Leviticus 8:30
And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
Leviticus 8:30 belongs to the historical account of the consecration and duties of the priests in Leviticus 8-10, given before the ministration in the earthly sanctuary began. Moses sprinkled anointing oil and blood from the altar upon Aaron and his sons and upon their garments with him, thereby sanctifying and setting them apart for priestly ministry. This sprinkling completed Aaron's consecration after washing with water and clothing in the priestly garments, and it hallowed not only his person but also his garments as set apart to God's service by the sprinkled blood. The consecration lasted seven days, after which God publicly accepted Aaron's ministry as high priest when fire consumed his first offering for the people.
The word rendered sprinkled means sprinkle and does not mean dip or immerse, corresponding to the Hebrew nah-zah uniformly rendered by the same Greek root for sprinkle, in this place by proserrhanen, a form of rhantizo, distinct from the terms for immerse such as baptizo. The consecration prepared the Levitical order of priesthood to perform the ministration in the earthly sanctuary with its two holy places, including ministry before the ark containing the two tables of the law in the Most Holy Place while the typical sanctuary continued. The anointing of its holy places and sacred vessels was a preparatory act for that ministry.
The details of these rites and sacrifices find their fuller meaning in Jesus Christ's sacrifice, life, and work, as the Levitical priesthood, ceremonies, and sanctuary service were a type, example, and shadow of Christ and his priesthood in his more excellent ministry in the true tabernacle, the heavenly sanctuary. That Levitical ministration carried forward the ministration begun when the holy law was brought down to sinful, rebellious Israel, a ministration of condemnation and death that could only show guilt and exposure to its penalty with no promise of pardon in itself. For its priesthood offered no sacrifice that could take away sin but could only point penitent sinners forward to the great Sacrifice to be offered for the sins of men.
The separation of the priests through blood and anointing oil pictures believers being set apart through Christ's blood and the gift of the Holy Spirit. When people consecrate themselves to God the Holy Spirit fits them for service and for God's indwelling. In Christ they form a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.