A. This chapter gives the laws for the consecration of the priests into their office. In Leviticus 8 we have a description of the actual consecration of these men.
B. Someone may ask why the priests as types of Christ needed cleansing. We must remember that unlike our Saviour these men were sinners and needed cleansing (Hebrews 7:26-28). Israel was thus taught that the Levitical priesthood was not perfect in itself but pointed to a coming greater priest.

1. The Sacrifices Gathered - Verses 1-3

2. The Consecration Commenced - Verse 4
Aaron and his sons were taken out from among the people of Israel to act as priests. They were first brought to the door of the Tabernacle. As priests they were to stand between God and the people which was shown in their position between the Shekinah and the gate of the tabernacle. They were washed as those who serve God must be clean (Isaiah 52:11). In our day only those cleansed by the new birth can truly serve God (Titus 3:5).

3. Aaron Clothed - Verses 5-6
In the previous lesson we learned how these garments were used to typify the character and work of the Saviour.

4. Aaron Anointed - Verse 7
A. The titles "Christ" and "Messiah" both mean the "anointed one." Jesus is the Christ because He was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 61:1, Hebrews 1:8-9). To grasp the full significance of this we must go back to the typology of the Old Testament.
B. In Israel there were three important offices that prefigured the work of Christ. Israel had prophets, priests, and kings. In each case these people were anointed into office (I Chronicles 11:3, I Kings 19:16). They foreshadowed Christ Jesus as our prophet, priest, and king.
C. Aaron was therefore anointed into office so as to picture Christ our high priest. Psalm 133 is based on this. The oil was poured copiously on the high priest to prefigure the full anointing of our Lord (Hebrews 1:8-9). There was no limit to the power of the Spirit manifested in our Lord's work. The oil of course is a type of the Spirit. (Note that the recipe for the anointing oil is found in Exodus 30:23-30).

5. Aaron's Sons Clothed - Verses 8-9
The ordinary priests differed somewhat in uniform from the high priest who alone wore the breastplate, mitre…etc.

6. The Sin Offering - Verses 10-14
A. The sin offering revealed the need of the priests to be cleansed from sin and thus accepted by God. Their hands were placed on the head of the bullock to symbolically transfer the sins to the sacrifice. Christ is our sin offering (II Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:6-8). The hands placed on the sacrifice is often used to foreshadow our faith in the Lord Jesus.

                           My faith would lay her hand 
                           On that dear head of thine. 
                           While like a penitent I stand 
                           And there confess my sin. 
                           My soul looks back to see 
                           The burden thou didst bear. 
                           When hanging on the cursed tree 
                           And hopes her guilt was there.

B. The burning of the fat was a type of the Father accepting Christ's sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2). The burning of the skin and dung without the camp displays the shame Christ took upon Himself as He carried our sins (Hebrews 13:11-13).

7. The Burnt Offering - Verses 15-18
A. In the consecration of the priests three separate sacrifices were used. Perhaps the best explanation of this symbolism is given by Rabbi Levi ben Gerson as quoted by George Bush in his commentary on Exodus:

"It is proper to notice the order in which these sacrifices were offered. For first of all an atonement for sins was made by the sin-offering; of which nothing but the fat was offered to God (to whom be praise); because the offerers were not yet worthy of God's acceptance of a gift and present from them. But after they had been purified, to indicate their being devoted to the sacred office, they immolated to God (to whom be praise) a holocaust, which was entirely consumed upon the altar. And after the holocaust they offered a sacrifice resembling a peace-offering, of which part used to be given to God, part to the priests, and part to the offerers, and which was to indicate their being now received into favor with God, so as to use one common table with him."

8. The Ram Of Consecration - Verses 19-28
A. The second Ram reveals the priests as now accepted by God and consecrated unto Him. The blood placed on the priests revealed their total consecration to God (verse 20). Their hearing, work, and daily walk was for God. It is the blood of Christ that cleanses us and makes possible our dedication and service to God.
B. The oil and the blood was then sprinkled upon the priests and their garments. We are saved by the regeneration of the Spirit and the application of Christ's blood. It would seem that the beautified garments would have been stained by the blood. However, this may have been we know that while ordinary blood stains the blood of Christ cleanses (Revelation 7:14).
C. Part of the ram and the bread were placed in Aaron's hand for a wave offering. The priests were now accepted and could offer a peace-offering unto the Lord. Only through Christ are our spiritual sacrifices accepted.

9. Preparation For The Future - Verses 29-30
Aaron would one day die. At that time the special garments would pass on to those who replaced him (Numbers 20:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ needs no successors (Hebrews 7:24-25).

10. Seven Days Of Consecration - Verses 31-37
A. For seven days this consecration was to be repeated daily. Israel was to be impressed with the holy requirements of God. Even the altar had to be consecrated. Certainly a thoughtful Israelite must have seen in the repetition the need for a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:24-26). They must have seen that these oft-repeated offerings were only types of the real thing.
B. Notice now that the sacrifices became the food of the priests. Sacrifices and feasting went together. We are reminded of this in the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28). Christ died to become our spiritual food (John 6:33).

11. The Daily Sacrifice - Verses 38-42
Leaving the consecration of the priests we move on to their work. Every day without exception two lambs were to be offered as a burnt offering. Daily, Israel was to be reminded of their need of a Saviour. May this daily sacrifice remind us to never let a morning or an evening pass without taking time to confess our sins, pray and worship Christ our Saviour.

12. God Dwelling Among The People - Verses 43-46
The tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrifices constantly reminded Israel that God only dwells with His people because of Christ’s saving work.