2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
April 11, 2018
Exodus 29:1-14
Exodus 29. The consecration of the priests was so significant in Israel's history that an entire chapter is devoted to this dedication ceremony, which included a series of sacrifices: first, a “bull” for a “sin offering,” then two rams, one of them for a “burnt offering,” a “wave offering,” and a “heave-offering.” By placing their “hands” on the animal's “head,” the priests symbolically acknowledged their own sin and need of cleansing (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22).
Verse 1. The ones chosen to begin the priesthood could not enter into office without Moses’ conducting a solemn, 7-day investiture (verses 4:35 and Lev. 8:1-36), involving washing, dressing, anointing, sacrificing, daubing and sprinkling with blood and eating. We see that God not only set Aaron and his sons aside to minister in the temple, but they were to be consecrated to the Lord by ceremony. This calling by Almighty God was to be consecrated by the shedding of blood. Moses was to consecrate Aaron and his sons. The garments were part of this consecration. These linen garments that they were to take on, were symbolic of righteousness. The most important thing a priest had to be was to be in right standing with God.
Verse 2. To signify both themselves and their services must be sincere, and free from all hypocrisy and wickedness. “Cakes unleavened tempered with oil”: Denoting that all their oblations and services must be under the influence of divine grace. “Wheat flour”: The best part of the principal grain, to show that God must be served with the best. “Unleavened bread” is symbolic of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Unleavened” means free from sin. “Oil” is symbolic of the Holy Spirit of God. We might say that not only does a minister of God need Jesus in his life, but he needs the Holy Spirit as well. This is not a maybe, but a must. The “wheat” is symbolic of the believers in Jesus Christ. You know the Scripture says let the wheat (Christians), and the tares (unsaved), grow together until the end. This unleavened bread is Jesus’ sinless body. The adding of the oil to the bread shows the Holy Spirit strengthening. Jesus’ body is the bread.
Verse 3. The unleavened bread, cakes and wafers; this basket may be an symbolic of the Gospel and the administration of it, in which Christ the bread of life is carried, and ministered to his people. “And bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams”: Not that the bullock and the rams were to be brought in the basket along with the bread, cakes, and wafers; but while they were brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. These were to be brought, led, or drove to the altar, to be slain and sacrificed. A sin offering which was not associated with a burnt offering had never been done before this consecration. This was a specific offering (a blood offering). This bullock would bear the sins of Aaron and his sons. This is like Jesus bearing the sins of the Christians. When the sin was symbolically laid upon the head of the bullock, then Moses slew the bullock. This bullock was killed by Moses (a shadow of God, in this instance). Jesus bore our sins and died on the cross to do away with the sin He had taken on Himself. The Scriptures even say, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him...” (Isaiah 53:10). We see here, Moses shedding this blood of the bullock for the sins of Aaron and his sons. For a minister of God to be acceptable to God, he must first get forgiveness for his own sins.
Verse 4. The place of the laver/washing, not yet mentioned, but designed in God's counsels, was between the brazen altar and the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:18), and consequently near the door of the latter. Rabbinical tradition says that it was not placed exactly opposite the door, but a little towards the south side of the court. “Wash them with water.” It signified the necessity and importance of moral purity or holiness (lsa 52:11; John 13:10; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 3:21). In like manner, the investiture with the holy garments signified their being clothed with righteousness (Rev. 19:8), and equipped as men active and well-prepared for the service of God. The anointing of the high priest with oil denoted that he was to be filled with the influences of the Spirit, for the edification and delight of the church (Lev. 10:7; Psalm 45:7; Isa. 61:1; 1 John 2:27), and as he was officially a type of Christ (Heb. 7:26; John 3:34; also Matt. 3:16; 11:29). The next step, after repenting and being forgiven, is to be baptized. We see here, Moses washed them and made them ready for the new garments. Aaron and his sons had to put on the righteousness of Christ (linen garments).
Verse 5. It is only after a washing that the priest could put on the garments. The process is repentance, baptism, separation, put on the righteousness of Christ and then put upon the minister the responsibilities of the congregation (with the garment and ephod, breastplate and girdle).
Verse 6. The holy crown/emblem was a plate of gold which had these words, “holiness to the Lord,” engraved on it; and so says the Targum of Jonathan, "on which the holy name was engraved.” The turban and crown was upon the top of his head, this in the forefront of that; it was upon Aaron‘s forehead, and reached from ear to ear, and was fastened behind with a blue lace. This was like a crown or a diadem, and denotes the honor and dignity of the priestly office. Christ is a priest on his throne, and his saints are a royal priesthood, even kings as well as priests unto God. We see that the Holiness of the Lord must be put into the mind of the minister of God and then the authority (crown) is put on. God wants our minds pure and holy.
Verses 7-9. The oil mentioned (in Exodus 25:6), and recently glanced at (in Exodus 28:41). On its composition (see Exodus 30:23-25). “Pour it upon his head”: As this typified cleansing from sin, so the anointing was emblematic of the outpouring of Divine grace upon the person anointed. The pouring of the oil on Aaron's head was perhaps to indicate the freeness and abundance with which God gives His grace to His servants (compare Psalm 133:2). This was covering him with the Holy Spirit (oil), of God. After the High priest was consecrated, his sons were ordered to come to the same place where he was. They were dressed in tunics as well as with headcaps and sashes. “And the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual/lasting statute”: That is, shall descend from father to son in Aaron's family throughout all generations, until the Messiah should come. Who would be a priest of another order, and put an end to the Aaronic priesthood, by fulfilling what that was a type of, and so abolishing it. (Hebrews 7:11-28). The “consecration” was the same for the priest as for the high priest. The difference was in the garments they wore and in their authority.
Verse 10. The bullock mentioned (in Exodus 29:1), which was to be kept in readiness for the consecration sacrifice. After the priest have been washed and dressed, the bull is brought forth. “Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock”: By this symbolical action, which was commanded in the case of every sin offering (Lev. 4:4; 4:15; 4:24; 4:29; 4:33; 16:21), the offeror identified himself with the animal, and transferred to it the guilt of his own sins and imperfections. The animal thereby became accursed, and its death paid the penalty due to the sins laid upon it, and set free those who had committed them. Similarly, Christ, our sin offering, was “made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13).
Verses 11-14. Notice that the blood of the bull is applied to the altar in various places, the inner organs are burned on the altar, the flesh, the intestines, and the hide are burned outside the camp as a sin offering. All of these are pictures of Christ.
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