The document provides an overview of biblical passages about the priesthood in Leviticus 9-10. It discusses how God chose Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, their responsibilities, and the first sacrifices they performed. It also summarizes the story of Nadab and Abihu being killed for improperly offering "strange fire." The document concludes with discussing the concept of a "biblical theology of worship," including that worship must be in spirit and truth, involve the heart, and result in obedience to God.

1. Leviticus 9:15-24; 10:1-3
Set Apart
“The Priesthood”
November 12, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
http://quotesthoughtsrandom.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/first-things-first.jpg
The Glory of God!
https://forgodalmighty.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/cropped-sunset1.jpg
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6tzRiT-BrDs/TIGM_Ih3dAI/AAAAAAAAAX0/0AJWPvlAfqw/s640/Gods+Glory.jpg

2. November Memory Verse
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Prayer Requests
• Recommendations for Pastor Search Committee to Committee on
Committees.
• Dr. Jason Allen as Interim Pastor.
• Christmas Party – December 7 at The Ivy.
• Carols by Candlelight December 14-17.
References
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Nelson
Publishing, 1997).
• Unless otherwise stated, scriptures are quoted from the NIV Bible.
• Rose Guide To The Tabernacle, (Carson, CA: Rose Publishing, 2008).
• Levy, David, The Tabernacle: Shadows of the Almighty (Bellmawr, NJ: The
Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1993).
Introduction to Leviticus 9 & 10
• Leviticus means “relating to the Levites.”
• Leviticus instructs the details of sacrifices and services in the Tabernacle.
• Leviticus 1-7 describes the sacrificial offerings.
• Leviticus 8 is the ordination of Aaron and his sons.
Lesson Today
1. The concept and necessity of a Priesthood.
2. The ordination of Aaron and his sons.
3. The story of the first Sacrifice and Worship Service at the Tent of Meeting.
4. Discuss the “Biblical Theology of Worship.”
The Setting for Leviticus 9 & 10

3. Definition of Priest
• Priest = “one who officiates.”
• Hebrew for priest = Kohen or Cohen.
The Concept of a Priesthood
• During the patriarchal period, the head of each household functioned as
a mediating priest on behalf of his family (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).
• Job and Noah offered sacrifices to God.
• The first-born son inherited this position.
• When Esau (first-born) sold his birthright, he also sold the role of priesthood.
Israel’s Original Role
Exodus 19:5-6, 8
5 Now if you (Israel) obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations
you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will
be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are
to speak to the Israelites."
8a The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said."
The Concept of a Priesthood
• The plan was for all Israelites to be a “kingdom of priests.”
• As priests they would all be entitled to draw near to God in worship and
demonstrate His standard of holiness to the world.
• Israel sinned against God by breaking the covenant, and they forfeited
the privilege of being a kingdom of priests.
God Chooses Aaron and sons as Priests
Exodus 28:1-3
1 "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with
his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as
priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and
honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters
that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve
me as priest.

4. The Functions of Priests
1. The priests represented the people to God.
- Offered sacrifices from the people.
2. The priests represented God to the people.
- Teachers of the law.
- Blessed the people on behalf of God.
3. The priests guarded God’s sanctuary and guarded the people from the
sanctuary.
- The Levites encamped around the Tabernacle.
- The priests protected the Tabernacle from possible uncleanness of the
people.
- They were in charge of transportation of the Tabernacle.
The Function of the High Priest
1. The ultimate mediator between God and the Israelites.
2. Officiate and conduct certain ceremonies, especially the Day of
Atonement.
3. In charge of the entire priestly order and involved in superintending the
other priests and Levites.
4. The high priest had to live by stricter laws of purity.
The High Priest Vestments

5. Introduction to Leviticus 9
• The Tabernacle had been assembled by Moses (Ex. 40).
• Leviticus 1-7 describes the required offerings – (Burnt, Grain, Fellowship, Sin
and Guilt Offerings).
• Leviticus 8 describes the ordination ceremony of Aaron (High Priest) and
his sons (Priests).
• One duty of the Priests was to make sure that the fire in the altar must
never go out (Lev. 6:12).
Aaron & sons preparing for the priesthood
Leviticus 8:33-36
33 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days
of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days. 34 What
has been done today was commanded by the Lord to make atonement for you.
35 You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven
days and do what the Lord requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have
been commanded." 36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord
commanded through Moses.

