Washing first. Before the garments, before the anointing, before any service — washing. The priest cannot serve until he has been cleansed.

Titus 3:5 — Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Every priestly believer is washed before commissioned.

The anointing oil poured on the head — a picture of the Holy Spirit descending. Psalm 133:2 — as the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard.

Every believer in Christ is anointed with the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20, 27). The oil poured on Aaron's head ran down his beard onto his garments. So the Spirit poured on the Head of the Body (Christ) flows down onto every member — the church.

Blood applied to ear, thumb, and toe. Hearing, doing, walking — the three primary activities of the priest. All three must be consecrated.

For the believer, the same applies. The ear must hear God; the hand must work for Him; the foot must walk in His way. None of the three can be left unconsecrated. Blood on each member is the picture of total dedication.

Every day. Daily atonement was required. The sin offering was not a one-time event but a continual reality. Even the altar itself was cleansed daily.

The contrast with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12) is striking. The Levitical priests offered daily because the offerings could not finally cleanse. Christ offered Himself once and for ever sat down on the right hand of God. The repetition of the Old Testament was the prelude to the finality of the New.

A continual burnt offering — morning and evening, day after day, generation after generation. The fire on the altar never went out (Leviticus 6:13). The priestly ministry was unending.

Christ's offering is once-for-all (Hebrews 10:14). But the believer's response to it is continual — the living sacrifice of Romans 12:1, offered daily. The fire of devotion on the altar of the heart should never go out.

The purpose of the whole chapter. The priests are consecrated that I may dwell among them. All the ritual, the blood, the oil, the garments — all of it for the indwelling presence of God.

For the New Testament believer, the indwelling has moved from a tent in the camp to the body of each Christian (1 Corinthians 6:19). God's dwelling place is now personal. The fulfillment of Exodus 29:45 is happening every time a believer breathes.

The redeeming purpose of the Exodus stated again. They were brought out of Egypt not just to be free, but so He could dwell among them.

Salvation is means to a greater end. Deliverance from sin is the prerequisite, not the goal. The goal is God's indwelling presence. To miss this is to mistake the porch for the house.