Leviticus 8:1-9:24

Introduction

The priesthood is a concept that can be difficult for us to grasp. Many times, contemporary (erroneous) religions cloud our understanding of the priesthood and sometimes we are tempted to replace the role of a priest with the role of a pastor.

I remember taking a friend shopping at a mall when we were in college. He was from Florida and our college was in northern Indiana. When winter hit, he was not prepared for the weather! So, we headed to the nearest shopping mall and he began buying necessary winter clothes. The girl working the counter, seeing the amazing pile of commission coming near her, was understandably unusually chatty. She asked why he was buying so much clothes and what we were studying in college. When I explained to her that I wanted to go into the ministry, her reply was quick: "Wow, I could never do that. I want to get married some day."

Well, I had all hopes that I was going to marry and have kids some day as well! But this girl had mistaken a pastor with a priest and then applied contemporary cultic understandings of the priesthood to the Biblical description. (Clearly, Old Testament priests had to marry, for the priesthood was passed along through ancestry. If the priests ceased to marry and have children, there would cease to be a priesthood! She assumed celibacy from the Roman Catholic heresy.)

This girl was confused as to my calling because she misunderstood the concept of a pastor and the priesthood. In the direct sense to my life, her confusion was not that tragic. However, the real tragedy is that she probably misunderstood the general purpose of the priesthood as recorded in Scripture. And by misunderstanding the priesthood, she probably misunderstood the grace of God extended to her in the mediatorial work of Christ for sinful men.

Sadly, few are probably available to explain to her the role of the priesthood, for few Christians understand its purpose either.

Commentary

8:1-5
The work of the ordination/preparation for the priesthood is spoken by God to Moses, then from Moses to the people. God commands Moses to gather Aaron and his sons, the articles for sacrifice and all of the congregation to the door of the Tent of Meeting. Moses obeys the Lord and gathers everyone together for the process of ordination.

8:6-9
Moses then prepares Aaron and his sons for their priestly attire. Moses washes Aaron and his sons, as well as dressing Aaron in his priestly garments. Aaron's "uniform" would be a large white robe which would nearly go the the ground. Next, he would have a blue sleeveless robe placed over him. This would be nearly as long (if not as long) as the white robe. Finally, the ephod would be placed upon him. This would be a type of apron, two-sided, which would cover his torso. Upon the ephod, two stones would be mounted at the shoulders. Each stone would have six of the tribes of Israel etched upon it. From the ephod, the breastpiece would also be hung. The breastpiece would have 12 stones upon it, one for each tribe. It would be shaped similar to a pocket, which would allow the Urim and Thummim to be kept within.

Upon Aaron's head, Moses placed the turban. This would be a white cloth with a golden crown on the front. This plate would read, "Holy unto the Lord" in Hebrew.

The ESV Study Bible has best resources and illustrations I've seen in helping a person understand the priestly garments. Each of these garments should help us understand that the priest have been commissioned and set apart as a mediator for the people. His job is to represent the entire nation before God.

8:10-12
Moses then anoints the tabernacle, the instruments and Aaron for priestly service.

8:13
Moses then dresses Aaron's sons in priestly garments.

8:14-17
Moses then offers the bull of the sin offering before the Lord. As a bull, it is an offering both for the priesthood and on behalf of the entire nation. For this purpose, Aaron and his sons are expected to place their hands upon the head of the bull. However, Moses slaughters the bull. This symbolizes the transfer of sin and guilt as onto a substitute sacrifice. Moses uses blood from this sacrifice to consecrate the altar and even make atonement for the altar. As according to the commands of the Lord, the fat, kidneys and lobe of the liver are offered on the altar, while the remainder of the bull is taken outside the camp to be completely burned up.

8:18-18-21
Moses next offers the burnt offering. In the same way, Aaron and his sons must lay their hands upon the head of the ram. Moses slaughters the ram and sprinkles the blood upon the altar and the entire ram is consumed on the fire as an offering to the Lord.

8:22-28
Next, Moses offers the ram for the ordination offering. Instead of placing the blood upon the altar, however, Moses places blood upon Aaron and his sons. He places some blood from the animal on their right ear lobe, right thumb and right large toe. This appears to be an ancient way to signify the entire person was devoted unto the Lord. He next places the fat upon the altar and even presents some of the bread offering upon the altar with it. Aaron and his sons receive this sacrifice in their hands as a wave offering before Moses places them on the smoke of the altar.

