God provided detailed and insistent instructions to the Levitical priests regarding their ceremonial responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of carrying them out exactly as He commanded. Failure to adhere to these instructions carried severe consequences, including the death penalty, as evidenced by the events in Leviticus 10 with Nadab and Abihu, and in Numbers 16-18 where nearly 15,000 perished as a testimony to the seriousness of following sacrificial and offering instructions precisely. Under the Old Covenant, only the priests were required to present offerings at the temple and on the brazen altar in the presence of God on suitable occasions, performing the actual work of the sacrifices. The church, designated as a priesthood under the New Covenant, must study these Old Covenant practices in detail to understand their position and responsibilities before God, transferring and applying them spiritually. Though physical offerings such as burnt, meal, peace, trespass, sin, firstfruits, or drink offerings are no longer required at a temple, their symbolic significance remains essential every day for the New Covenant priesthood. The church, as a priesthood in training, is expected to perform certain functions in preparation for formal installation at Christ's return and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, when this priesthood will appear suddenly and fully formed. Even now, the church carries priesthood responsibilities, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The Levitical priesthood operated with a significant shortcoming, being as sinful as the population they served, necessitating a true High Priest of divine nature, perfect and sinless, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In contrast to Aaron's sons who attained priesthood by birth, the church becomes priests through regeneration, making them part of the Divine Family and brothers of Jesus Christ, thus qualified to draw near to God on behalf of humanity.

The Levitical priesthood, as described, was a foundational system of service at the tabernacle and temple, marked by specific garments and symbolic meanings. Priests, including both high and ordinary, wore head coverings while serving, symbolizing their submission to God's authority. The high priest's attire included a white linen turban and a gold crown across the forehead engraved with "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," held by a blue cord, reflecting colors of divinity, righteousness, and grace or holiness. These elements, positioned on the head, underscored the importance of wisdom and righteous thought, as the head rules the body. The Levitical priesthood was physical in nature, serving only Israel and those who worshipped at the temple and tabernacle under the first covenant. It contrasted with the spiritual and eternal Melchizedek priesthood under Jesus Christ, which is universal, royal, and righteous. Unlike the Melchizedek priesthood, the Aaronic priesthood did not involve offering themselves as sacrifices; they offered animals instead. Historical examples, such as Nadab and Abihu, illustrate the consequences of reckless disregard for their office, emphasizing the need for clear-headed dedication in service. The Levitical priesthood set patterns as forerunners to a higher priesthood. Their role required commitment to distinguish between holy and profane, clean and unclean, and to teach God's laws, serving as a constant reminder of the need for holiness in thought and action before God and the people.

The church, like Israel, is intended by God to be unique, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, tasked with making sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ and showing forth His praises. This distinctiveness is reflected in the priesthood's responsibilities, as seen in the Old Testament rituals that emphasize separation and cleanliness. In Leviticus 22, the priesthood is commanded to consecrate themselves, meaning they must dedicate themselves to remain clean when receiving offerings devoted to God. They are not allowed to be unclean, as they receive a portion of these offerings, symbolizing their role in maintaining purity. The defiling elements that make a person unclean may not inherently be sin, but they represent and symbolize sin and its effects. God declares a person unclean and unsuited to serve Him until the defilement is removed through prescribed washing ceremonies. This underscores the importance of avoiding contamination, as human nature easily attracts defilement. Above all people in Israel, the priests had to be clean, primarily in a physical sense, though moral, spiritual, and ethical cleanliness is implied. For the church, this cleanliness is primarily spiritual, moral, and ethical, with the physical implied, serving as a reminder of how serious God is about not being contaminated by the world. The entire church is designated as a priesthood, as noted in I Peter, carrying the responsibility to maintain cleanliness and separation from worldly contamination. This role involves casting off personal defilement from paganism or worldliness, as seen in the urgent commands to the Jews returning from Babylonian captivity to restore true worship. The priests were tasked with carrying the holy vessels, symbolizing their duty to remain pure, a principle that applies to the church in its spiritual priesthood. Through these responsibilities, the church witnesses to the world and to itself, reinforcing its distinct identity and purpose as a separated people called to glorify God.