Leviticus (Lesson Three: The Consecration of the Priests [Chapters 8-10])

Holiness to the Lord: A Survey of Leviticus

Lesson Three: The Consecration of the Priests (Chapters 8-10)

1. The Consecration of the Priests (Chapter 8 )

The consecration and investiture of the priests took place before all the congregation (8:3); so we as a Church must look to Christ in his priestly office for assurance of acceptance with God through him.

The ceremonial washing, signifying purification. When Jesus became our High Priest (at 30, cf. Num. 4:3), he was baptized. Just as Christ suffered negatively for us, he also positively fulfilled all righteousness for us, even submitting vicariously to the cleansing that we need. We too, as God’s nation of priests, must be washed by the Spirit [Tit. 3:5]).

Clothing with the priestly garments. If all the sacrifices were based on the principle of substitution, all the priestly garments were based on the principle of representation. Full description of these “holy clothes for glory and beauty” in Ex. 28. These garments are designed much like the tabernacle – the High Priest is of the same character as the Holy Place. So Jesus came from the “bosom of God” (Jn 1:18) to reveal him to us. Christ was clothed in the garments of salvation and righteousness (Is 61:10), and he clothes us with his own garments, just as Moses clothed his brothers, the priests (cf. Zech 3; Psalm 132:9; Isa. 61:3; Rev. 7:14).

Coat and sash – white linen, representing purity and righteousness
Robe – blue, woven of one piece (cf. Jn 19:23), with pomegranates and golden bells (the priestly work produces sweet fruits and pleasant gospel-news)
Ephod and band – all of one piece, with onyx stones on shoulders bearing the names of the tribes: gold (value and splendor), blue (color of heaven), scarlet (color of manhood [meaning of “Adam”] and blood), purple (color of royalty, the blending of blue and scarlet; so Jesus became King when he came from heaven to become man, when he brought together heavenly divinity [blue] and perfect manhood [red], when the God of heaven bled); fine-twined linen, worn around breast (cf. Rev. 1:13)
Breastpiece – with 12 gems in settings of gold, with the names of the 12 tribes; bearing Urim and Thummim (lights and perfections) which reveal God’s will (cf. Jn 1:4-5)
Turban and holy plate/golden crown – fine linen with golden plate fastened by blue cord, reading “Holiness to the Lord”

Anointing of tabernacle and furniture, then Aaron. According to tradition, priests were anointed on the forehead in the shape of the Greek letter “X” (“chi,” the first letter in “Christ”)[1]. “Christ” (as also “Messiah”) means “anointed one” (cf. Isa 61:1). Oil signified the Holy Spirit, and shows the kingship of Christ as well as his priesthood (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13). At his baptism, Christ was washed and anointed with the Holy Spirit to become our true High Priest. We also are anointed by the Holy Spirit (John 2:20).

Offerings. First, sin offering (bull), with Moses functioning as priest. This was wholly burnt outside the camp. Normally, the priests could eat of the sin offering, but not the offerer, but since the offerer was the priest himself in this case, it was burnt. Shows the insufficiency of Aaronic priests, who had to offer up sacrifices for their own sins. Second, burnt offering (ram). Third, “ram of ordination,” a special kind of peace offering. The breast was given to Moses as a wave offering, since he was officiating as priest.

Anointing with blood on right ear, thumb, great toe. Shows complete consecration. They were consecrated by blood, Christ was consecrated to give blood (cf. John 17:19).

Sprinkling with anointing oil and blood. Signifies the need for continual application of the blessings of the Spirit and the effects of Christ’s redemption.

Eating the holy flesh and bread of the sacrifices. They had to stay in a holy place for 7 days, as a time of probation. Compare Christ’s time in the wilderness after his baptism, Paul’s time in Arabia after his conversion, etc.

2. The First Offerings Accepted (Chapter 9)

Occurred on the eighth day – signified a new beginning, compare the resurrection of Christ.

For the priests there were sin and burnt offerings; for the people, sin, burnt, peace, and grain; all but guilt offerings were offered, because no specific transgression was in mind, but still both the priesthood and the people were sinful.

Aaron went in to the Holy Place, came out and blessed the people; then the fire of the Lord consumed the offering and the glory of the Lord appeared to the people. So when Jesus brought his own blood to the Holy Place (at his crucifixion, cf. Hebrews 9:11-12), he won for us an eternal blessing (Eph. 1:3) by drawing to himself God’s own fiery wrath, and thus displaying the glory of his grace (Rom 9:23; Eph. 2:7).

People shouted and fell on their faces (a response of awe and worship).

3. Nadab and Abihu’s “Strange Fire” Rejected (Chapter 10)

They offered unauthorized fire and were consumed by fire from God. So the fire of God’s wrath will either come upon his own substitute, which he has chosen, or upon us who are guilty; if we try to turn the fire of God’s wrath to any other offering of our own choosing, we will experience it upon ourselves instead. Hoping to appease God by works of penance, tears of repentance, etc., instead of trusting in Christ alone, will bring fiery condemnation (cf. Heb 12:25-29).

This judgment was so that God would be hallowed and glorified (10:3). God is glorified when those who submit to his own plan of redemption in Christ are pardoned and when those who trust in any other sacrifice are destroyed (cf. Rom 9:22-23).

No mourning for Nadab and Abihu was allowed for their father and brothers. They were anointed priests, in a holy place, doing a work that looked ahead to a time and place where there is no death or mourning (Rev. 21:4).

Prohibition of alcohol; this was not a time for celebration, but work. So Christ refused wine mingled with gall (Mat. 27:34), and so also he promised not to partake of the fruit of the vine until all was accomplished in his Father’s kingdom (Mat. 26:29). We too are in a time of vigilance and labor, awaiting the eternal, joyful Feast to which Christ will bring us (cf. Isa. 25).

The priests’ primary duty was to teach the difference between holy/common and between clean/unclean, and to teach the laws of God. So Christ taught us the perfect law of God in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and perfectly fulfilled the priestly function of teaching by sending his Spirit to instruct his people (e.g. John 16:12-14).

The disagreement between Moses and Aaron over Aaron’s refusing to eat. Moses was satisfied because of Aaron’s humble, reasonable response, which was much different from the carelessness of Nadab and Abihu. We must be sober, careful, and serious, yet we should not live in constant dread that we may inadvertently “mess up” and bring down God’s displeasure and wrath.

[1] Edersheim, Alfred. The Temple: Its Ministry and Services. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994, p. 67.

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