These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- Exodus 20 – the TEN Commandments – the LAW of God for INDIVIDUALS…
- Exodus 21-22 – The LAW of God for a SOCIETY…
- Exodus 23-24 – The LAW of God for JUDGES – show NO partiality…
- Exodus 25-27 – The Tabernacle of God…
- The Sanctuary – HOLY place – where God would dwell with His people making them HOLY…
- The Tabernacle is an incredible picture of Heaven…
- We are born into sin and judgment – Romans 6:23 – the FIRST door to the Altar…
- When we receive Jesus – the light of the world – we enter the SECOND door to the Holiest…
- When we finally go home – heaven – enter the THIRD door into the presence of God!
The priests of God… (6 points)
- 1st – The PRIESTS of Israel… vs. 1
- Still on the mountain – 40 days and 40 nights – God gave commands for the PRIESTS…
- 1st – Moses was to set aside his brother Aaron and his FOUR sons…
- Aaron – light bringer – the spokesman for Moses to the people of Israel
- Nadab – generous – the oldest son of Aaron / Abihu – he is my father
- These two oldest sons would be killed for not following the law – Leviticus 10:1-2
- Eliezar – God is my help (succeeded Aaron as the high priest)
- Ithamar – palm tree – youngest son of Aaron
- 2nd – They were to be the PRIESTS of Israel…
- PRIEST – [כָּהַן – piel / infinitive] – to be a PRIEST means you are INTENSLY SERVING the Lord…
- A priest is a go between – he represents God to the people / and the people to God…
- The people are far from God – could NOT approach God – did NOT know God…
- Without the priest – there was no way for the people to hear from / know about God!
- The problem was Aaron was still human – he would die – and need to be replaced…
- He was also a sinner (golden calf) making him an imperfect go between at best!
- 3rd – The better PRIEST – Jesus…
- God gave us a BETTER high priest – one who lives forever – never sins!
- Hebrews 4:14 – “That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him.”
- Jesus is our mediator – He is the one who draws us close to God – I Timothy 2:5
- And we are all called into His service as PRIESTS of God…
- We have been called out of sin/darkness – into the light of Jesus Christ…
- As the special people of God – PRIESTS – we are called to INTENSLY proclaim the Good News…
- We go to let people know about God – tell them about salvation in Jesus!
- I Peter 2:9 – “You are… a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
- 2nd – Special CLOTHES… vs. 2-5
- 1st – Clothes for the priests… vs. 2-3
- The PREISTS wear special clothing – for GLORY [לְכָבוֹד] – to be HEAVY (responsibility) …
- And for BEAUTY – [תִּפְאָרָה] – make them stand out from among the people…
- To CONSECRATE them [לְקַדְּשׁוֹ] – to set them apart – HOLY – as PRIESTS [piel] to God!
- In the same way we as believers should be set apart as representatives for Jesus…
- If we look the same as the world around us – why would they want to hear about Jesus…
- It is by being different from the world – living for Jesus – people want to know more!
- 2nd – Colorful clothing… vs. 4-5
- PRIEST had a robe / coat / sash (belt) / turban (hat) / and pants – embroidered with colors…
- BLUE – the color of the WORD of God…
- Numbers 15:39 – “Make tassels on the corners of their garments… put a BLUE thread in the tassels of the corners… look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD…”
- The BLUE was meant to remind them of the Word of God!
- If we desire to represent the Lord to a world that does not know Him…
- We must become men and women of the Word!
- It is the WORD that has the power to save the lost – Romans 1:16-17
- It is the WORD that has the power to give faith to the listener – Romans 10:17
- RED – the color of REDEMPTION…
- Hebrews 9:22 – “Without shedding of blood [RED] there is no [forgiveness].”
- The price of salvation – the cross of Jesus – the only solution to for sin…
- Without the cross there is no hope – no salvation – no heaven!
- If we desire to represent the Lord to a world that does not know Him…
- We need to remember the cost of salvation – we need to put on Jesus – Romans 13:14
- Not live our lives as our own – but let the world see Jesus is our lives!
- GOLD – the color of a FAITH tested and tried by fire….
