Did Jesus Make The Apostles Priests?

Did Jesus Make the Apostles Priests?

Many Catholics are unaware that Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of Christ’s ministerial priesthood. Perhaps this is due to the absence of Christ explicitly ordaining the apostles in the Last Supper narratives. Are there clues that suggest such an ordination? Karlo Broussard gives the answer.

Copyright Catholic Answers, Inc. 2016

STAY CONNECTED!

HELP US make more videos like this one!

About Karlo Broussard:

Karlo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology from Catholic Distance University and the Augustine Institute, and is currently working on his masters in philosophy with Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He also worked for several years in an apprenticeship with nationally known author and theologian Fr. Robert J. Spitzer at the Magis Center of Reason and Faith.

Karlo is one of the most dynamic and gifted Catholic speakers on the circuit today, communicating with precision of thought, a genuine love for God, and an enthusiasm that inspires.

Script:

Most Catholics are aware that Holy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper as the First Mass. But what some miss is that Holy Thursday also celebrates Jesus’ institution of the ministerial priesthood.

When you read the Last Supper narratives in the Synoptic Gospels you don’t find Jesus ordaining the apostles. You’re left wondering, “Where does the Catholic Church get off thinking that Jesus made the apostles priests at the Last Supper?”

There are three clues that support this claim.

First, Jesus commands the apostles to “do this remembrance of me.” The Greek verb for “do,” poieo, can be translated literally as “offer” in the sense of offering a sacrifice, as it is in in Leviticus 9:7 of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament).

Now, offering sacrifice is a priestly function. Therefore, Jesus’ command to offer the Last Supper as a sacrifice suggests that Jesus made his apostles ministerial priests.

A second clue is the washing of the apostles’ feet in John 13:5. This calls to mind the ritual washings of Aaron and his sons, which included the washing of their feet, at their priestly ordination in Exodus 40.

Finally, Jesus says in John 13:8 that the apostles could not take “part” in him unless they were washed. The Greek word for “part,” meros, echoes Numbers 18:20 and Deuteronomy 10:9, which refer to the “portion” (Greek—meris) that Aaron and the Levites have in God as priests.

So, did Jesus make the apostles priests at the Last Supper? I think these exegetical points give us sufficient reason to answer yes.

For Catholic Answers, I’m Karlo Broussard. Thanks for watching.

[SpiritofCatholic]

Yes Carlo a power packed video. Jesus fulfilled the Passover at the Last Supper. The Pascal rite became the Mass. Jesus, the lamb of God, the sacrificial lamb instituted the Eucharist. Jesus also ordains the Apostles as the new covenant priests by the washing of their feet. Catholic Christian’s have always believed the entire Word of God. And Jesus is our teacher. Amen.

[suzym.f.]

Offerring yourselves not sacrifices. So we are the living sacrifices. Yes we are priests.

[atgred]

Hi Mike, I'm sure that the problem resides exactly in the translations. As Karlo mentions clearly, that the original written words in greek do crossover to what they, the Apostles, knew what it referenced in the Old Testament. Many times during the Gospels Jesus references the Septuigent and they knew what He was talking about. Also remember that Jesus sometimes spoke "not clearly" and the Apostles asked him why, and then Jesus would explain to them what he meant and then told them to go "teach" the other disciples what he meant. And that also includes the Bible. The teaching authority is the Magisterium of the Church and she has taught exactly what Karlo is explaining. It has always been the wrong attitude towards the Scriptures to think of them as a "clear manual" of what to say or do as a Christians. That is why Jesus instituted his Church. And that is why we have thousands of denominations, because they threw away the authority of The Church and instead they made them selves their own teachers, falling into heresies.

[cherianjitin]

The real question is, are you a Priest? St. Peter in 1 Peter 2[:9] says, "You are a royal priesthood and a priestly kingdom, " and Revelation 5[:10], "Through your blood you have made us into priests and kings."

[mikebrummond]

Karlo, I think we have to answer this: if the NT authors intended to communicate this fact, why the subtleties? Why allude to the apostles' priesthood through these rather obscure references rather than something a bit more apparent? It seems like instituting a new covenant priesthood would be a rather monumental reality for both Christ and the early Church. Why the reticence to say it clearly?

[tjac]

He did not make the apostles ordained priest. There is no such office of hiereus, priest, anywhere in the NT church. No where is that taught.

[thestudybiblesbiblestudy]

I always enjoy your work Karlo but there are videos of the Pope washing random feet so I don't think he was anointing them into the priesthood his intention seems to be a show of humility as Catholics teach the main weapon against pride. What you present does make a lot of sense however Judas also got his feet washed and later on I believe it was Stephen and some others also who were first ordained by the apostles by the laying on of hands. Thanks for this video .

[russhilton]

I will have to respectively disagree with the gentleman's thesis because the problem with the examples he uses is that they are based upon assumptions, which is eisegesis, instead of exegesis.

[mostlynate]

Thank you for reinforcing why I'm not a Catholic.

[RobertJones-etgh]

You're "reaching" trying to connect dots that are far apart. Those biblical examples are weak examples to prove that there was a priestly apostolic cast. When Jesus washed his disciples feet, it was a simple lesson in teaching them humility because they were constantly bickering about who was the greatest among themselves. It had nothing to do with the Aaronic priesthood having to wash their feet. Nice try though.

[bobyoung]

you may assert such -- however, obliquely. But, i'm not buying it.