What the Bible says about Aaronic Priesthood
(From Forerunner Commentary)
The Aaronic priests were purified for service to God through the transferal of their sins to a bull. Similarly, when an Israelite presented a peace or a sin offering, he laid his hands upon the animal being offered, identifying himself with it and transferring his guilt to the animal. Thus, the animal was set apart by God through the laying on of hands.
Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines: The Laying On of HandsRelated Topics: Aaronic Priesthood | Animal Sacrifices | Laying On of Hands | Peace Offering | Sin Offering | Transferring of Guilt
They fell on their faces out of fear, reverence, respect, awe, and wonder from the knowledge that God was in their midst. The last verse shows that God accepted Aaron and the priests because everything was done according to His will.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Examples of Divine JusticeRelated Topics: Aaronic Priesthood | Awe, Reverential | Divine Justice | Fear of God | God's Justice | Respect | Respect for God | Reverence | Reverential Awe | Wonder
The Aaronic priesthood—including the high priest—was just as sinful as the population that they were to be serving. In order for this to be corrected, it was necessary that the true High Priest be one of divine nature, perfect, and sinless. Jesus Christ was both deity and humanity, and He qualified—through His sinlessness, His offering of His life, and His compassion—to be High Priest for the entirety of humanity. The book of Hebrews points out these things: 1) that He was divine, 2) that He offered His perfect life in sacrifice, and 3) that His mercy qualified Him to be High Priest.
Aaron's sons attained to the priesthood simply by being born into the Aaronic line. Members of the church, though, become priests by means of regeneration, making us part of the Divine Family—and thus brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
John W. Ritenbaugh
New Covenant Priesthood (Part One)