all mankind never to be repeated. "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship." (Hebrews 10:1)
The JWs' idea that the 144,000 "priests" continue on with the Old Testament traditions of the priesthood who "offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, ” is utterly unscriptural, heresy in fact, because Christ, "by one sacrifice ... has made perfect forever those who are being made holy," (Hebrews 10:14). No more "sacrifices for sin" need to be made because Christ obtained eternal redemption for all mankind, if they elect to receive it. "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."
The JWs' role of the 144,000 go far beyond the role of minister or pastor or priest who, in a more general sense teach and instruct; the JWs' so-called 144,000 assume the role of Christ in order to "reconcile the people to God," which is presumptuous to say the least, and unnecessary as Christ has already reconciled true believers to God with his death; "by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14). "... by his own blood, [he has] obtained eternal redemption."
The JWs' claim that they, with Christ, intercede, or mediate, between believers and God is likewise unbiblical. It is only the risen Christ, and he alone, who intercedes and mediates between God and man, as has been pointed out repeatedly here. "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25). There is only one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ, not 144,001 individuals. The JWs' OT notion of 144,000 JW priests has no place in Christian theology.
The JWs' exclusive claim to the royal priesthood mentioned at 1 Peter 2:5,9 is likewise missplaced. These verses provide: "... you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Virtually every Christian denomination and commentators on the subject understand that this priesthood is the priesthood of ALL believers. The 144,000 JWs are not a priesthood that make symbolic sacrifices for sin, or act as intermediary between man and God as the JWs would have you believe.
The language Peter chose is the same language found in Exodus 19:6 where all of Israel, the nation, was regarded as a royal priesthood: "6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” This larger group included the Aaronic priesthood ,who alone made the actual sacrifices, but encompassed the entire nation, a people.
The same is true of the priesthood at 1 Peter. It is not, under any stretch of the imagination, reserved for an exclusive 144,000 as they are not a "nation," not a "people." This priesthood of all Christian believers is without number, not numbered at 144,000. While true Christians offer sacrifice of praise and obedience, their mediator is Christ, and they, in turn, act as intermediaries, in a general sense, between Christ and the large world of non-believers, dispensing truth, witnessing, preaching, and providing a means (through the church, however that is defined) by which others have access to God, through the one and only mediator between God and man, Christ. As Jesus said, no one comes to the Father except through me; not the 144,000 so-called anointed Jehovah's Witnesses.
"19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God." (Hebrews 10:19-21)
