What role do priests play in instructing God's laws according to Leviticus 10:11? Setting the Scene • Leviticus 10 occurs immediately after Aaron’s sons are ordained and two of them—Nadab and Abihu—die for unauthorized worship. • In the aftermath, the LORD clarifies the priests’ duties, underscoring the weight of their office for the entire covenant community. The Core Verse: Leviticus 10:11 “and so you are to teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.” Key Responsibilities Entrusted to the Priests • Gatekeepers of Divine Revelation – They do not invent or modify the law; they relay exactly “all the statutes that the LORD has spoken.” • Teachers of the Whole Nation – Instruction is directed to “the Israelites,” meaning every tribe, family, and individual, not merely other priests. • Upholders of Precision – The phrase “all the statutes” shows that partial teaching is disobedient teaching. • Living Examples – Their own separation from wine and uncleanness (vv. 8–10) models the holiness they teach. Implications for Israel’s Daily Life • Worship: Clear teaching guards the sanctuary from profane fire (10:1–3). • Justice: Accurate statutes shape fair judgments (Exodus 23:1–9). • Holiness: Distinguishing “holy and common, clean and unclean” (10:10) keeps the people set apart in diet, disease control, and moral conduct (Leviticus 11–20). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • “They shall teach Jacob Your ordinances and Israel Your law.” (Deuteronomy 33:10) • “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth.” (Malachi 2:7) • When King Jehoshaphat sent priests and Levites to teach, the fear of the LORD fell on the surrounding nations (2 Chronicles 17:7–10). Takeaways for Today • God assigns qualified teachers to guard doctrinal purity. • Faithful instruction relies on the whole counsel of God, not selective passages. • Holiness in life authenticates holiness in teaching, just as it did for Aaron’s line. |
    |