Exodus 31

Exodus 31:1

Sacrifices for Consecration

Exodus 28 and Exodus 29 belong together. Priestly garment, described in Exodus 28, alone is not sufficient. A consecration must also take place. Being a priest is one thing, performing priestly service is another thing. To do priestly service it is necessary to occupy oneself with the Lord Jesus and His work. This is shown by the sacrifices mentioned in Exodus 29. Its meaning will be seen later in this chapter as it describes how these sacrifices are to be brought.

Exodus 31:2

Sacrifices for Consecration

Exodus 28 and Exodus 29 belong together. Priestly garment, described in Exodus 28, alone is not sufficient. A consecration must also take place. Being a priest is one thing, performing priestly service is another thing. To do priestly service it is necessary to occupy oneself with the Lord Jesus and His work. This is shown by the sacrifices mentioned in Exodus 29. Its meaning will be seen later in this chapter as it describes how these sacrifices are to be brought.

Exodus 31:3

The Washing

Before we can see the work of the Lord Jesus, we first need to be washed with water. Water represents the Word of God in its cleansing power (Ephesians 5:26). Washing away all impurity by confession, to which we come when we read in God’s Word how He thinks about things, precedes sanctification, consecration. We see this in 1 Corinthians 6: “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Exodus 31:4

Aaron and His Sons Clothed

After the washing to cleanse, the priest’s garments can be put on. Its application is that we may be aware that God can accept us in His presence. We have the right garment for that. We are clothed as priests “with righteousness” and “with salvation” (Psalms 132:9; 16), yes, with Christ Himself, for we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). What is still needed is the foundation, the basis by which we can be clothed with Christ. We have this basis in the various sacrifices that are brought at the consecration.

Although Aaron and his sons are clothed together, the high priest has a special place. He is given special garments and anointed with oil before there is spoken of blood. This is also the distinction between us as priests and the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was also anointed with the Holy Spirit before He accomplished the work on the cross (Acts 10:38a; Matthew 3:16). We have only been anointed, that is, we have received the Holy Ghost, after the shedding of His blood and the acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13).

The sons see how Aaron is anointed. Thus, we must first have some understanding of the Lord Jesus as High Priest to be able to exercise our priesthood as God purposed.

Exodus 31:5

Aaron and His Sons Clothed

After the washing to cleanse, the priest’s garments can be put on. Its application is that we may be aware that God can accept us in His presence. We have the right garment for that. We are clothed as priests “with righteousness” and “with salvation” (Psalms 132:9; 16), yes, with Christ Himself, for we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). What is still needed is the foundation, the basis by which we can be clothed with Christ. We have this basis in the various sacrifices that are brought at the consecration.

Although Aaron and his sons are clothed together, the high priest has a special place. He is given special garments and anointed with oil before there is spoken of blood. This is also the distinction between us as priests and the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was also anointed with the Holy Spirit before He accomplished the work on the cross (Acts 10:38a; Matthew 3:16). We have only been anointed, that is, we have received the Holy Ghost, after the shedding of His blood and the acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13).

The sons see how Aaron is anointed. Thus, we must first have some understanding of the Lord Jesus as High Priest to be able to exercise our priesthood as God purposed.

Exodus 31:6

Aaron and His Sons Clothed

After the washing to cleanse, the priest’s garments can be put on. Its application is that we may be aware that God can accept us in His presence. We have the right garment for that. We are clothed as priests “with righteousness” and “with salvation” (Psalms 132:9; 16), yes, with Christ Himself, for we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). What is still needed is the foundation, the basis by which we can be clothed with Christ. We have this basis in the various sacrifices that are brought at the consecration.

Although Aaron and his sons are clothed together, the high priest has a special place. He is given special garments and anointed with oil before there is spoken of blood. This is also the distinction between us as priests and the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was also anointed with the Holy Spirit before He accomplished the work on the cross (Acts 10:38a; Matthew 3:16). We have only been anointed, that is, we have received the Holy Ghost, after the shedding of His blood and the acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13).

The sons see how Aaron is anointed. Thus, we must first have some understanding of the Lord Jesus as High Priest to be able to exercise our priesthood as God purposed.

Exodus 31:7

Aaron and His Sons Clothed

After the washing to cleanse, the priest’s garments can be put on. Its application is that we may be aware that God can accept us in His presence. We have the right garment for that. We are clothed as priests “with righteousness” and “with salvation” (Psalms 132:9; 16), yes, with Christ Himself, for we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). What is still needed is the foundation, the basis by which we can be clothed with Christ. We have this basis in the various sacrifices that are brought at the consecration.

Although Aaron and his sons are clothed together, the high priest has a special place. He is given special garments and anointed with oil before there is spoken of blood. This is also the distinction between us as priests and the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was also anointed with the Holy Spirit before He accomplished the work on the cross (Acts 10:38a; Matthew 3:16). We have only been anointed, that is, we have received the Holy Ghost, after the shedding of His blood and the acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13).

