Despite the prophet’s warning, Jeroboam did not turn away from his evil ways; instead, he made more priests than ever from the common people, to offer sacrifices to idols in the shrines on the hills.  Anyone who wanted to could be a priest.  This was a great sin, and resulted in the destruction of Jeroboam’s kingdom and the death of all his family. 1 Kings

Your priests have violated My laws and defiled My temple and My holiness.  To them the things of God are no more important than any daily task.  They have not taught My people the difference between right and wrong, and they disregard My Sabbaths, so My Holy Name is greatly defiled among them.  Your leaders are like wolves, who tear apart their victims, and they destroy lives for profit.  Your prophets describe false visions and speak false messages they claim from God, when He hasn’t spoken one word to them at all. Ezekiel

Here is another message given to me from the Lord:
Son of dust, say to the Prince of Tyre: The Lord God says: “You are so proud you think you are God, sitting on the throne of a god on your island home in the midst of the seas.  But you are only a man, and not a god, though you boast yourself to be like God.” Ezekiel

Listen you priests, to this warning from the Lord Almighty: “If you don’t change your ways and give glory to My Name, then I will send terrible punishment upon you, and instead of giving you blessings as I would like to, I will turn on you with curses.  Indeed, I have cursed you already because you haven’t taken seriously the things that are most important to Me. Malachi

It is a true saying that if a man wants to be a pastor he has a good ambition.  For a pastor must be a good man whose life cannot be spoken against.  He must have only one wife, and he must be hard working and thoughtful, orderly, and full of good deeds.  He must not be a drinker or quarrelsome, but he must be gentle and kind, and not be one who loves money.  He must have a well-behaved family, with children who obey quickly and quietly.  For if a man can’t make his own little family behave, how can he help the whole church?
1 Timothy

Don’t listen to complaints against the pastor unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.  If he has really sinned, then he should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that no one else will follow his example.

Remember that some men, even pastors, lead sinful lives and everyone knows it.  In such situations you can do something about it.  But in other cases only the Judgment Day will reveal the terrible truth.  In the same way, everyone knows how much good some pastors do, but sometimes their good deeds aren’t known until long afterward. 1 Timothy

Another thing to remember is that no one can be a High Priest just because he wants to be.  He has to be called by God for this work in the same way God chose Aaron. Hebrews

Everything they do is for show.  They act holy by wearing on their arms little prayer boxes with scripture verses inside, and by lengthening the memorial fringes of their robes.  And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets, and in the reserved pews in the synagogue!  How they enjoy the deference paid them on the streets, and to be called “Rabbi“ and “Master!” Don’t ever let anyone call you that, for only God is your Rabbi and all of you are on the same level, as brothers.  And don’t address anyone here on earth as “Father,” for only God in heaven should be addressed like that.  And don’t be called “Master.” For only one is your Master, the Messiah.  The greatest among you must be a servant.  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew

However, even many of the Jewish leaders believed Him to be the Messiah but wouldn’t admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would excommunicate them from the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John

But you say, “Even if your parents are in need, you may give their support money to the church instead!  And so, by your man-made rule, you nullify the direct command of God to honor and care for your parents.  You hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, “These people say they honor Me, but their hearts are far away.  Their worship is worthless, for they teach their man-made laws instead of those from God.” Matthew

Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by My Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them.  They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.” Matthew

Don’t point your finger at someone else, and try to pass the blame to him!  Look, Priest, I am pointing My finger at you.  As a sentence for your crimes, you priests will stumble in broad daylight as well as in the night, and so will your false “prophets“ too; and I will destroy your mother, Israel.  My people are destroyed because they don’t know Me, and it is all your fault, you priests for you yourselves refuse to know Me; therefore I refuse to recognize you as My priests.

The priests rejoice in the sins of the people; they lap it up and lick their lips for more!  And thus it is: “Like priests, like people“ - because the priests are wicked, the people are too.  Therefore, I will punish both priests and people for all their wicked deeds. They will eat and still be hungry.  Though they do a big business as prostitutes, they shall have no children, for they have deserted Me and turned to other gods.

Wine, women and song have robbed My people of their brains.  For they are asking a piece of wood to tell them what to do.  “Divine truth“ comes to them through tealeaves!  Longing after idols has made them foolish.  For they have played the harlot, serving other gods, deserting Me.  They sacrifice to idols on the tops of mountains; they go up into hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks and poplars and sumac trees.

There your daughters turn to prostitution and your brides commit adultery.  But why should I punish them?  For you men are doing the same thing, sinning with harlots and temple prostitutes.  Fools!  Your doom is sealed, for you refuse to understand. Hosea