L
Lief_Erikson
Guest
I was deeply intrigued to realize, today, that just as Moses is a type of Christ, Aaron is a type of Peter.
Moses brought the Jews out of physical bondage, Jesus brought them out of spiritual bondage, Moses performed miracles to achieve this and so did Jesus, Moses parted the Red Sea, Jesus parted the curtains of death to lead his people into life, Moses brought the Old Covenant, Jesus the New Covenant, Moses climbed Mount Sinai and came down shining with light so that he had to wear a veil, Jesus climbed a mountain to converse with Moses and Elijah and was transfigured so that he shone like the sun, Moses brought manna down from heaven, Jesus was the bread of life from heaven, Moses brought the words of God to the people in the commandments and Pentateuch Law, Jesus was himself the Word of God and brought to the people his teachings, Moses died without entering the Promised Land, Jesus ascended into heaven before the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost. There are countless parallels showing how Moses prefigures Christ. But I was very intrigued by the fact that Aaron seems to prefigure Peter, as well.
Aaron was Moses’ right hand, Peter was a leader amongst the disciples, their spokesman, in practical terms, Jesus’ right hand man. Aaron was afraid of the people while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, so he made them a golden calf- Peter was afraid of the people while Jesus was in court, so he denied Jesus three times. Aaron held Moses’ staff and spoke for Moses before Pharaoh, just as Jesus blessed Peter and the apostles with his power and teaching and sent them out to convert many. The description of Aaron’s role in Sirach 45:6-22 is quite amazing, in how it ties directly to Catholic teaching about the pope. I’ll just cite a few examples here:
v. 6-8 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses who was his brother, of the tribe of Levi. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and put a glorious robe on him. He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with the symbols of authority, the linen undergarments, the long robe, and the ephod.
v. 15 Moses ordained him, and anointed him with holy oil; it was an everlasting covenant for him and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure, to minister to the Lord and serve as priest and bless his people in his name.
v. 16 He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord, incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, to make atonement for the people.
v. 17 In his commandments he gave him authority and statutes and judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel with his law.
Aaron was also given “the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim,” which is like the papal gift of infallibility, and this oracle of judgment was “with twisted crimson, the work of an artisan; with precious stones engraved like seals, in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler, to commemorate in engraved letters each of the tribes of Israel; with a gold crown upon his turban, inscribed like a seal with ‘Holiness’ . . .”
His was the engraved spiritual authority “with a gold crown” sealing “each of the tribes of Israel,” just as the pope has this authority over the Church. And it was a role that, “No outsider ever put on, but only his sons and his descendants in perpetuity” (v. 13), just as the authority of the pope was only for him and subsequent popes, and Rome’s authority was final and limited to Rome. He had authority to “teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Isarel with his law,” just as the pope does, and he wears a crown inscribed like a seal with ‘Holiness,’ just as the pope has authority and inerrancy, complete holiness of teaching, when he uses the charisma of infallibility. Aaron’s role was an “everlasting covenant for him and for his descendants,” but their line died, didn’t it? No, because, like the rest of the Old Covenant, they were fulfilled in Peter and the line of the popes! Thus the scripture was not broken, and Aaron’s line continues, and the authority is not ended but fulfilled and made perfect!
This description of Aaron in Sirach 45 truly has amazing parallels to Peter, as does the rest of Aaron’s story in the Old Testament.
On a side-note, Leviticus 21:16-24 also predicts the use of Confession before the Eucharist.
Moses brought the Jews out of physical bondage, Jesus brought them out of spiritual bondage, Moses performed miracles to achieve this and so did Jesus, Moses parted the Red Sea, Jesus parted the curtains of death to lead his people into life, Moses brought the Old Covenant, Jesus the New Covenant, Moses climbed Mount Sinai and came down shining with light so that he had to wear a veil, Jesus climbed a mountain to converse with Moses and Elijah and was transfigured so that he shone like the sun, Moses brought manna down from heaven, Jesus was the bread of life from heaven, Moses brought the words of God to the people in the commandments and Pentateuch Law, Jesus was himself the Word of God and brought to the people his teachings, Moses died without entering the Promised Land, Jesus ascended into heaven before the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost. There are countless parallels showing how Moses prefigures Christ. But I was very intrigued by the fact that Aaron seems to prefigure Peter, as well.
Aaron was Moses’ right hand, Peter was a leader amongst the disciples, their spokesman, in practical terms, Jesus’ right hand man. Aaron was afraid of the people while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, so he made them a golden calf- Peter was afraid of the people while Jesus was in court, so he denied Jesus three times. Aaron held Moses’ staff and spoke for Moses before Pharaoh, just as Jesus blessed Peter and the apostles with his power and teaching and sent them out to convert many. The description of Aaron’s role in Sirach 45:6-22 is quite amazing, in how it ties directly to Catholic teaching about the pope. I’ll just cite a few examples here:
v. 6-8 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses who was his brother, of the tribe of Levi. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and put a glorious robe on him. He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with the symbols of authority, the linen undergarments, the long robe, and the ephod.
v. 15 Moses ordained him, and anointed him with holy oil; it was an everlasting covenant for him and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure, to minister to the Lord and serve as priest and bless his people in his name.
v. 16 He chose him out of all the living to offer sacrifice to the Lord, incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion, to make atonement for the people.
v. 17 In his commandments he gave him authority and statutes and judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel with his law.
Aaron was also given “the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim,” which is like the papal gift of infallibility, and this oracle of judgment was “with twisted crimson, the work of an artisan; with precious stones engraved like seals, in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler, to commemorate in engraved letters each of the tribes of Israel; with a gold crown upon his turban, inscribed like a seal with ‘Holiness’ . . .”
His was the engraved spiritual authority “with a gold crown” sealing “each of the tribes of Israel,” just as the pope has this authority over the Church. And it was a role that, “No outsider ever put on, but only his sons and his descendants in perpetuity” (v. 13), just as the authority of the pope was only for him and subsequent popes, and Rome’s authority was final and limited to Rome. He had authority to “teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Isarel with his law,” just as the pope does, and he wears a crown inscribed like a seal with ‘Holiness,’ just as the pope has authority and inerrancy, complete holiness of teaching, when he uses the charisma of infallibility. Aaron’s role was an “everlasting covenant for him and for his descendants,” but their line died, didn’t it? No, because, like the rest of the Old Covenant, they were fulfilled in Peter and the line of the popes! Thus the scripture was not broken, and Aaron’s line continues, and the authority is not ended but fulfilled and made perfect!
This description of Aaron in Sirach 45 truly has amazing parallels to Peter, as does the rest of Aaron’s story in the Old Testament.
On a side-note, Leviticus 21:16-24 also predicts the use of Confession before the Eucharist.
