Leviticus 8:14-30

He brought the bullock for the sin-offering, &c.— They who were to offer sacrifice for the sins of others, first needed to make atonement for their own. Nothing fits a minister to deal with wounded consciences, or engages him to have compassion on the tempted, so much as an humbling sense of his own sins.

A bullock was offered as a sin-offering, a ram as a burnt-offering, and another for consecration; the blood of which was partly sprinkled upon the altar, and partly put upon their right ears, thumbs, and great toes, and on their garments; and a cake of the bread-offering was put into their hands with the wave-shoulder, and burnt upon the altar. Hence learn, 1. That they who are called to the office of the ministry ought to be deeply thankful to God for the honour he puts upon them. 2. Every priest is married to the altar, and engages to give up himself wholly to the work of the ministry. 3. We shall always minister with comfort to others when we have the blood of sprinkling speaking peace to our own souls.