8:29
As the Lord has commanded previously, Moses is to receive the breast as his portion for being the one to offer the sacrifice. This not only symbolizes the Lord's provision, but also shows the Lord's pleasure in Moses' obedient service.

8:30
Now Moses takes a mixture of the anointing oil and the blood from the sacrifices and sprinkles Aaron and his sons, as well as their clothing. The text says this was done as an act of consecration.

8:31-35
Moses then commands Aaron and his sons to obey the practice of the ordination offering. They are to boil the flesh at the doorway and eat the provisions, including the breads. Anything that is left over is to be burned up in the fire. Aaron and his sons were to remain in the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days. This would mean that they are to remain in the tabernacle, but also visible to the entire congregation for the next seven days.

8:36
Aaron and his sons obediently observed these commands.

9:1-6
Once the seven days have been complete, and Aaron is completely consecrated as the High Priest, Moses calls for him to offer his first sacrifices, for himself and for the people. Moses instructs Aaron to offer a bull for personal sin offering and ram as a personal burnt offering. Next, he is to offer a sin offering for the people, a burnt offering for the people, a peace offering for the people, and a grain offering for the people. Moses explains that today the Lord will appear before Aaron. The glory of the Lord will appear, and the congregation is gathered at the doorway of the tent to observe it.

9:7
The only way that Aaron will be able to offer a sacrifice for the atonement of the people is if he first offers a sacrifice for atonement of sin for himself.

9:8-11
Aaron offers the sin offering for himself. While Aaron slaughters the calf and presents the blood before the Lord, his sons to assist him in the presentation of the offering. Aaron offers up the fat portions on the smoke of the altar and takes the flesh and the skin outside of the camp to be burned.

9:12-14
Aaron then, with his sons assisting, offers up the burnt offering to the Lord.

9:15-20
Upon making sacrifice for himself, Aaron, with his sons, now presents the offerings for the people. Aaron offers the goat as a sin offering, the burnt offerings, the grain offering and the peace offerings. Aaron did all these things according to the instruction of the Lord.

9:21
As according to the ordinance of the Lord, the breast and the right thigh were presented before the Lord as a wave offering, but were kept by Aaron (see 8:29 for purpose).

9:22-23
Aaron turns to the congregation who would be in the doorway of the tent and blesses them. Next Aaron and Moses entered into the tent together. When they came out, the blessed the people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.

9:24
Fire consumes the the sacrifices that are upon the altar. That the fire came from the presence of the Lord suggests that it proceeded out of the Holy of Holies and immediately consumed all of the flesh. When the people see this divine act they immediately fall to the ground and shout to the Lord.

Exposition

The role of the priest was to be a mediatorial role. He was to go before the Lord on behalf of the people, representing them. His role was not simply to teach, or not simply be the one who understood how sacrifices were to be offered. He was commissioned by the Lord as one capable of making the sacrifice on behalf of the person. (Notice the judgement of the Lord when some try to deny his mediatorial purposes: Numbers 16 & 17).

The mediator is a gracious gift from God to allow Himself to be accessible to men. However, this role as mediator is not one which can whimsically or easily be accomplished. Before Aaron could ever offer sacrifices on behalf of the people, he first had to offer sacrifices for himself. However, before he could even offer sacrifices for himself, the following must happen:

--Aaron must be washed with water. (8:6)
--Aaron must be clothed in priestly garments. (8:7-9)
--Aaron must be anointed with oil. (8:12)
--A bull for a sin offering must be made to consecrate the altar. (8:15)
--A ram must be offered for a burnt offering. (8:19)
--A ram of ordination must be offered and Aaron must be consecrated with the blood upon his right ear lobe, right thumb and right big toe. (8:23)
--Aaron must be anointed with oil and blood. (8:30)
--Aaron and his sons must enjoy the provisions of the ordination offering and remain in the tent of meeting for seven days. (8:35)

At this point, Aaron is now able to assume his role as a mediator for the people. But notice carefully, Aaron had to have a mediator on his behalf. He was not qualified to ordain himself:

