Exodus 29:1-18

Consecrating the Priests

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1“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,

2along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour,

3put them in a basket, and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.

4Then present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.

5Take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastplate. Fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband.

6Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem to the turban.

7Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

8Present his sons as well and clothe them with tunics.

9Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.

10You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.

11And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

12Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

13Take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar.

14But burn the flesh of the bull and its hide and dung outside the camp; it is a sin offering.

15Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.

16You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and splatter it on all sides of the altar.

17Cut the ram into pieces, wash the entrails and legs, and place them with its head and other pieces.

18Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Before Aaron and his sons begin their priestly service, God tells Moses how to consecrate them, setting them apart for Him. They are to be washed and clothed, and Aaron is to be anointed with oil. Their appointment depends on God's command and provision.

The ceremony also requires sacrifice. Aaron and his sons lay their hands on the bull, which is offered as a sin offering. Some of its blood goes on the altar's horns, and the rest is poured at its base. The specified fat is burned on the altar; the flesh, hide, and dung are burned outside the camp. One ram is then offered whole as a burnt offering to the LORD.

The men who will serve as priests need cleansing and atonement themselves. Holy clothing does not make their sin disappear. Before they minister for others, God provides for their own need to approach Him.

Hebrews 7 contrasts this with Jesus, our holy and blameless high priest. He does not need to offer for His own sins. He offered Himself once for His people. We can value human leaders while remembering that they, like us, depend on a Savior.

Questions

1 What preparations does God require before the sacrifices?

AnswerAaron and his sons are brought to the tent entrance, washed, and dressed for service. Moses also pours anointing oil on Aaron's head.

2 Where does the bull's blood go in this reading?

AnswerSome is put on the horns of the altar, and the rest is poured at its base. The bull is a sin offering for the consecration of the priests.

3 What do the sacrifices show about the priests themselves?

AnswerThey need atonement and God's provision for acceptance. Being appointed to a sacred role does not remove their own sin or need for cleansing.

4 How is Jesus different from these priests?

AnswerHebrews 7 says He is holy and blameless and has no need to offer for His own sins. His sacrifice for His people is complete, offered once for all.

What This Means for Us

Serving in a church does not make anyone less dependent on grace. Pray for your leaders as people who need forgiveness, correction, and help, and expect them to receive those things humbly.

The same is true in a family. A parent can admit a wrong and ask forgiveness without giving up the responsibility to lead. Our hope is in Christ's sinless priesthood, not in pretending that people we respect never fail.

Prayer

We pray: God who calls people to serve, prepare our motives and cleanse our hearts. Keep us from treating responsibility as personal property, and give our leaders humility before they lead others. Amen.

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