Leviticus 8:1 - Meaning and Application

God had already given Moses instructions to consecrate Aaron and his sons to the priestly office when he was with him on Mount Sinai (Exodus 28; Exodus 29:1). He had also given detailed directions for how the ceremony was to be done. Now this chapter shows those orders being carried out.

First, the same instructions are repeated. What God had commanded before is now commanded again, because the time had come to do it (Leviticus 8:2-3). The tabernacle had just been set up, and without priests it would be like a lampstand with no light. The law about sacrifices had also just been given, but it could not be followed without priests. Aaron and his sons had already been chosen for the office, but they could not begin serving until they were consecrated, meaning formally set apart for holy use. Even then, they had to wait until the place of service was ready and the worship rules were in place, so they could go right to work as soon as they were ordained and know they were appointed not only to honor and benefit, but also to actual labor in the priesthood. Aaron and his sons were close relatives of Moses, so he would not consecrate them without further orders, lest he seem too eager to bring honor into his own family.

Second, the congregation was called together at the door, meaning the court of the tabernacle, where the sacred meeting took place (Leviticus 8:4). The elders and leading men of the people were summoned, since the court could not hold all the Israelites. This was done in public for two reasons. It was a solemn agreement between God and Israel, and it was fitting that both sides should be present to acknowledge the appointment at the tabernacle of meeting. It also made the people respect the priests and their office, which was important among a people so likely to envy and complain. It is hard to imagine that anyone who saw this ceremony could later say, as some did, “You have gone too far, you sons of Levi,” but if it had been done in secret, their complaint might have been even worse. It is good and useful for ministers to be ordained publicly, in front of the people, as the early church did.

Third, Moses read out the commission, showing the people his authority for what he was doing (Leviticus 8:5). He said, “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.” Even though God had honored him greatly, Moses did not set up anything in worship except what God had commanded. The priesthood he handed over to them was the one he had received from the Lord. The lesson is clear: all who serve in holy things must look to God’s command as their rule and their warrant. Only by doing what God has said can they expect his approval. In the same way, we should be able to say in every act of worship, “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.”

Fourth, the ceremony was carried out exactly as God had directed. Aaron and his sons were washed with water (Leviticus 8:6), showing that they were to cleanse themselves from sinful desires and keep themselves pure afterward. Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood whom he makes kings and priests to God (Revelation 1:5-6), and those who draw near to God must be washed with clean water, that is, with a pure heart and conscience (Hebrews 10:22). Even if no outward dirt was on them, they still had to be washed, because their souls were polluted by sin, however clean their bodies looked.

They were also dressed in the holy garments, Aaron in his own garments (Leviticus 8:7-9), which pictured the dignity of Christ, our great high priest, and his sons in theirs (Leviticus 8:13), which pictured the proper and fitting life of Christians, who are spiritual priests. Christ wears the breastpiece of judgment and the holy crown, because the church’s high priest is also her prophet and king. All believers are clothed with the robe of righteousness and bound with the girdle of truth, steady purpose, and close obedience. Their heads are also covered, as the text says, with the cap or crown of beauty, meaning the beauty of holiness.

The high priest was then anointed, and it seems the holy things were anointed at the same time. Some think they had been anointed earlier, and that they are mentioned here only because Aaron was anointed with the same oil. But the way the account is told makes it more likely that it happened together, and that the seven days used to consecrate the altar matched the seven days of the priests’ consecration. Moses put some of the anointing oil on the tabernacle and all its utensils with his finger (Leviticus 8:10), and he did the same to the altar (Leviticus 8:11). These things were meant to set apart the gifts and the service connected with them, and so they had to be consecrated too (Matthew 23:17-19). But he poured the oil much more generously on Aaron’s head (Leviticus 8:12), so it ran down even to the edge of his garments. This pointed to Christ, who was anointed with the Spirit without limit. Yet all believers have also received an anointing, which leaves a lasting mark on them (1 John 2:27).