This title is often used to refer to the angelic messenger sent from heaven to convey God’s message, and on a few occasions it refers to the prophets (as with the prophet Malachi). From this we learn that like the angelic messengers sent from heaven, and like the Lord’s prophets, the priests were God’s spokesmen who had to faithfully convey God’s Word to his people. Like the prophets, the priests were to be a wholesome influence in the lives of God’s people. To use the words of the author of Hebrews, the priests were to watch over the souls of God’s people, and would be held accountable to God (Hebrews 13:17).
7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.