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When Moses had clothed Aaron and
his sons with the priestly garments, he took oil, and sprinkled it upon
the altar, and the laver, and upon everything in the tabernacle.
Then he poured the oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him. The oil
was a type of the influence of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies the
ministers of the Lord, and prepares them for their holy work.
Afterwards, a bullock was brought; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands
upon it, humbly confessing their sinfulness before God, and acknowledging
that they wanted to be washed from their iniquity, and needed to have a
sacrifice offered for them. Then the bullock was killed, and Moses
took the blood, and sprinkled the altar, and poured it out beneath.
Then a ram was brought; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon its
head; and it was slain, and the blood sprinkled upon the altar.
Another ram was brought; and again Aaron and his sons laid their hands
upon its head, then it was killed, and Moses took the blood, and put it on
Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great
toe of his right foot; and Moses did so to Aaron's sons too. Then
Moses took bread out of a basket, and oiled cakes, and the fat of the
sacrifice, and gave all to Aaron and to his sons, to be presented to the
Lord; afterwards Moses took them from them again, and burnt all upon the
altar, as an offering to the Lord. Then Moses took the oil and the
blood, and sprinkled them upon Aaron and his sons, to sanctify them.
The oil was a type of the sanctifying power of God's Holy Spirit in the
heart; and the blood was a type of the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth
from all sin. Aaron and his
sons were sinners, as we all are; they needed to have their sins washed
away, and their hearts renewed; they needed a sacrifice, as well as the
people; and they were taught that the rams, and lambs, and bullocks had no
power to take away sin, but that they must look in faith to the great
sacrifice which should, at a future time, be offered up for the sins of
all the world. The priests of Israel soon died, and passed away; but
our High Priest continues for ever. He does not, as they did, offer
sacrifices daily for sin; one sacrifice was enough, when He offered up
Himself on the cross; but He still lives; He lives in Heaven, in the holy
place, and there makes intercession for us.
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