The Priesthood of ALL Believers-Exodus 28-29

Exodus, Old Testament, Sermons

  • Recording, Sunday Worship Service on 5/15/2022.
  • “God’s temple [the tabernacle] is the climax of redemption; he brought them out of Egypt for this very purpose that he might dwell among them (Exo 25:8; 29:45-46). Don’t weary over all those tedious details to do with the tabernacle; they are describing to you the climax of God‘s redemptive covenant program for his people.” Alec Motyer, OT scholar/theologian.
  • Do we Christians think that only a few Christians are called to be priests? Does God not want ALL of his people to live as holy priests both in the OT and the NT (Exo 19:6; 22:31; 1 Pet 2:9). How can Christians serve God as priests (Heb 9:11-14)?

Christians can serve God as priests only because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Heb 9:11-14). The priestly garments.

Why Jesus alone is our adequate high priest. “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Heb 7:23-27).

  • In Exodus 28, the High Priest represents the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 2:17; 3:1; 4:14–15; 5:5, 10; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1; 9:11, 25). In Christ there is purity and truth. Paul says that we are to be “unleavened” — be pure and true — because Jesus’ Passover was killed for us (1st Cor 5:7–8). The uniform and the actions and the authority of the High Priest are typical of the Lord.

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17). “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest” (Heb 3:1). “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb 4:14-16). “Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being” (Heb 8:1-2).

Serve God as priests. “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests” (Exo 28:1). “After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (Exo 28:41). “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests” (Exo 29:44). “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (Exo 30:30). A hereditary institution (Exo 28:1). By making the priesthood a hereditary institution, no one can buy or force his way into the priesthood, reducing [but unfortunately not eliminating] the chances for corruption entering the religious leadership. Holy men with a holy calling served the tabernacle as priests before God. Since the courtyard is holy ground, those serving there must also be holy (28:1-43). So the priests were provided sacred garments (Exo 28:5) to highlight their dignity and honor, and to associate them with the tabernacle which was made of similar materials. Theirs was the high privilege of entering the Holy Place where God was. Aaron the high priest was distinguished uniquely (Exo 28:4), as were his sons (Exo 28:40). What did the priests do?

  1. Made the holy bread of the Presence and put it on the table in the Holy Place (Exo 25:30).
  2. Offered sacrifices on the bronze altar in the courtyard (Exo 27:1-8).
  3. Took care of the sacred objects used to pour drink offerings, sprinkle sacrificial blood, and tend the tire on the altar.
  4. Took down, carried, and set up the tabernacle whenever God and his people were on the move.
  5. Kept the lights burning on the golden lampstand (Exo 25:31-40; 27:20-21). Its purpose was to light the tabernacle, dispelling the darkness. It was also a symbol of light and life–made in the shape of a tree, the tree of life. As a lampstand it was also a tree of light, symbolizing God’s life-giving light-spreading power.

The priests are also sinners, no matter how magnificent his clothes were. No matter how holy, glorious or beautiful they were, they could not hide the sin in his heart. The clothes do not make the man. “After you put these clothes on [dress] your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain [fill their hands] them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (Exo 28:41). “Fill their hands” does not refer to ordination but to supplying their needs (Exo 29:22-28).

Priest’s Clothing (28:1-43)

  • Introductory summary (1-5). Garments for the High Priest.
  • The Ephod (6–14).
  • The Breastplate (15-30). The Urim and Thummin.
  • The High Priest’s Robe (31-35), an Undercoat.
  • The Turban Forehead Plate/Hat (36-38).
  • The High Priest’s Tunic, Turban and Sash (39). Basic Materials to be Used.
  • Garments for the other priests (40-43). Clothing for Aaron and his Descendants

Ordination/Consecration of the Priests (29:1-46)

  • Overview of the Ordination/Consecration of Priests (1-9).
  • The Bull as a Sin Offering (10-14).
  • The First Ram, as a Whole Burnt Offering (15-18).
  • The Blood used for the Second (Ordination) Ram (19-21).
  • Offering the Rest of the Second (Ordination) Ram (22-26).
  • Offering Portions and Garments made Permanent Features of Israel’s Sacrificial System (27-30).
  • Respectfully Cooking and Eating the Ordination Ram (31-34).
  • Summation of the Ordination/Consecration of Priests (35).
  • Consecrating the Altar (36-37).
  • Required Daily General Offerings (28042a).
  • Reminder and Promise of the Presence of God among the People (42b-46).

Reference:

  1. Douglas K. Stuart. Exodus. The New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. 2006.
  2. Philip Graham Ryken. Exodus. Saved for God’s Glory. Preaching the Word. 2015.
  3. Leon R. Kass. Founding God’s Nation. Reading Exodus. 2021.
  4. James K. Bruckner. Exodus. New International Bible Commentary. 2008.
  5. John Goldingay. Exodus & Leviticus for Everyone. 2010.
  6. Robert Alter. The Hebrew Bible. A translation with commentary. The Five Books of Moses. 2019.
  7. Dennis Prager. Exodus. God, Slavery, and Freedom. The Rational Bible. 2018.

Exodus 28 summary: Serve God as priests (Exo 28:1, 41; 29:44; 30:30).

  • Contents: Directions about the priesthood.
  • Characters: God, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Eleazar, Ithmar.
  • Conclusion: The believer need never fear that God has forgotten him for the Great High Priest bears the names of His own on His breast before God, presenting them as “those accepted in the beloved.”
  • Key Word: Ministry, Exo 28:1.
  • Strong Verses: Exo 28:29, Exo 28:41.
  • Striking Fact: Every true believer, through identification with Christ, is an earthly priest of God’s family (Rev 1:8) properly clothed for the work, (Rev 19:7, Rev 19:8), and should be duly consecrated and sanctified for his work of testimony.

Exodus 28 was about the attire of the High Priest.

Exodus 29 shows

  • how they were ordained and consecrated for office,
  • what happened during the course of the 7 days,
  • the 3 different kinds of animals brought to the Tabernacle to be offered for the ordination that were donated by the people, not by Aharon and his family,
  • the 3 different kinds of unleavened bread and cakes–representing purity and truth–they are to bring.

The entire purpose of ordaining Aaron in this laborious process is shown at the end of chapter 29. Moses did all this so God could dwell with His people in the Tabernacle and for Aaron and his sons to perform all the duties of the Tabernacle.

exodus-29-consecration-of-the-high-priest-reveals-messiah.

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