The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 287

his glory" after his "sufferings" were "finished" (Luke xxiv. 26)? (3) The white robes represented the glorious body of his resurrection (see 1 Tim. vi. 14-16; Heb. ix. 24, 25). And a specimen of the quality of these ganr>ents was given on the mount of transfiguration, when the light of his glory was so whit,1 that no fuller on earth could make linen to compare with it (see Matt. xviL 2; Mark ix. 3). 2. Note now the allusion to Nadab and .Abihu. (1) (Seever. 1; refer also to eh. x. i, 2.) This terrible event occurred in the wilderness of Sinai (Numb. iii. 4), where the Law was given, and where these very men were called up with Aaron to witness the glory of the Lord (Exod. xxiv. 1). Whatever induced them to offer strange fire, they became, in the sequel, a figure of Jesus, who came not with legal righteousness, and whom the fire of God was to search to the utmost. (2) Aaron now became a similar type (see ver. 2). He was to die if he came near Jehovah, and so represented Jesus, who, in the union of his manhood with the Godhead, was to die. This issue was only averted from Aaron by the substitution of animal sacrifices, which were to procure the "forbearance of God," until Immanuel should put away typical sin sacrifices by the sacrifice of himself. (3) To avert death from Aaron, God appointed that incense also should be fumed before the mercy-seat, in the cloud of which he would appear (vers. 2, 12, 13). The cloud tempered the fierceness of the fire of the presence of God, and showed that, in virtue of the intercession of Christ, man may see God and live.--J. A. M, Vers. 5-28.-The sacrifices of the Day of .Atonement. Upon ordinary occasions sacrifices might be offered by common priests, who might act as representatives of the high priest or as representatives of the people, and so be types of Christ, or types of Christians. But upon this day the high priest must act in person, which leaves no doubt as to these transactions being eminently emblematical of Christ and of his great work. We notice- !. THE OFFERINGS FOR AARON AND HIS HOUSE. (Seever. 6.) 1. In these <Jhrist is viewed in Ms relation to his Ohurch. (1) The Christian Church is the house or family of Jesus (Heb. iii. 6). (See Ps. cxxxv. 19, where the "house of Aaron," as opposed to the" house of Israel," may be spiritually construed to denote the Ohi·istian as opposed to the Hebrew Church.) (2) To his Church Jesus stands in the relations of (a) Priest, (b) Sacrifice, (c) Bondsman. He bears our sin in bis own person, and dies for us, as Aaron would have died for his own sin and that of his house, had not the sin sacrifices been substituted to procure the forbearance of God until our competent Aaron shouhl appear to satisfy all the claims of justice and mercy. (3) Aaron, in making atone- ment for himself and his house, evinced that Christ should be a priest having compas- sion (see Heb. v. 2, 3). For though Jesus had no sin of his own, yet did he take upon him our nature, with its curse, so as to be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (comp. Heb. vii. 28, margin; ii. 18; iv. 15). What a blessed assumnce for us I 2. But Christ cannot be of the family of .Aaron. (1) Aaron for himself and for all his house needed sacrifices to atone for their own sine; how then could they put away sin from others? This they could only do typically and ceremonially (sec Heb. vii. 26, 27). (2) Provision was made in the family of Aaron for the transmission of the priest- hood from hand to hand; it was therefore never contemplated that any member of that liouse should have the priesthood in perpetuity. llut this we must have in the office of a perfect Priest. His intercession must have no interruption (see Heb. vii. 23-25). (3) To fulfil these conditions, Christ is come, a high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Ps. cx. 4; Heb. vii. 15-22). He sprang from Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood (Heb. vii. 11-14). We may praise God for the perfection of the priesthood of Christ, which needs no supplement in the offices of mortals. II. THE OFFERINGS FOR THE PEOPLE. 1. There was the burnt offering. (1) This, under ordinary circumstances, for the individual might be a bullock, or a ram, or a he- goat, or, in case of poverty, a pigeon; but in this case for the nation, ns in the conse- cration of the priests, the ram is specified ( eh. i. 3, 10, 14 ; viii. 18 ). It is suggested that this animal was chosen for the offensiveness of its smell, in order to represent the odiousness of sin. (2) In this case also the high priest in person, and alone, officiated. No one was to remain with him in the taberuacle of the congregation (ver. 17). What an expressive figure of Christ (see Isa. !xiii. 3, 6; Zech. xiii. 7; Matt. xxvi. 31,  252 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [all, XTI. 1-84:,