What is the meaning of Leviticus 17:2? Speak to Aaron The Lord singles out Aaron first because, as high priest, he represents the people before God. By addressing Aaron, God reinforces the priest’s responsibility to model obedience. Moses had previously been told, “Bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him” (Exodus 28:1), showing the central role Aaron would play. Later Scripture underscores the weight of that calling; Hebrews 5:4 reminds us that “no one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.” When God speaks directly to Aaron through Moses, it is a clear affirmation that leadership must be anchored in God’s revealed word, not personal opinion. his sons God’s word immediately widens to “his sons,” the entire priestly line. The sons are warned by their father’s failures (Leviticus 10:1-2) that priestly privilege does not shield anyone from holy accountability. Numbers 18:1 echoes this when the Lord tells Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary.” In other words, obedience is a family mandate, passing from generation to generation. First Peter 2:9 later applies priestly language to all believers, signaling that every follower of Christ now shares a similar calling to handle God’s truth with reverence. and all the Israelites The circle expands beyond clergy to the entire covenant community. Holiness is never limited to a religious elite; God’s people as a whole are addressed. Exodus 19:6 had already declared, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Moses’ inclusion of “all the Israelites” reinforces that every household matters in maintaining covenant fidelity (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Even the New Testament reaffirms this equality of accountability: “There is no distinction, for all have sinned” (Romans 3:22-23). God’s standards unite the community under one rule—His revealed will. and tell them The phrase places Moses in the role of faithful messenger. He is to convey, not edit, the divine word. Deuteronomy 4:2 warns, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take away from it.” Jeremiah heard something similar: “You shall speak all that I command you” (Jeremiah 1:7). In the Great Commission, Jesus continues the pattern, instructing His disciples to be teaching others “to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). At every stage of redemption history, God entrusts His word to human voices so it can reach human hearts unchanged. this is what the LORD has commanded The phrase settles all debate: the command originates with Yahweh. Authority rests not in Moses’ leadership ability or Israel’s communal consensus but in the very character of God. Psalm 119:4 states, “You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently,” and Jesus later affirms, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience is expected because the Commander is the covenant-keeping God whose words are life (Deuteronomy 32:46-47). To accept or reject the instruction is, therefore, to accept or reject the Lord Himself. summary Leviticus 17:2 highlights God’s orderly chain of communication—leader to priesthood to people—while underscoring that all alike live under divine command. Aaron’s high calling, his sons’ shared responsibility, the nation’s collective accountability, Moses’ duty to speak plainly, and the Lord’s absolute authority together teach that every believer today is invited into obedient fellowship with a holy God whose word remains eternally binding. |
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