The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 139

with destruction any who dared to set him at defiance (Ps. xcvii. 2, 3; lxxxix. 14). 3. The reason: "It is most holy" (ver. 25). What? (1) Not the sin laid on the sacrifice. Bin seen in the sacrifice is exceeding sinful. That which could cause the Son of God his agonies is horrible and abominable in the extreme. (2) Not the sin, but its con- demnation in the sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ, by which sin is removed out of the sight of God, is indeed" most holy." Had Jesus not been "most holy," he conld never have accomplished this miracle of grace and mercy. (3) The blood of the sin offering, if sprinkled upon any garment, must be washed out within the sanctuary. .And if the blood of the type must not be treated as a common thing; much more must we reverence that blood which cleanseth from all sin. II. .As IT RESPECTS THE EATING. 1. It was to be eaten 1Jy the priest. "The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it." (1) By this ceremony the "sin" (MN!Yl, chattath) became, in a sense, assimilated in the body of the priest (see eh. x. 17; Hos. iv. 8). This represented the manner in which Christ, becoming incarnate among us, appeared "in the likeness of men," and" in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. viii. 3; 2 Cor. v. 21 ; Phil. ii. 6-8). (2) The converse of this is in the Eucharist, in which we sym- bolically partake of the pure body of Christ. .As be became assimilated to our likeness that he might expiate sin by the sacrifice of himself, so we now become assimilated to his pure nature that we may inherit the rewards of his righteousness. There is a. mystical incarnation of Christ in his believing people (Eph. iii. 16-19). 2. It was to be eaten in the holy place (ver. 26), (1) Observe, not in the most holy place; that place within the vail in which the Shechinah abode between the cherubim. That was the type of the heaven of heavens, where the" angels do always behold the face of God" (Matt. xviii. 10). No sin could enter there (Isa. xxxv. 8-10; lx. 20-22; Rev. xxi. 27 ; xxiL 14, 15). (2) But "in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation," the type of the Church in its earthly aspect, which is entered by way of the !aver of washing and the altar of sacrifice, It is while we remain in this world that we cnn avail our- selves of the provisions of mercy. 3. But certain sin offerings must not be eaten. (1) The priests were forbidden to eat of those whose blood was brought into the tabernacle to reconcile withal (ver. 30; see also eh. iv. 5, 6, 16, 17). (2) In this the gospel is superior to the Law. Jesus bas carried his blood into the holy place of the true temple, to reconcile withal (Heh. ix. 11, 12). Yet we may eat of bis altar (Heh. xiii. 10-12). (3) Those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat of our altar, because the tabernacle law forbids them; therefore to avail themselves of the gospel they must renounce the Law (see Gal. v. 3, 4). And their case is fearful who now attempt to make atonE!ment for themselves, for they" shall be burnt in the fire" (ver. 30). Such is the peril of those who trust to works of supererogation or to anything but Christ.- J . .A. M. Vers. 8-13.-Three principles of piety. We gnther from this clause- I. THAT HOLINESS BECOMES THE HOUSE OF Goo. It seems generally agreed that the linen garments, in which the priests were to be robed when engaged in sacrificial acts (ver. 10), signified the purity of heart which should characterize the worshipper of God (see Exod. xxviii. 42; Ezek. xliv. 19). Certainly it is only the" pure in heart" who can hope to "see God," either by faith here or in beatific vision hereafter (see Ps. xciii. 5). II. THAT THERE 1B NO DRUDGERY IN THE BEBVJOE OF Goo. Very homely and humble details of BBcred work were to be done by the officiating priest. Ile was to be very careful as to the clothes he wore, changing them at regulated times (vers. 10, 11); he was to" take up the ashes . . . nod put them beside the altar" (ver. 10), and to "carry forth the ashes without the camp," etc. (ver. 11). These acts were mean enough in themselves. Elsewhere they would have been accounted menial, but in so sacred a service as the direct worship of Jehovah they acquired sanctity, and even dignity. They were solemn ceremonies, reverently performed. The slightest engage- ment in the worship of God deserves to be esteemed sacred (Ps. lxxxiv. 10). Any humble deed done or simple word spoken, (1) as in the presence of the observing and approving Master, or (2) consciously and designedly for the glory of his name, or (3) as unto one for whom he died and whom he loves (Matt. :i.:. 40-42), rises to high rank in the esteem of Heaven. The cheerful, loving seni,:,e of a Divine Redeemer LEVITICUS, B 98 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH, VI, 8-30,