Leviticus 10:16-20 - Homilies By S.r. Aldridge

Moses and Aaron an allegory.

Moses may be taken as the impersonation of the Law which was given by his hand (see Luke 16:29 ; Acts 15:21 ). Hence the "body of Moses," about which Michael disputed with Satan, is by some supposed to denote the substance of the Law ( Jude 1:9 ). In this view he appeared upon the mount of transfiguration, surrendering to Christ, who, in like manner, impersonated his gospel ( Matthew 17:3-5 ). So the vail over Moses' face represented the shadows in which the Law invested the glory of the Lord until the death of Christ, when the darkness passed away and the true light shined forth. Hence, when the vail, that is to say, the flesh of Christ, was tom in death, the vail of the temple was rent from the top throughout ( Matthew 27:50 , Matthew 27:51 ; 2 Corinthians 3:7 ; Hebrews 9:3 , Hebrews 9:8 ; Hebrews 10:19 , Hebrews 10:20 ). Aaron's function was to bring out the spiritual meaning of the Law; and so he was a type of Christ, who came not to destroy but to fulfill it. Bearing these things in mind, light may be let in upon the remarkable passage before us. We have here—

I. THE ANGER OF MOSES .

1 . Look at the history in the letter.

2 . Now look at the moral.

II. THE EXPLANATION OF AARON .

1 . The anger of Moses was with the sons of Aaron.

2 . But Aaron speaks in his own person for his sons.

3 . But what is the import of Aaron's words ( Leviticus 10:19 )?