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Leviticus 4:3,5,16
If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering…

consecrate [heb] fill his hand

Exodus 29:9
And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

to minister

Exodus 29:29,30
And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them…

Numbers 20:26-28
And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gatheredunto his people, and shall die there…

put on the linen

Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: theseare holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, andso put them on.

to succeed his father as high priest
The hereditary nature of the high priesthood ensured continuity in the religious leadership of Israel. This succession underscores the importance of lineage and covenant promises, as seen in the Levitical priesthood established inExodus 28:1. The high priest's role was to mediate between God and the people, a role perfectly fulfilled by Jesus, who is described as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17).

shall make atonement
Atonement is central to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), described inLeviticus 16. The high priest made atonement for himself, his household, and the entire community of Israel. This involved sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing the covering of sin. The concept of atonement is fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice, as He made atonement for humanity's sins once and for all (Hebrews 9:12).

He will put on the sacred linen garments
The sacred linen garments were worn by the high priest during the Day of Atonement, as detailed inLeviticus 16:4. These garments symbolized purity and humility, contrasting with the high priest's usual ornate attire. The simplicity of the linen garments points to the humility of Christ, who took on human form (Philippians 2:7) and served as our High Priest. The garments also emphasize the need for holiness when approaching God, a theme echoed throughout Scripture (1 Peter 1:16).

•Leviticus 16:32 starts with a simple, concrete subject: “The priest.” In context, this is Aaron’s successor, the high priest who alone may enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2–3).

• Priestly ministry was God’s idea, not man’s; He chose and sanctified the tribe of Levi for this sacred work (Exodus 28:1;Numbers 18:1).

•Hebrews 5:1 reminds us that “every high priest taken from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God,” underscoring the mediatorial role Moses details in Leviticus.

• Anointing with oil visibly marked the man God had set apart (Leviticus 8:12;Exodus 29:7).

• The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence (1 Samuel 16:13), pointing forward to the Messiah—the “Anointed One” (Psalm 2:2).

•Psalm 133:2 likens priestly anointing oil to unity running down Aaron’s beard, illustrating how God’s blessing flows where He appoints leadership.

• Ordination involved public consecration and the laying on of hands (Numbers 3:3), confirming the priest’s authority before the nation.

•Exodus 29:9 says, “So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons,” linking ordination to lifelong service and accountability.

• By combining anointing and ordination, God made it clear that neither personal ambition nor popular vote installs a high priest—only divine appointment does.

• The office passed from father to son (Exodus 29:29–30), ensuring continuity of teaching and sacrificial practice.

•Numbers 20:26–28 recounts Moses transferring Aaron’s garments to Eleazar, a picture of orderly succession that protected Israel from confusion and false claims.

• This heritage also prefigures our eternal High Priest, Jesus, whose priesthood is guaranteed “by the power of an indestructible life” (Hebrews 7:16).

• The central duty is clear: the high priest “shall make atonement”—covering sin through substitutionary sacrifice (Leviticus 16:6, 15).

• Only on this day could he sprinkle blood inside the veil, satisfying God’s justice and restoring fellowship (Hebrews 9:7).

•Romans 3:25 points to the fulfillment: “God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice, through faith in His blood,” showing that Leviticus anticipates Christ’s once-for-all offering.

• Before entering the Holy of Holies, the high priest exchanged his ornate robes for simple white linen (Leviticus 16:4), emphasizing humility and purity.

•Exodus 28:2 calls priestly garments “for glory and for beauty,” yet on this day even those honors were laid aside, hinting atPhilippians 2:7 where Christ “emptied Himself.”

•Revelation 19:8 describes fine linen as “the righteous acts of the saints,” linking the fabric’s spotless look to the holiness God requires.

Leviticus 16:32 teaches that a divinely chosen, Spirit-anointed, properly ordained high priest, functioning in a hereditary line, must humble himself in pure linen to perform the vital work of atonement on behalf of God’s people. The verse safeguards the office’s legitimacy, highlights the need for holiness, and foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills every detail and secures eternal redemption for all who trust in Him.

And whom he shall consecrate.--Better,and who shall be consecrated.According to the canonical interpretation which obtained during the second Temple, this clause makes the hereditary right to the high priesthood conditional. Unlike property, which descends to the heirs unconditionally, the son of the high priest can only succeed his father if he is morally and physically blameless. The decision upon these points was vested in the community, represented by their elders--the Sanhedrin--who pronounced whether the heir apparent was qualified or disqualified to step into the office of pontiff, and who appointed the delegates to anoint and invest the new high priest with the insignia of his functions.

And shall put on the linen clothes.--Better,and shall put on the linen garments,as it is rendered in the Authorised Version inLeviticus 16:23. This phrase only occurs twice, and in this very section. To render it by two different expressions within so short a space is almost equivalent to depriving it of its identity. Now the priest who has thus been deemed worthy to succeed to this high office is to put on the holy white garments on the Day of Atonement.