There is a pernicious tendency in some minds to depreciate every line of work save their own. This must be carefully guarded against. If all were to pursue the same line, where were that lovely variety which characterizes the Lord’s work and workmen in the world? Nor is it merely a question of the line of work, but actually of the peculiar style of each workman. You may find two evangelists, each marked by an intense desire for the salvation of souls, each preaching substantially the same truth, and yet there may be the greatest possible variety in the mode in which each one seeks to gain the self-same object. We should be prepared for this; indeed we should fully expect it. And the same holds good in reference to every other branch of Christian service. We should strongly suspect the ground occupied by a Christian assembly if there were not ample space allowed for every branch and style of Christian service—for every line of work capable of being taken up in individual responsibility to the great Head of the priestly house. We ought to do nothing which we cannot do under Christ, and in fellowship with Him; and all that can be done in fellowship with Christ can surely be done in fellowship with those who are walking with Him.
Thus much as to the special manner in which the Levites are introduced in our chapter, in connection with Aaron and his sons. To these latter we shall now turn for a few moments, and meditate on the rich provision made for them, in the goodness of God, as well as the solemn functions devolving upon them in their priestly place.
“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, ‘Behold, I also have given thee the charge of My heave-offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them, _by reason of the anointing_, and to thy sons, by an ordinance forever. This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat-offering of theirs, and every sin-offering of theirs, and every trespass-offering of theirs, which they shall render unto Me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons. In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; _every male_ shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.’” (Ver. 8-10.)
Here we have a type of the people of God looked at in another aspect. They are here presented, not as workers, but as worshipers,—not as Levites, but as priests. All believers—all Christians—all the children of God—are priests. There is, according to the teaching of the New Testament, no such thing as a priest upon earth, save in the sense in which all believers are priests. A special priestly _caste_—a certain class of men set apart as priests—is a thing not only unknown in Christianity, but most positively hostile to the spirit and principles thereof. We have already referred to this subject, and quoted the various passages of Scripture bearing upon it. We have a great High-Priest who has passed into the heavens, for if He were on earth, He should not be a priest. (Compare Heb. iv. 14 and viii. 4.) “Our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” Hence, therefore, a sacrificing priest on the earth is a direct denial of the truth of Scripture, and a complete setting aside of the glorious fact on which Christianity is based, namely, accomplished redemption. If there is any need of a priest now, to offer sacrifice for sins, then, most assuredly, redemption is not an accomplished fact. But Scripture, in hundreds of places, declares that it is, and therefore we need no more offering for sin. “But Christ being come a High-Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, _not made with hands_, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the holy place, _having obtained eternal redemption_.” (Heb. ix. 11, 12.) So also, in chapter x. we read, “By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” And again, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”