- I Peter 1:7 – “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies GOLD.” [NLT]
- When we have no money – when life gets hard – PRAISE the Lord…
- Lots of people do NOT have food or money – but who thanks God for it!
- If we desire to represent the Lord to a world that does not know Him…
- We should not only praise God in the good times in life – but the bad as well…
- It shows we have faith in the Lord to provide for all of our needs…
- And the world watches us and sees something far more precious than GOLD…
- Faith that has been tested by the trials and difficulties of life!
- PURPLE – the color of ROYALTY…
- We have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ!
- That means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
- To the extent we will even sit on the throne with Jesus – Revelation 3:21
- Far to often you see Christians with a frown – miserable – acting like paupers…
- Churches going around begging from money – as if God is broke…
- Who would want to follow that – who would want to be a Christian!
- If we desire to represent the Lord to a world that does not know Him…
- We should live our lives like children of the King – children of God…
- Showing the world – the incredible riches that come from a life that follows Jesus!
- 1st – Clothes for the priests… vs. 2-3
- 3rd – The high PRIEST… vs. 6-43
- The High PRIEST – [הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל] – had additional clothing above the other PRIESTS…
- 1st – EPHOD – responsibility for others… vs. 6-14
- EPHOD – [אֵפוֹד] – was like an apron worn over the robe of the High priest…
- Attaching the front of the Ephod to the back were TWO onyx stones on the shoulders
- On each of the stones were SIX of the names of the Tribes of Israel…
- The PRIEST was to carry his brothers names before the Lord as a constant MEMORIAL!
- I had an uncle did not believe in Jesus – my Dad prayed for him for 20 years!
- As a representative of God – we are called to reach others with the GOSPEL…
- Yet one of the hardest people for us to reach with the Gospel is our FAMILY…
- Are we willing to put them – on our shoulders – carry them to the Lord…
- Are we willing to tell them – not just once but over and over – about the Love of Jesus!
- They may not believe in a day – it might take years of bringing them to the Lord!
- 2nd – BREASTPLATE of JUDGEMENT – knowing the will of God… vs. 15-30
- BREASTPLATE [חֹשֶׁן] – JUDGEMENT [מִשְׁפָּט] – to DISCERN how to lead the people…
- Over the top of the Ephod there was a cloth pouch 9×9 inches – with TWELVE stones…
- Each one of the stones had one of the names of the TWELVE tribes engraved on it…
- It was to be attached to the Ephod by GOLD chords tied to the onyx stones…
- As well as two BLUE chords attached on the bottom to the sash (belt) …
- Aaron was to carry the names of his people over his HEART…
- Then the LORD would be CONTINUALLY reminded of His people!
- As we carry the burden of our family – we will also have a love for them in our HEART…
- We will remember to pray for them – to take them before the Lord DAILY in prayer…
- It is through prayer – the Lord is CONTINUALLY reminded of our families…
- It is the Lord who can change a HEART – remove the blinders so they see they need Jesus!
- The URIM and the THUMMIM…
- Inside of the pocket of the breastplate were the Urim and the Thummim…
- Urim [אוּרִים] – lights / Thummim [תֻּמִּים] means – complete or perfections (plural) …
- They were used to LIGHT the PERFECT will of God for His people…
- No one is entirely sure exactly what these were – PERHAPS a WHITE and BLACK stone…
- You would ask God a YES or NO question then pull out a stone from the pouch…
- If it was WHITE – then the answer was YES / if it was BLACK – then the answer was NO!
- How to we know the will of God today…
- We no longer have STONES that we can pull out of a pocket to determine the will of God…
- We have someone FAR better – we have the Holy Spirit within us!
- John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…”
- God is always right there with us – the Holy Spirit guiding us every day – therefore…
- Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
- 3rd – Pomegranates and bells – fruitful for the Lord… vs. 31-35
- The blue robe – was to have Pomegranates and bells on the bottom…
- The BELLS had a practical role – letting you know the PRIEST was alive…
- Only the HIGH PRIEST went into the presence of the Lord – THE HOLY of HOLIES…
- If he were not right before God – the Lord would strike him DEAD – the BELLS stopped…
- He would have a rope tied around his foot – so he could be dragged out!
