How does Leviticus 6:20 connect with Jesus as our High Priest in Hebrews? Setting the Scene in Leviticus 6:20 “ This is the offering that Aaron and his sons are to bring to the LORD on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.” Key Features of the Daily High-Priestly Grain Offering • A “tenth of an ephah” – a measured, complete portion set apart for God. • “Fine flour” – the choicest grain, free of defect or impurity. • “Regular” and “perpetual” (vv. 21-22) – offered every single day. • Offered “half…in the morning and half in the evening” – bookending the entire day, symbolizing unbroken dedication. • “Wholly burned” (v. 23) – nothing held back; the whole portion ascends to God. • Brought “on the day he is anointed” – the rite begins when the high priest is consecrated for service. Foreshadowing Fulfilled in Jesus • Anointed One: The Hebrew root for “anointed” (mashach) points ahead to Messiah. Jesus is publicly anointed at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22). • Perfect Offering: As “fine flour,” Jesus is sinless, “holy, innocent, undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26). • Whole Burnt Offering: He yields everything—body, soul, life—“He gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). • Bread of Life: Grain becomes bread; Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), nourishing those who draw near. The Contrast Highlighted in Hebrews • Daily vs. Once for All – Hebrews 7:27: “He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day… He sacrificed for sins once for all when He offered Himself.” – Hebrews 10:11-12: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his ministry… But this priest, after offering one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” • Human Grain vs. Divine Self-Offering – Earthly high priests brought grain they did not personally embody. – Jesus brings His own life, fulfilling the symbol and surpassing it. • Perpetual Ministry Still Intact – Though the sacrifice is once for all, His priestly care continues: “He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). The daily accessibility foreshadowed in Leviticus is now realized in His constant intercession. How the Details Line Up • Morning and Evening → Cross-Day Fulfillment – Jesus is tried at daybreak, crucified mid-morning, and gives up His spirit mid-afternoon, covering the span of the sacrificial “day.” • Tenth of an Ephah → Full, Exact Provision – God sets the measure; Jesus meets it perfectly—nothing lacking, nothing excessive. • Perpetual Statute → Eternal Redemption – The grain offering had to be repeated; Jesus’ offering secures “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Confidence: Because His sacrifice is complete, we “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). • Continuous Access: The daily rhythm is replaced by unbroken availability; we need not wait for morning or evening. • Wholehearted Devotion: Seeing His total self-giving moves us to present our bodies “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). |
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