Numbers 18:8 - Meaning and Application

The priest’s service is called warfare, and who goes to war at his own expense? Since the priests were given such holy work, God also provided for them well. No one serves God for nothing. All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to care for them. They will live in the land, truly be fed, and lack no good thing. Godliness has a promise for this life as well.

From this rich provision for the priests, the apostle argues that Christian churches must support their ministers. Those who served at the altar lived from the altar. In the same way, those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel, and live in a way that is fitting and comfortable (1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Corinthians 9:14). Poor support makes poor ministers.

Notice first that much of what the priests received came from the sacrifices they themselves offered. They received the skins of almost all the sacrifices, which they could sell, and they also received a large share of the grain offerings, sin offerings, and others. Those who cared for the offerings also benefited from them (Numbers 18:8). God’s work pays its own way, and his service brings its own reward. Even keeping God’s commandments brings great reward. The present joy of religion is part of its payment.

Notice also that they did not only have food on the table, but money in their pockets from the payment for the firstborn and from the firstborn animals that could not be sacrificed. Their support left them free from the concerns of ordinary life. They had no fields to manage, no land to plow, no vineyards to tend, no cattle to watch over, and no property to guard. Yet their income was greater than that of any other family. God ordered it this way so they could devote themselves fully to their ministry, without being pulled away by worldly cares or business. The ministry needs a whole person.

This also made them examples of living by faith, not only in God’s care, but in his command. They lived from day to day so they would learn not to worry about tomorrow. Daily bread was enough for them. They also had no inheritance to leave their children, so they had to commit their children by faith to the same God who had fed them all their lives.

Some of the food set apart for their tables was called most holy (Numbers 18:9, Numbers 18:10). Only the priests themselves could eat it, and only in the court of the tabernacle. Other portions were less holy, and their families could eat them at home, as long as they were clean (Numbers 18:11-13; see Leviticus 21:10, and following). The best of the oil, wine, and wheat was also to be offered as firstfruits to the Lord, and the priests were to receive it (Numbers 18:12). We should always honor God with the best we have, because he is the best and most deserving. He is first, so he must have the first ripe produce. Those who try to save money by giving God scraps only fool themselves, because God cannot be mocked.

All of this was given to the priests because of the anointing they had received (Numbers 18:8). They did not receive these gifts because they were personally better than the other Israelites. They received them because of the office to which they had been anointed. In the same way, all the comforts given to the Lord’s people come because of the anointing they have received. This was given to them by an ordinance forever (Numbers 18:8), and it was a covenant of salt forever (Numbers 18:19). As long as the priesthood continued, this support was to continue, so that the lamp would not go out for lack of oil. In the same way, provision is made for the gospel ministry to continue until Christ comes, by an ordinance forever. “I am with you always, even to the end of the world” is their support and strength. Thanks be to the Redeemer, this is the word he has commanded to a thousand generations.