How does Leviticus 6:18 emphasize the holiness required of the priests today? “Every male among Aaron’s descendants may eat it. It is a permanent statute for the generations to come from the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Whatever touches them shall become holy.” Immediate Observations • Only Aaron’s sons—set‐apart males—could partake. • The statute is “permanent,” underscoring ongoing validity. • Contact with what is holy imparts holiness: “Whatever touches them shall become holy.” What the Verse Communicated to Israel’s Priests • Exclusive privilege: Access to the sacrificial portions was a priestly right, teaching separation from common life (cf. Leviticus 10:10). • Constant requirement: “Permanent statute” left no season when holiness could lapse. • Transforming power: The holy offering was so consecrated that anything touching it had to share its sanctity—no neutral ground in God’s presence. How the Principle Carries Forward to Today’s Priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) • We are granted access to the true Offering—Christ Himself (Hebrews 10:10). Eating the sacrifice pointed to vital, personal participation in His finished work (John 6:53–56). • The call remains “permanent”: Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice secures our position, but the expectation of continual holiness stands (Hebrews 12:14). • Contact still transforms: Close fellowship with the Lord cannot leave a believer unchanged; His holiness presses outward into conduct (2 Colossians 3:18). Marks of Holiness Required of Priests Today • Separation from the profane – 1 Corinthians 6:19–20: bodies as temples, set apart for God. • Consistent obedience – 1 Peter 1:15–16: “Be holy in all you do.” • Respect for sacred things – Hebrews 13:15–16: Offer continual praise and works of mercy. • Reverent approach – Romans 12:1: present bodies as living sacrifices, acceptable to God. • Contagious purity – Matthew 5:16: holiness that influences everything it touches. Practical Takeaways • Guard your access: treat Scripture, worship, and the Lord’s Table as holy territory. • Let no “off-duty” hours exist; the “permanent statute” covers every moment. • Expect transformation: time in God’s presence must reform speech, habits, and relationships. • Pursue visible distinction: holiness is meant to be noticed, not hidden (Philippians 2:15). |
    |