Have you ever met someone that truly believed they were never wrong? I have, and it’s not a fun experience.
It’s even worse when the person that feels this way is in a position of leadership. If that person is already “higher up,” then it can be difficult to convince them of error, since, after all, they’re the ones that are supposed to guide you, not the other way around.
This is part of the reason for the extravagant ordination process in Leviticus 8. The vast majority of this chapter and the next are about the process of spiritually cleansing the priests for their service to God. Without it, they can’t serve in the Tabernacle.
All of the nation of Israel would’ve been present at this ceremony in some capacity (Leviticus 8:4). They witnessed the sacrifices, the cleansing, the garments, and everything in between. Then, after all that, they were to wait at the doorway of the tent of meeting for an entire week (Leviticus 8:33).
As God points out in Leviticus 8:34, this was all done in order to make atonement on behalf of the priests. This act of atonement was essential for the priests to properly fulfill their sacred duties and maintain their consecration before the Lord. It serves as a reminder that “you shall humble your souls” in recognition of the weight of their responsibilities and the importance of spiritual purity. Through these rituals, the priests were not only cleansed but also reminded of their dependence on divine mercy and guidance. This act of atonement was essential to ensure that the priests were spiritually prepared to serve in the temple. Additionally, it highlights the significance of their role in handling holy gifts in Leviticus 22:10, which were meant to be treated with reverence and respect. Through these rituals, the community affirmed their commitment to holiness and their relationship with God.
Why does this matter? Because the priests themselves needed to understand that they required atonement just like the people they ministered to. No one is above the Law—even the people who served in close proximity to Him.
There are two sides of this for our purposes today. Just like the priests, we need to realize that no person—no matter how “studied” they may be—are exempt from the teachings of God. It doesn’t matter what we personally think about that person; if they elevate themselves against God, they’re on the wrong side of mercy.
Paul lays this out explicitly in Galatians 1:6-8, that says that even if an “angel from Heaven” speaks a different Gospel, that angel is “accursed.” As if to drive the point home, Paul recalls a time when he had to confront Peter about a sin in Peter’s life. Paul plainly states that Peter, in his present state, “stood condemned” (Gal. 2:11).
But the other half of this is true as well. I have been a Christian for two-thirds of my life by this point. Preaching and teaching about God have been my life for the vast majority of that time.
As such, it could be very easy for me to look at someone who knows little about God and think myself higher than them. This was certainly the issue the pharisee faced in Luke 18:11, when he looked towards God and thanked Him that he wasn’t “like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector.”
To look at others and treat them with contempt would to make the Gospel void for myself. After all, I’m just as much in need of God’s forgiveness as the next guy. The moment I forget my deep need for His grace is the moment I forget what a gift salvation actually is.
The priests needed to remember that, as well. Before they could minister to others, they needed to get their own life right, first. As Paul says in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