The sons see how Aaron is anointed. Thus, we must first have some understanding of the Lord Jesus as High Priest to be able to exercise our priesthood as God purposed.

Exodus 31:8

Aaron and His Sons Clothed

After the washing to cleanse, the priest’s garments can be put on. Its application is that we may be aware that God can accept us in His presence. We have the right garment for that. We are clothed as priests “with righteousness” and “with salvation” (Psalms 132:9; 16), yes, with Christ Himself, for we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). What is still needed is the foundation, the basis by which we can be clothed with Christ. We have this basis in the various sacrifices that are brought at the consecration.

Although Aaron and his sons are clothed together, the high priest has a special place. He is given special garments and anointed with oil before there is spoken of blood. This is also the distinction between us as priests and the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was also anointed with the Holy Spirit before He accomplished the work on the cross (Acts 10:38a; Matthew 3:16). We have only been anointed, that is, we have received the Holy Ghost, after the shedding of His blood and the acceptance of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13).

The sons see how Aaron is anointed. Thus, we must first have some understanding of the Lord Jesus as High Priest to be able to exercise our priesthood as God purposed.

Exodus 31:9

The Bull as a Sin Offering

Of the three animals that are slaughtered at the consecration, the bull is the first animal as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons shall make themselves one with this sin offering, which is expressed by the laying on of their hands. For us, this means that we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus in the spirit as the sin offering, which is as the One Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24) and was “made … sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus He has taken our sins away from us and we stand before God without sin.

The altar must also be cleansed with the blood of the sin offering. The altar speaks of the Lord’s table (Malachi 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:15-21). The table of the Lord speaks of fellowship with God and with each other. It is necessary to always realize that sin may not have a place there.

Everything from the sin offering must be burned outside the camp as an abomination to God. The fat of the sin offering is not an abomination to God. That will be on the altar. Fat speaks of the power, the energy with which the Lord Jesus accomplished the work for sin. That is pleasant for God and we may tell Him that, sacrifice that to Him.

Exodus 31:10

The Bull as a Sin Offering

Of the three animals that are slaughtered at the consecration, the bull is the first animal as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons shall make themselves one with this sin offering, which is expressed by the laying on of their hands. For us, this means that we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus in the spirit as the sin offering, which is as the One Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24) and was “made … sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus He has taken our sins away from us and we stand before God without sin.

The altar must also be cleansed with the blood of the sin offering. The altar speaks of the Lord’s table (Malachi 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:15-21). The table of the Lord speaks of fellowship with God and with each other. It is necessary to always realize that sin may not have a place there.

Everything from the sin offering must be burned outside the camp as an abomination to God. The fat of the sin offering is not an abomination to God. That will be on the altar. Fat speaks of the power, the energy with which the Lord Jesus accomplished the work for sin. That is pleasant for God and we may tell Him that, sacrifice that to Him.

Exodus 31:11

The Bull as a Sin Offering

Of the three animals that are slaughtered at the consecration, the bull is the first animal as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons shall make themselves one with this sin offering, which is expressed by the laying on of their hands. For us, this means that we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus in the spirit as the sin offering, which is as the One Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24) and was “made … sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus He has taken our sins away from us and we stand before God without sin.

The altar must also be cleansed with the blood of the sin offering. The altar speaks of the Lord’s table (Malachi 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:15-21). The table of the Lord speaks of fellowship with God and with each other. It is necessary to always realize that sin may not have a place there.

Everything from the sin offering must be burned outside the camp as an abomination to God. The fat of the sin offering is not an abomination to God. That will be on the altar. Fat speaks of the power, the energy with which the Lord Jesus accomplished the work for sin. That is pleasant for God and we may tell Him that, sacrifice that to Him.

Exodus 31:12

The Bull as a Sin Offering

Of the three animals that are slaughtered at the consecration, the bull is the first animal as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons shall make themselves one with this sin offering, which is expressed by the laying on of their hands. For us, this means that we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus in the spirit as the sin offering, which is as the One Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24) and was “made … sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus He has taken our sins away from us and we stand before God without sin.

The altar must also be cleansed with the blood of the sin offering. The altar speaks of the Lord’s table (Malachi 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:15-21). The table of the Lord speaks of fellowship with God and with each other. It is necessary to always realize that sin may not have a place there.

Everything from the sin offering must be burned outside the camp as an abomination to God. The fat of the sin offering is not an abomination to God. That will be on the altar. Fat speaks of the power, the energy with which the Lord Jesus accomplished the work for sin. That is pleasant for God and we may tell Him that, sacrifice that to Him.