- The Pomegranates – were a many seeded fruit common in Israel…
- The Pomegranate fruit is a picture of being RIGHTEOUS before God…
- Jewish tradition teaches the Pomegranate has 613 seeds inside – one for each Law…
- The idea being a FRUITFUL man who keeps ALL the commands of God!
- If we desire to REPRESENT the Lord to a world that does NOT know Him…
- We can say we are Christians all day long – but what do our lives say about us…
- We should bear FRUIT from our lives that show we believe in and follow Jesus!
- 4th – The GOLD MEDALION – mind set on the Lord… vs. 36-39
- On the turban (hat) of the high priest was the GOLD MEDALION…
- Inscribed on the medallion were the words [קֹדֶשׁ לַֽיהוָֽה] HOLINESS to the LORD…
- The medallion was over the HEAD of the high priest – his mind SET APART for the Lord…
- Bearing the SIN [עָוֹן] of the HOLY sacrifices of Israel to be accepted before the Lord !
- If the only time we think about Jesus is at Bible study – or church on Sundays…
- Then most likely we only live for Jesus – at the Bible study and on Sunday!
- The battle to live a Godly life does not start in our actions – it begins in our thoughts…
- Where do we spend most of our time – what do we think about the most…
- If we desire to represent the Lord to a world that does not know Him…
- Colossians 3:2 – “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
- 5th – The LINEN PANTS… vs. 40-43
- The LINEN PANTS under the robe – for ALL PRIESTS – had TWO purposes…
- Modesty – so no one could see up their robe when they went up the ALTAR…
- It was meant to keep them from SWEATING!
- Ezekiel 44:18 – “They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire.”
- Working for God – serving the Lord – should not be a burden – it should be NO SWEAT…
- Not that we do not get tired IN serving the Lord – just not tired OF serving the Lord…
- If we are BURNT OUT – it is likely because we are not where God wants us to be!
- Matthew 11:30 – “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- 4th – The DEDICATION of the PRIESTS… vs. 1-9
- 1st – ANOINTED – CONSECRATED – SANCTIFIED… vs. 41 / 1-9
- Moses was to ANNOINT [מָשַׁח] the PRIESTS – POUR oil over them…
- Which would make them CONSECRATED [מָלָא] – to be FULL – presumably of the Lord…
- Which would make them SANCRIFIED [קָדַשׁ] – SET APART to be used by the Lord!
- 2nd – Hallowed… vs. 1-3
- This is what Moses was to do to HALLOW [קָדַשׁ] – SET APART – them as PRIESTS…
- Take a young bull and two rams (with no defects) – along with BREAD…
- Unleavened LOAVES / unleavened CAKES mixed with oil / and WAFERS covered with oil…
- There were THREE different kinds of bread – representing THREE kinds of people…
- In the Bible oil is used as a picture of the Holy Spirit – I Samuel 16:13
- LOAVES – people whom do not yet believe in Jesus – do not have the Holy Spirit (oil) …
- CAKES – people who believe in Jesus – and have the Holy Spirit in them…
- WAFERS – people who believe in Jesus – and are overflowing with the Holy Spirit!
- There are many Christians who know Jesus – but depend on their own strength…
- So they become weary and tired as they STRIVE to try and serve the Lord…
- Yet only the Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to truly be able to make a difference!
- Acts 1:8 – “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”
- 3rd – Anointed… vs. 4-9
- Aaron and his sons were to be brought to the entrance of the TABERNACLE…
- They were to be WASHED with water – Ephesians 5:26
- Put on the priestly garments – the robe / ephod / breastplate / sash / medallion…
- Then oil was to be poured out over the heads of the priests – literally BATHED in oil!
- Psalms 133:1 – “It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.”
- To be REALLY effective for the Lord – we need to be OVERFLOWING with the Holy Spirit…
- ANNOINTED – so that we can be CONSECRATED (full) – and SANCTIFED for God!
- The more we are FULL of the Holy Spirit – the more powerful for God we are!
- There is nothing a man / woman who is full of His Spirit cannot do for the Lord!