6. Leviticus 9:1-6, 15-24
1 On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of
Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, "Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your
burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord. 3 Then say
to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb —both a
year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for a
fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering
mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.'"
5 They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and
the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. 6 Then Moses said,
"This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord
may appear to you."
15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people. He took the goat for
the people's sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he
did with the first one.
16 He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way. 17 He also
brought the grain offering, took a handful of it and burned it on the altar in
addition to the morning's burnt offering.
18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people.
His sons handed him the blood, and he splashed it against the sides of the altar.
19 But the fat portions of the ox and the ram—the fat tail, the layer of fat, the
kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20 these they laid on the breasts, and
then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. 21 Aaron waved the breasts and the right
thigh before the Lord as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.
22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having
sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he
stepped down.
23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out,
they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.
24 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering
and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted
for joy and fell facedown.
• God accepts the sacrifice made for the Israelites by consuming the
offering.
• This is the fire that the priests were to keep burning 24 hours a day.

7. Leviticus 10 – “A Strange Fire”
Leviticus 10:1-5
1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered unauthorized (strange) fire before the Lord, contrary to
his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed
them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the
Lord spoke of when he said:
"'Among those who approach me
I will be proved (show myself) holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.'"
Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, and said
to them, "Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front
of the sanctuary." 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside
the camp, as Moses ordered.

8. Leviticus 10:8-11
8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 "Drink no wine or strong drink, you or
your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be
a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to distinguish between
the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you
are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them
by Moses."
What did Nadab and Abihu do wrong?
• Offered “unauthorized (strange) fire” before the Lord.
• ? The fire was not taken from the altar as prescribed.
• ? Added incense to the censers.
• ? They were possibly drunk while serving as priests.
• God considered it very offensive.
A 2nd Look
Leviticus 10:3
3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
"'Among those who approach me
I will be proved (show myself) holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.'"
Aaron remained silent.
God has clearly prescribed how we should worship Him in the Bible.
• A “biblical theology of worship.”
• Worship is determined by God Himself.
• Hebrews 12:28-29
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let
us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
(godly fear), 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
• Reverence and Awe (godly fear).
Why is God a “consuming fire?”
• Deut. 4:23-24
23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made
with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the
Lord your God has forbidden. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,
a jealous God.
• God will not share His glory with worthless idols.
• God’s holiness separates Him from sinful man.
• Sin is an offense to God’s holiness.

9. Biblical Words for “Worship” – Translated from the Greek & Hebrew
• Latreuo’ = “to serve”
• Used 21 times in NT
• Therapeuo = “therapy, healing”
• Proskuneo’ = “paying homage”
• 1 Cor. 14:25
• Sebazomai = “to render religious honor”
• Rom. 1:25
• Sebomai = “to revere or adore”
• Acts 16:14
• Shakhah = “to bow down”
• OT Hebrew
• Proskhuneo = “to kiss toward (reverence)”
• NT Hebrew
Quote by Os Guinness
“The modern world has scrambled things so badly that today we worship our
work, we work at our play and we play at our worship.”
What is the meaning of Christian worship?
• John 4:24 NKJV
24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth.”
• “in spirit” = born again believer with presence of Holy Spirit, Christ
centered mind, open and repentant heart.
• Galatians 4:6 NKJV
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
• “in truth” = worshipping as a response to God’s Word.
Worship must be based on truth.
• John 4:24 NIV
24 “God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
• Biblical Worship must be based on accurate knowledge of God as He is
revealed in Scripture.
• The “prescriptive principle of worship” follows what is prescribed and
described in the Bible as acceptable in a worship service.
• Each denomination has variations.

10. Worship must be with reverence
• Jesus’ example using the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in
the Temple Luke 18:9-14.
• Pharisee – prayed in pride – “Thank you that I am not like this tax
collector!”
• Tax Collector – prayed in humility “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
• Luke 18:14b
14b “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who
humble themselves will be exalted.”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on
everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by
himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers,
evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and
give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to
heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted.”
Biblical Theology of Worship – Your Heart
• Worship involves more than the externals.
• Isaiah 29:13
13 The Lord says:
"These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught."
• True worship involves the heart and not just going through the motions.

11. Biblical Theology of Worship – A Change of Heart
• A biblical theology of worship will result in worship that produces a
change of heart.
• Worship of God should propel us to greater obedience
• John 14:23-24
23 "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does
not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not
mine but the Father's who sent me."
Paul describes True Worship for Us
Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and
proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Worship is a Lifestyle, Not a Moment in Time
• 1 Cor. 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God.
• True worship is constant, inner praise to the God of Scripture, expressed in
prayer, in song, in service, in giving, and in living.
Revelation 4:8-11
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all
around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on
the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down
before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

12. Next Sunday
Leviticus 16:3-10; 29-10
Set Free
“The Day of Atonement”
Dr. Bill Boteler
November 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

13. Romans 6:23a
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8
8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7
7 “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will
be my children.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be victorious.
Romans 10:9-10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith
and are saved.
Romans 10:13
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have questions or would like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/