--Moses receives the commands from God. (8:1)
--Moses gathers the people, the priests and the materials. (8:4)
--Moses washes Aaron and his sons. (8:6)
--Moses clothes Aaron and his sons. (8:7-13)
--Moses anoints the tabernacle, the instruments, the altar and Aaron (8:10-12)
--Moses offers the bull for the sin offering. (8:14)
--Moses offers the ram for the burnt offering. (8:18)
--Moses presents the ram for ordination and applies the blood to Aaron's ear, thumb and toe. (8:23)
--Moses anoints Aaron, his sons and their clothing with the blood and oil. (8:30).
--Moses is the one who initiates and calls Aaron to begin offering the sacrifices. (9:1)

Moses is central and absolutely necessary to ordain Aaron into the role of a mediator. In fact, Moses was necessary to serve as a mediator for Aaron, so that Aaron could serve as a mediator for the people. Though these two chapters clearly spell this out for us, we can see this was the will of God from three particular verses:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying--Leviticus 8:1

God did not turn to Aaron for the instructions of the priesthood. Though these commands have come to Moses, which he is to share with the people, God does not alter this pattern. He gives these commands to Moses who is responsible to share them with Aaron and the people.

Moses also took the breast and presented it for a wave offering before the LORD; it was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.--Leviticus 8:29

An approved mediator (priest) would receive the breast as his provision for making the offering. When Moses receives this portion for himself, this reminds us it is the ordinance of the LORD and He is pleased with Moses' role.

Thus Aaron and his sons did all the things which the LORD had commanded through Moses--Leviticus 8:36 [emphasis added]

This is a perfect display of the meditorial work. Though Aaron receives the commands from Moses, he (and his sons) are to understand the commands originate from the Lord. Moses becomes the vessel by which the Lord delivers His commands.

The people were not capable to offer sacrifices for themselves. They must have a mediator. Aaron and his sons serve in this role of mediator. However, Aaron was not capable of establishing himself as the mediator. One (Moses) had to go before the LORD on Aaron's behalf. The mediator needed a mediator! This should lead us to a great question:

But who is Moses' mediator?

For a mere man to serve in a mediatorial capacity between God and man, he had to be established into that position by someone other than himself. Aaron may appear properly ordained because he was ordained by another, but Moses was also a sinful man. How was he able to serve as a mediator? Who was the mediator for him?

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.--1 Timothy 2:5-6

Aaron never truly was the mediator for Israel. Moses never served as the mediator for Aaron and Israel. These men (and the entire priesthood) merely served as a representation of the True Mediator. Paul tells Timothy there is only One Mediator. He does not state that Jesus is one among many, nor does he state that Jesus is the permanent mediator and the others simply served in a temporary capacity. Moses is not qualified to go before God as the mediator between God and man, but is merely a picture for us of the work of Christ on our behalf. Though Moses, Aaron and other priests would offer animal sacrifices on behalf of the people, Paul reminds Timothy that Jesus Christ is both our Priest and our Sacrifice. He offers Himself on our behalf! This was always God's intent, that the priesthood would point to our Ultimate High Priest!

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer {sacrifices} for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but {receives it} when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"; just as He says also in another {passage,} "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.--Hebrews 5:1-10

Conclusion

As a product of the fall, we are all tempted to make a god in our own image and liking. Therefore, it is easy for us to become casual and complacent when it comes to being in God's presence. We can be tempted to think that He will accept us just the way we are, or that God is so loving any man can quickly come into His presence. However, Scripture is very clear to us that it was not possible to approach God without a Mediator on our behalf. The Scriptures lay out that the Mediator is Christ.

This becomes the proper understanding of John 14:6, He is not a way but is the Way. We should not be casual and flippant before the Lord for it took the shed blood of Jesus Christ to even permit us to be in His presence.

But this also means we should enter the presence of God with confidence, for our satisfaction before God is not our own, but is based upon the work of Christ on our behalf.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.--Hebrews 4:14-16

Confidence? Does this not seem contrary to the attitude of the people before the LORD? After all, did they not fall to the their faces and shout when fire came out of the Holy of Holies? These people were virtually scared to death, right?

Look closely at the word shouted. This is not typically a word associated with fear or dread, but instead is usually accompanied with joy. (In the Psalms, this word is almost always translated "sing joyfully!"). The congregation was not on the ground screaming out in terror and dread. They are on their face in reverence to the LORD, but singing out joyfully to Him, for He has made mediation possible!

For the believer, we should come before the LORD with the same attitude. We should worship Him with reverence, for we are not even capable of being in His presence without a Mediator. But we should also sing joyfully, for He has provided the mediation in the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ! He has become both the Sacrifice for our sins and Mediator on our behalf before God!