The Anointing of Aaron and His Sons

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tent of the congregation, and bathe them in water. (Ver. 12.) (So the Hebrew.) This is similar to the consecration service of the priests described in Exodus 29 and Leviticus 8.
Aaron and his sons were types of Christ and his Church (Hebrews 3:6.) They were to be brought to the door of the tent of the congregation, which was the place of communion with God, on the ground of sacrifice. (See Exodus 29:42,43.) They were then and there to be bathed in water. Not simply washed, but bathed in water; for so the Hebrew expression is rendered ten times in Levit. xv. This bathing in water is significant of death, burial, and resurrection. (See Romans 6; Colossians 2) This bathing is one; that is, Aaron and his sons were washed or bathed at the same time, though anointed separately. So we are buried with Christ in baptism, wherein also we are risen with him. (Colossians 2:12.)
Then Aaron was invested with the priesthood, and anointed. “And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” (Ver. 13.) For it is as risen from the dead the Lord Jesus was anointed for priesthood; and it is in resurrection he enters on his priestly office, in separation from the world to God. “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26.)
After this, Aaron’s sons were clothed and anointed. “And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them as thou didst their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
(Verses 14, 15.) It is as risen with Christ “through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, that we are invested with, and enter on, our priestly office and service in association with Christ, the high priest of our profession. And it is by the Holy Ghost sent down on Pentecost, that we are anointed to this priestly service.
A priesthood which we enter on by faith, when we have realized our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ: and which we shall continue to exercise when we are conformed to him in the glory, and are associated with him in his heavenly and everlasting priesthood. T. N.
CONCLUDING LECTURE.
(The Tabernacle raised up, and filled with the glory, in the Number for December.)