- Acts 4:8-13 – “Peter [was] filled with the Holy Spirit… when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John… they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
- 1st – ANOINTED – CONSECRATED – SANCTIFIED… vs. 41 / 1-9
- 5th – SACRIFICES for the PRIESTS… vs. 10-34
- 1st – The SIN offering… vs. 10-14
- In order to prepare the priests to serve the Lord – they first had to deal with their SIN…
- Aaron and his sons laid their hand on the head of the BULL – symbolic of transferring SIN…
- The blood of the bull would be poured out at the base of the alter…
- The blood represents life – without blood no one can live…
- By pouring out the blood it symbolized the price of SIN – death – had been paid!
- All men are sinners – Romans 3:23 – and SIN separates us from God…
- We cannot be the representatives of God – if we ourselves are separated from God!
- The dilemma is the price – penalty for SIN is death – Romans 6:23
- Either we have to pay for our SIN with our life – or someone has to die in our place!
- That is why under the Old Covenant – the Law of Moses – they sacrificed animals…
- The animal would die in their place – pay the penalty / the price for their SIN…
- The problem with animal sacrifices is they could only COVER SIN – not take it away!
- Hebrews 10:4 – “It is NOT possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
- Every time they made a mistake – they had to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice!
- That covered the SIN – it reminded them of the PRICE of SIN – but did not change the heart!
- The sacrifices under the Law had no power to change the person to NOT want to SIN!
- The fat of the animal…
- All the fat of the bull – along with its liver and kidneys – was to be burnt on the ALTAR…
- The best part of an animal is the fat – tastes the best – the best was given to the Lord!
- Leviticus 3:16-17 – “All the fat belongs to the LORD…” [NLT]
- Too often we find people use the best on themselves – and give the leftovers to God…
- We should give the best part of ourselves – our gifts / talents / abilities – to the Lord!
- The rest of the animal was to be taken OUTSIDE the camp and burnt…
- The picture – SIN causes separation – isolation – from fellowship with God…
- No longer in the Tabernacle – no longer in the presence of the Lord!
- Hebrews 13:12 – “Jesus suffered and died OUTSIDE the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood…” [NLT]
- When we have unrepentant SIN in our heart we are far from God – OUTSIDE the camp…
- Jesus suffered and died in our place – He went OURSIDE the camp to get us back…
- Jesus gave us a BETTER covenant – He took away our SIN – and gave us a new heart!
- He restored our relationship to God – brought us back into the presence of the Lord!
- 2nd – The BURNT offering – SUBMIT to the Lord… vs. 15-18
- In order to prepare the priests to serve the Lord – they first had to SUBMIT to the Lord…
- Aaron and his sons would again lay they hand on the sacrifice – the RAM…
- The picture this time is of surrendering their will – SUBMITING to the Lord…
- The whole animal would be BURNT there on the ALTAR – completely consumed by fire!
- In order to be effective in serving the Lord – we must first be obedient to the Lord…
- Imagine we had a brand new CAR – but it would ONLY start when it wanted to!
- A tool is only effective when it submits itself to the command of the MASTER….
- If we only follow the Lord when we want to – we are not much use to the Lord…
- If we are to be effective for the Lord – we must submit ourselves to the Lord!
- God does NOT just want part of our lives – He wants us to be completely sold out to Him!
- Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”
- 3rd – The PEACE offering – fellowship with the Lord… vs. 19-28
- In order to prepare the priests to serve the Lord – they first had to HEAR from the Lord…
- Aaron and his sons again laid their hands on a ram – one they would SHARE with the Lord…
- The blood of the Ram was to be put on the Priests right – ear / thumb / and big toe…
- What they HEARD / what they DID / and where they WENT – guided by the Lord…
- Their clothes were to be sprinkled with the blood (Jesus) mixed with oil (Spirit)!
- If we are to be effective as PRIESTS to our Lord – a BRIDGE to the lost…
- We must be careful of what we HEAR – what we DO – and where we GO…
- In so many ways we are like little children – easily INFLUENCED by our surroundings…
- If we constantly hear bad things – have idle hands – feet that go where they should not…
- We find we will get into a lot of SIN – become a poor representative for Jesus!
- The RAM of CONSECRATION (full) …
- The fat of the animal – the kidneys and the liver – as well as the tail…
- Along with a loaf of bread / a cake with oil / and wafer with oil…
- Aaron and his sons were to WAVE them before the lord – then BURN them on the ALTAR!
