"Consecrated Priests"

Leviticus 8

Leviticus is all about two things:

1) the sacrifices, and

2) holiness.

Or, you might say that Leviticus is all about justification and sanctification.

We have heard of the various sacrifices that God commanded.

Now we hear of the way in which the priest was ordained.

The sacrifices were important to God-and so was the mediator who offered them.

Unlike the nations around them, Israel's priesthood was to be hereditary.

Given that the promises of God revolved around the promised Seed,

the Son who would come and deliver his people,

it is perhaps not surprising that the priesthood would pass from father to son.

In Leviticus 8 we hear about the initial consecration of the priests.

In Exodus 28-29 we hear how God commanded the priest's garments to be made,

and the ritual that was to be followed in the consecration of the priests.

Leviticus 8 tells us that Moses obeyed God.

Just as Exodus 40 demonstrates that Moses did in fact build the tabernacle

according to God's design,

so Leviticus 8 demonstrates that Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons

according to God's command.

First, Moses gathers the whole assembly at the tent of meeting.

The congregation of Israel will witness the consecration of those who will represent them

in the offering of sacrifices-in dealing with sin.

There are two parts to the consecration:

1) preparing the priests

2) offering the sacrifices

The first part of the service consists of preparing the priests.

First they must be washed (8:6).

This is rather self-explanatory.

The priests must be cleansed.

Throughout their priestly ministry they will have to wash their hands and feet

whenever the enter the sanctuary (Ex 30:19-21).

Here, however, they must be washed entirely.

Only at the ordination of the priest,

and for the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:4)

was this complete cleansing required.

Second, the priest was clothed (8:7-9)-here it describes Aaron's clothes:

His undergarment was a tunic (extended to the knees), tied with a sash.

Above that he wore a tricolor robe (woven in one piece)

adorned with pomegranates and gold bells (Ex. 28).

Then came the ephod (a shoulder garment which covered breast and back to the waist)

And finally the breastpiece (held in place by two shoulder pieces-like collars)

-containing twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

And on his head, the high priest wore a turban,

which contained a plate reading, "Holiness to the LORD."

The priestly garments reflected the glory of the Lord.

A holy priest must be clean-he must also be dressed in holy garments.

Third, the priest was anointed.

The oil of anointing is described in Exodus 30:22-25.

It was to consist of olive oil mixed with myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia.

This holy anointing oil was to be sprinkled on the tabernacle,

on the altar, and on the high priest.

The tabernacle was holy, because it was the dwelling place of God.

The altar was holy, because it was the place where the holy sacrifices were offered.

And the high priest was holy,

because he was the mediator between God and his people.

Anointing (8:10-13)

olive oil with spices

"He was singled out as having been chosen by the Lord."

It appears that only the high priest was anointed with oil.

the special oil of anointing was reserved for the high priest.

The New Testament connects this with baptism.

The baptism of Jesus

Hebrews 10:22,

in the context of teaching that the new covenant brings a new priesthood,

calls us to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience

and our bodies washed with pure water."

We are consecrated as priests in Jesus Christ,

and just as the OT priests entered their service through water and blood,

so also the NT priesthood (all of us) enter our service

through water and blood as well

-the water of baptism and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Sin Offering (8:14-17)

the priests must be purified before they can offer sacrifices for others

like the priests, the altar must bear the sign of the blood of the covenant to be fit for the work of atonement

Burnt Offering (8:18-21)

Ordination Offering (8:22-29)

blood placed on right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe

(Hearing, doing, and walking)

Anointing (8:30)

oil and blood sprinkled on Aaron and his sons

the culmination of the rite-blood and oil together

the Covenant Meal (8:31-32)

of the ordination offering-more holy than the ordinary fellowship/peace offering

the ordination week (8:33-36)

priests could only begin their labors on the eighth day.