The distinction between Old Testament and New Testament anointing becomes clearer when we consider God's original purpose for His people. When He called Abraham, He promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1--3). Later, God declared His intention to make Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5--6). A priest serves God on behalf of others, so this calling was not intended to benefit Israel alone. Through His chosen people, God intended to reveal Himself to the nations. However, under the Old Covenant, priestly service within the Tabernacle became the responsibility of a specially appointed priesthood. Kings were likewise appointed through anointing, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit was particularly associated with specific individuals called to serve God in positions of responsibility. This relationship becomes visible when Samuel anoints Saul and David. In both accounts, physical anointing is closely connected with the coming of the Spirit of the Lord (1 Samuel 10:1, 6; 16:13). The outward action marks a divine appointment, while the Holy Spirit provides the empowerment required to fulfil it.
Through Jesus Christ, God's purpose of establishing a royal priesthood enters its fulfilment under the New Covenant. Jesus is both our High Priest and King, and through His sacrifice we have been brought near to the Father. In 1 Peter 2:4--9, believers are described as living stones being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood and a royal priesthood. Revelation 1:5--6 likewise declares that Jesus has made us kings and priests to His God and Father. This calling is not reserved for a small group of specially appointed church leaders; every genuine follower of Jesus belongs to His royal priesthood. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost further demonstrates the extraordinary significance of this new reality. Believers are now the dwelling place of God's Spirit and are called to serve Him on behalf of the world. This does not mean that the Church has replaced Israel or that God's promises to the Jewish people have been cancelled. Romans 11:16--18 describes believers from the nations as branches grafted into the cultivated olive tree, sharing in its richness while being supported by its root. Physical anointing remains meaningful under the New Covenant, but its greater significance is found in the spiritual reality now available through Jesus Christ: God's people, filled with His Spirit, serving as His royal priesthood.
House of Anointing