“And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy. And if ought of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.”— Exod. 29:33, 3433And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy. 34And if ought of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy. (Exodus 29:33‑34).
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and dean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy: and ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons’ due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded. And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons’ due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute forever; as the Lord hath commanded.”— Lev. 10:8-158And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. 12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy: 13And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded. 14And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the Lord hath commanded. (Leviticus 10:8‑15).
IN the Now Testament scriptures the fact is plainly stated, that all those who are loved by Jesus and washed from their sins in His own blood are made priests unto God. (Revelation 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6).) They are called “an holy priesthood” and “a royal priesthood.” (1 Peter 2:5, 95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9).) The life also of such is spoken of as one of entire dependence and faith, as, for instance, in such a general statement as— “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).) But in the typical instruction of Old Testament scriptures we have abundant details as to the characteristics, life, and occupation of priests.
We know from the epistle to the Hebrews that the Aaronic high priest was in some respects typical of the Great High Priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. It is well also to see that only those were priests who were washed, clothed, consecrated by blood, anointed with oil, and in real relationship by birth with the high priest. All pretensions to priesthood apart from these realities were accounted false. When any did come forward professing to be priests, and could not trace their genealogy, they were put from the priesthood as polluted. (Nehemiah 7:6464These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (Nehemiah 7:64).) So now, Scripture presents to us those who are washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus as made priests unto God. They are also spoken of as “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (Compare 1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23) with 2:5.) They are therefore “sons of God,” in real relationship with Christ, the great High Priest, anointed, indwelt, and united to Him by the Holy Ghost. Thus they are a royal and a holy priesthood. Nothing, then, can be clearer than that God’s priests on the earth now are those who are washed in the blood of Jesus, children of God, indwelt by the Spirit, and that all such are priests. All hang everlasting life as a present possession, they are said to be “lively (or living) stones, and are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood.” (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5).)
But God not only makes priests, He has provided everything also for their sustenance, and ordered everything as to their service; for He never employs us to do anything without qualifying us for its fulfillment. Hence we find that the food, the details of the work of the priests, what they were to avoid, and their conduct in general, were all ordered of God.
As to their daily sustenance for the due performance of priestly functions, they were to feed upon the sacrifices. To neglect this would have rendered them unfit for the true work of priesthood. Nothing else could consecrate them to this service. This food, too, was only for the priests— “a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.” Thus God provided for His priests. “They shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made to consecrate and to sanctify them.” They were to eat, not merely to look upon, but to handle and receive, so as to derive nourishment and strength, refreshing and comfort, from the same sacrifice by which atonement had been made; thus teaching us that it is personal communion with the Lord which alone fits us for carrying out our priestly functions. It is the believer who is accepted in Christ, washed from his sins in His own blood, who is to find his daily strength for priestly service in feeding upon that one Sacrifice which was once offered. We are to feed on Him—to taste, enjoy, and enter into the qualities, worth, perfections, and glory of Him who redeemed us by His death upon the cross, so as to be strengthened for the faithful discharge of our priestly office. The written word reveals Him, and the Holy Ghost testifies of Him; thus entering into the thoughts of God about His beloved Son and His finished work, what He is in Himself, what He was and is to God, our hearts will be so attracted to Him, so taken up with His perfections, that in our measure we shall be able say, “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This is our strength for service. It is communion—finding satisfaction and delight in that same Object which perfectly satisfies and fills the heart of God. The priests were to feed to the full and be satisfied, and the remainder was not for a stranger, as we have seen, but for God; it was to be burnt, and offered to God by fire. “If ought of the flesh of the consecration, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.” (Exodus 29:3434And if ought of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy. (Exodus 29:34).)
They were not to drink wine nor strong drink, so that they might put a difference between holy and unholy, and between clean and unclean, and that they might teach, &c. (Leviticus 10:9-119Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; 11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 10:9‑11).) And no doubt the instruction to us is, that we should avoid the indulgence of the fleshly appetite— “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul;” for they so damage our souls as to hinder our spiritual discernment, so necessary to priesthood, and disqualify us for teaching others. That which excites the desires of the flesh and of the mind take us away from communion with Him, who is our alone source of real strength. The fleshly appetite, then, must be denied, the claims of self-indulgence set aside, if we would have that spiritual discernment so necessary to priestly office. The Hebrews were dull of hearing, unable to discern and enter into the Lord’s things. Hence the apostle said to them: “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:11-1411Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11‑14).)
Avoiding wine and strong drink for the reasons given, they were to eat the meat offering in the holy place, and the peace offering in a clean place. How significant this is! The consciousness of being in God’s presence, apart from everything unclean in His sight, is necessary for true enjoyment and appreciation of the food which God provides for us. The parts, too, of the peace offering given to them it is important to notice— “the wave breast, and heave shoulder.” (Leviticus 10:1414And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. (Leviticus 10:14).) So God presents to us in His precious word the perfect love of Jesus and His almighty power to us-ward, to strengthen and comfort our hearts; thus by the word and Spirit, in God’s holy presence, tracing, entering into, and enjoying His unsearchable love and infinite power—love that met us when dead in sins, and knows no change; power that has triumphed over all our enemies and death itself, and taken the place of Headship over all principality and power. What joy, and peace, and strength the reception into our hearts of those glorious realities impart! What encouragement all this instruction gives us to keep close to the Lord Jesus! How it attracts and binds our hearts to Him, and how absolutely necessary to abide in Him in order to be faithful priests unto God!
Now as to priestly service. No one could trace the inspired account of the “sons of Aaron,” the priests, without being struck with how much they had to do with the sacrifices. They were constantly serving in the sanctuary— “the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.” (Hebrews 9:66Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (Hebrews 9:6).) Being there, and in constant intercourse with the high priest, their head, and in communion with God’s revealed will, it was for them on certain occasions to sound the silver trumpets, to make known what they had learned in the service of the sanctuary; it might be to “blow an alarm” for the camps to “go forward” and “take their journeys,” or to “blow” for the gathering together of the congregation. (Numbers 10:2-82Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. (Numbers 10:2‑8).) Sure it is that those now who are abiding in the Lord Jesus—our Sanctuary—living by the faith of Him, in communion with Him, will know His mind, and be able to make it known to others. They only can intelligently discern and enter into the blessedness of going forward in His name, following Him, or of being gathered together in His name, or in time of difficulty and distress thinking of His name, and being saved from their enemies.
But priestly work now is spiritual. These shadows instruct us, but are not the very image. Jesus, the Son of God, has come, and is gone up into heaven, and given us the Holy Ghost. Thus we have the Spirit of “love, and of power, and of a sound mind.” The darkness, too, is past, and the true light now shineth. We are then, as “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Priestly work, then, I repeat, now is spiritual, and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23).) We are, as God’s priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices; not carnal activities— “the desires of the flesh and of the mind”— but that which is in the energy of the Holy Ghost, who glories Christ in all the variety of His workings in bringing forth fruit in its season. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A. broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise! We read, too, of sacrifices of joy, of presenting our bodies a living sacrifice; and those who are so practically linked with Christ as to be outside the camp, bearing His reproach, are exhorted “by Him to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15).)
“Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.”