And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.
Leviticus 8:18 belongs to the laws about sacrifices and the consecration of the priests, and it stands in one of the book's few historical narratives describing the prescribed sanctuary service. The consecration of Aaron and his sons lasted seven days and prepared them to serve as priests in the sanctuary. It involved special offerings made before they began serving others, and those consecration rites carried a typical meaning and spiritual application.
In the verse itself Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the head of the ram that is brought and presented as the burnt offering. The solemn setting apart included washing and clothing in the priestly garments, with anointing oil and sprinkled blood completing the consecration to set Aaron apart for God's service. The garments he wore were consecrated along with him.
The consecration also brought forward another ram on which the priests laid their hands, and after its killing its blood was applied to each priest's right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. That application dedicated hearing and understanding to receive God's word, hands to do what is heard, and feet to carry out the tasks God makes known. Moses thus set Aaron and his sons apart to minister by the Levitical order before the ark in the typical earthly sanctuary with its two holy places, a ministration that continued while that sanctuary stood.
The details of these sacrifices had meaning, with a typical meaning, spiritual application, and symbolic connection to the sacrifice, life, and work of Jesus Christ. The slain animals illustrated the sacrificial system in which they pointed forward to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and as the great sacrifice for penitent sinners. Those sacrifices in themselves could not remove sin. The Levitical priesthood and its service in the earthly sanctuary was a pattern, example, and shadow of Christ's more excellent ministry and priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, the true tabernacle, and the yearly sanctuary service represented Christ's service, which was once for all.
Leviticus 8:18 belongs to the laws about sacrifices and the consecration of the priests, and it stands in one of the book's few historical narratives describing the prescribed sanctuary service. The consecration of Aaron and his sons lasted seven days and prepared them to serve as priests in the sanctuary. It involved special offerings made before they began serving others, and those consecration rites carried a typical meaning and spiritual application.
In the verse itself Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the head of the ram that is brought and presented as the burnt offering. The solemn setting apart included washing and clothing in the priestly garments, with anointing oil and sprinkled blood completing the consecration to set Aaron apart for God's service. The garments he wore were consecrated along with him.
The consecration also brought forward another ram on which the priests laid their hands, and after its killing its blood was applied to each priest's right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. That application dedicated hearing and understanding to receive God's word, hands to do what is heard, and feet to carry out the tasks God makes known. Moses thus set Aaron and his sons apart to minister by the Levitical order before the ark in the typical earthly sanctuary with its two holy places, a ministration that continued while that sanctuary stood.
The details of these sacrifices had meaning, with a typical meaning, spiritual application, and symbolic connection to the sacrifice, life, and work of Jesus Christ. The slain animals illustrated the sacrificial system in which they pointed forward to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and as the great sacrifice for penitent sinners. Those sacrifices in themselves could not remove sin. The Levitical priesthood and its service in the earthly sanctuary was a pattern, example, and shadow of Christ's more excellent ministry and priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, the true tabernacle, and the yearly sanctuary service represented Christ's service, which was once for all.