Exodus 31:13

The Bull as a Sin Offering

Of the three animals that are slaughtered at the consecration, the bull is the first animal as a sin offering. Aaron and his sons shall make themselves one with this sin offering, which is expressed by the laying on of their hands. For us, this means that we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus in the spirit as the sin offering, which is as the One Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24) and was “made … sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus He has taken our sins away from us and we stand before God without sin.

The altar must also be cleansed with the blood of the sin offering. The altar speaks of the Lord’s table (Malachi 1:7; 1 Corinthians 10:15-21). The table of the Lord speaks of fellowship with God and with each other. It is necessary to always realize that sin may not have a place there.

Everything from the sin offering must be burned outside the camp as an abomination to God. The fat of the sin offering is not an abomination to God. That will be on the altar. Fat speaks of the power, the energy with which the Lord Jesus accomplished the work for sin. That is pleasant for God and we may tell Him that, sacrifice that to Him.

Exodus 31:14

The One Ram as a Burnt Offering

Just like on the head of the bull Aaron and his sons have to put their hands on the head of the ram that is offered as a burnt offering to the LORD. By identifying themselves with the sin offering, the unworthiness of the priest passes, as it were, to the sin offering. In the burnt offering it is the other way around: by identifying themselves with the burnt offering, the dignity and pleasantness of the burnt offering is as it were transferred to the priest.

The burnt offering is for God in its entirety and is for Him “a soothing aroma”. The Lord Jesus glorified God on the cross. He has revealed God in all His love and grace as well as in His righteousness and holiness.

Exodus 31:15

The One Ram as a Burnt Offering

Just like on the head of the bull Aaron and his sons have to put their hands on the head of the ram that is offered as a burnt offering to the LORD. By identifying themselves with the sin offering, the unworthiness of the priest passes, as it were, to the sin offering. In the burnt offering it is the other way around: by identifying themselves with the burnt offering, the dignity and pleasantness of the burnt offering is as it were transferred to the priest.

The burnt offering is for God in its entirety and is for Him “a soothing aroma”. The Lord Jesus glorified God on the cross. He has revealed God in all His love and grace as well as in His righteousness and holiness.

Exodus 31:16

The One Ram as a Burnt Offering

Just like on the head of the bull Aaron and his sons have to put their hands on the head of the ram that is offered as a burnt offering to the LORD. By identifying themselves with the sin offering, the unworthiness of the priest passes, as it were, to the sin offering. In the burnt offering it is the other way around: by identifying themselves with the burnt offering, the dignity and pleasantness of the burnt offering is as it were transferred to the priest.

The burnt offering is for God in its entirety and is for Him “a soothing aroma”. The Lord Jesus glorified God on the cross. He has revealed God in all His love and grace as well as in His righteousness and holiness.

Exodus 31:17

The One Ram as a Burnt Offering

Just like on the head of the bull Aaron and his sons have to put their hands on the head of the ram that is offered as a burnt offering to the LORD. By identifying themselves with the sin offering, the unworthiness of the priest passes, as it were, to the sin offering. In the burnt offering it is the other way around: by identifying themselves with the burnt offering, the dignity and pleasantness of the burnt offering is as it were transferred to the priest.

The burnt offering is for God in its entirety and is for Him “a soothing aroma”. The Lord Jesus glorified God on the cross. He has revealed God in all His love and grace as well as in His righteousness and holiness.

Exodus 31:18

The Other Ram as Ordination Offering

After seeing the Lord Jesus as the sin offering and the burnt offering comes the actual consecration. This is done by taking the other ram to sacrifice it as an ordination offering. This ordination offering is a special kind of peace offering. The peace offering is a fellowship offering.

Aaron and his sons also have to lay their hands on the head of this sacrificial animal and identify themselves with it. Bringing this sacrifice expresses that we see how the Lord Jesus, in fellowship with His Father and in full dedication to Him, has gone His way on earth until death.

This should also be expressed in our lives. It is not about being able to follow the Lord Jesus in the work He did on the cross. That is impossible, in that He is unique, only He was able to do that work. What it is about is that our dedication to God is of the same character (cf. Ephesians 5:1-2). We see that symbolically represented in the following acts related to the application of blood.

The blood must be put on Aaron and his sons on the right earlobe, on the thumb of the right hand and on the big toe of the right foot. That speaks of our listening, obeying (ear), our conduct (hand) and our walk (foot). Our whole being is sanctified by the blood of the Lord Jesus. We must only listen to Him, only do what He says to us, only go where He wants us to be. The whole person must be dedicated to God, only then will our priestly service be acceptable to Him. Therefore it is mentioned again that blood has to be sprinkled on the altar.

Blood is also sprinkled on the garments. The whole external behavior as priests must be in accordance with the value of the blood. Then anointing oil is sprinkled on it. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that true priestly service is possible and pleasant for God. It is about worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).