How does Exodus 29:26 connect to New Testament teachings on priesthood? Setting the Scene Exodus 29 details the ordination of Aaron and his sons. The focus is on consecration—setting the priests apart for holy service. “Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it before the LORD as a wave offering; and it shall be your share.” Priestly Portion—A Picture of Participation • The waved breast was lifted up, displayed before God, then kept for the priests. • It demonstrated fellowship: the sacrifice belongs wholly to the LORD, yet He assigns a portion to His servants. • It underscored God’s provision for those who minister (cf. Numbers 18:8–11). • By literally sharing the sacrifice, Aaron’s line identified with both altar and people. Fulfilled in Christ the High Priest • Hebrews 7:26–27—Jesus offers Himself once for all, replacing continual animal sacrifices. • Hebrews 13:10—“We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.” The true “portion” now centers on Christ’s finished work. • John 6:51—“The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” In Him, the priest shares not a breast of a ram but the very life of the Son. Priesthood of All Believers • 1 Peter 2:5—“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” • Revelation 1:6—He “has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.” • Believers now receive their “portion” in Christ, privileged to minister before God and to the world. Practical Connections • Participation – Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16): actual communion in the body and blood of Christ echoes the waved portion—shared fellowship with the LORD. • Provision – 1 Corinthians 9:13–14: as the priests lived from the altar, so gospel workers are provided for by those they serve. • Presentation – Romans 12:1: “present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Our entire lives become the “wave offering,” lifted up for God’s use. Key Takeaways • Exodus 29:26 illustrates literal, physical sharing in a sacrifice, foreshadowing believers’ real union with Christ’s once-for-all offering. • The priestly share points ahead to the complete sufficiency of Jesus, the true High Priest, and to the abundant privileges granted to His people in the New Covenant. |
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