- It was a BURNT offering [from the verb עָלָה] to climb up or ACEND…
- SWEET [נִיחֹחַ] – soothing / SWEET SMELL – [first used here – 41x in OT] to the Lord!
- If you have ever been to a BBQ – you know that SWEET SMELL…
- But to God it was not just SWEET – it was SOOTHING – it meant FELLOWSHIP!
- The HEAVE offering…
- HEAVE [תְּרוּמָה] – to LIFT up – a freewill offering to the Lord – Exodus 25:2
- The breast of the RAM – and the right thigh – were to be eaten by the priests…
- The picture – having a MEAL with God – He got part / the priests got part…
- By having fellowship daily with the Lord – they grew to know the Lord…
- Then they could be effective at representing the Lord to the nation of Israel!
- How can we tell others / teach others / lead others to someone we do NOT know…
- The more we READ our Bibles – the more we spend time in FELLOWSHIP with believers….
- The more we take time to PRAY and HEAR from the Lord – the better we will know Him!
- People will follow our example – and we will lead them to Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
- 4th – Providing for the PRIESTS… vs. 29-34
- The HOLY garments of the PRIEST pass from father to son…
- The SON of AARON – would we ANNOINTED and CONSECRATED in the same clothing…
- He would put them on for SEVEN days – then he could enter the TABERNACLE!
- The PRIEST were to EAT from the sacrifices…
- They were to EAT the MEAT of the RAM – the BREAD of the offering…
- But ONLY in the door of the TABERNACLE – because the offerings were HOLY…
- Also – NO ONE else could eat them – ONLY the PRIESTS…
- If any of the MEAT or BREAD was not eaten – it had to be BURNT!
- I Corinthians 9:13 – “Those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar.”
- 1st – The SIN offering… vs. 10-14
- 6th – Morning and evening… vs. 35-46
- 1st – The ALTAR… vs. 35-37
- SEVEN days the PRIESTS were to SANCTIFY the ALTAR…
- A BULL was to be offered every day to make ATONEMENT….
- ATONEMENT [כִּפֻּר] – to COVER – first mentioned here – Exodus 29:33
- Then the ALTAR will be MOST HOLY – [קֹדֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁים] – HOLY HOLIES…
- It will be set apart to be used by the PRIESTS for the Lord!
- 2nd – OFFERINGS on the ALTAR… vs. 38-41
- God commanded TWO lambs be offered every day – one in the MORNING / one at NIGHT…
- Offered along with TWO quarts of flour / ONE quart of oil / ONE quart of wine…
- From generation to generation – this was to be a DAILY – SWEET AROMA – offering to God…
- The smell must have been amazing – BBQ at the house of God – twice a day!
- Often when we think of animal sacrifices – we get a negative picture in our mind…
- But in truth God was inviting His people to share a MEAL with Him TWICE a day!
- 3rd – TABERNACLE of MEETING… vs. 42-46
- TABERNACLE of MEETING [135 time in OT] – first used – Exodus 27:21
- MEETING – the APPOINTED place / time – where God MEET and SPEAK with His people…
- The TABERNACLE that was SANCTIFIED [קָדַשׁ] by His GLORY [כָּבוֹד]…
- Then God would DWELL among His people – and they would KNOW…
- I AM the LORD your God – [אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם]!
- The Tabernacle was not special because of – the Ark / Menorah / Table / or Alter…
- The Priests were not special because of the clothes they wore – Ephod / Medallion…
- The Children of Israel were not special because they had come out of Egypt…
- What made all of these things special – was God lived there among His people!
- We are not special because of who we are – we are just clay pots – II Corinthians 4:7
- We are special because of who is in us – we are the Temple of God – I Corinthians 3:16
- Saved from our sin – brought back into fellowship through the cross of Jesus Christ…
- As we SUBMIT our will to the Lord – are completely sold out to Him…
- A friend of God – spending time DAILY with the Lord in His Word and in prayer…
- Overflowing with the Holy Spirit – full of the POWER of God…
- We shine to a world that does not know Jesus – effective as PRIESTS to our Lord!
- 1st – The ALTAR… vs. 35-37