How does Leviticus 6:26 emphasize the priest's role in sin offerings today? The Scriptural Snapshot “ ‘The priest who offers it shall eat it; it is to be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.’ ” (Leviticus 6:26) The Priest’s Privilege: Consuming the Offering • The priest who presents the sin offering is commanded to eat a portion of it. • The eating must occur “in a holy place,” underscoring separation from common use. • By ingesting the sacrifice, the priest personally participates in the atonement God provides. Why This Mattered in Moses’ Day • Identification with the sinner—Leviticus 10:17 says the priests eat it “so that you may bear the guilt of the congregation.” • Assurance of acceptance—Israel saw tangible evidence that their sin had been dealt with when the priest consumed the offering. • Sustenance for God’s servants—Numbers 18:9–10 and 1 Corinthians 9:13 point out that those who serve at the altar live from the altar. Mediatorial Implications for Today • Christ fulfils the type—Hebrews 7:26-27 presents Jesus as the sinless High Priest who both offers and is the sacrifice. • Ongoing priestly service—pastors and elders, while not replacing Christ, still handle the Word and ordinances, symbolically “eating” from the altar of the cross (1 Corinthians 10:16-18). • Believers share in a royal priesthood—1 Peter 2:9 calls every Christian to priest-like holiness, service, and gospel proclamation. Practical Takeaways • Ministers must handle the gospel personally before offering it publicly; one cannot feed others without first “eating” of Christ’s sacrifice (John 6:53-58). • Worship settings should guard reverence; holy things are never to be treated as common (Hebrews 12:28-29). • God still provides for His servants through the very work He assigns them—materially and spiritually (Galatians 6:6). • Every believer lives out priestly identity by embracing holiness, interceding for others, and declaring forgiveness found in the once-for-all sin offering—Jesus Christ. |
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