John Calvin Commentary Exodus 28:1

"And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest`s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron`s sons." — Exodus 28:1 (ASV)

And take thou unto thee Aaron. The calling of God is here presented to prove the importance and dignity of the priesthood, and the Apostle has also weighed this carefully in the words:

And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. (Hebrews 5:4)

Among pagan nations, priests were appointed by popular election, so that ambition alone governed their appointment. But God would only have those considered lawful priests whom He had selected by His own will alone. Surely the entire human race together had no power to impose anyone on God, who might interpose himself to obtain pardon and peace. Indeed, not even Christ Himself would have been sufficient to propitiate God unless He had undertaken the office by His Father's decree and appointment.

To this refers the famous oath by which His heavenly Father appointed Him to be priest. And all the more vile and detestable was the sacrilege that afterward prevailed in the Jewish nation, namely, that the successors of Aaron bought the priesthood! This unworthy traffic of the office, which Josephus relates, ought to awaken horror in us now when we see that sacred honor profaned by the family that God had chosen to represent Christ.

Nevertheless, however much they may have violated all law and justice, the counsel of God still remained inviolable, so that believers might know that the priesthood depended on His authority, just as reconciliation flows from His mere mercy. For if it were lawful for men to establish a priest, it would be necessary for them to anticipate God by their own merits; and from this they are very far removed.

The case is different regarding the election of pastors of the Church. After Christ instituted the order itself, He commanded that those who by their doctrine and integrity of life were fitted to exercise the office should be chosen from the Church. Still, He does not thereby resign His own right and power to men, for He does not cease to call through them those (by whom He would be served¹⁶⁰).

Therefore, to show that He is the sole author of the priesthood, God commands Aaron and his sons to be separated from the others; and the performance of this He entrusts to Moses, whom, however, He does not elevate to the same honor.

Moses consecrates Aaron, although he himself was never dedicated by anointing and investiture to the service of God.¹⁶¹ From this we perceive that the sacraments derive their power and effect not from the virtue of the minister, but only from the commandment of God. For Moses would not have given to others what he did not have himself, if it had not so pleased God.

¹⁶⁰ Added from Fr.

¹⁶¹ “Ad Dei cultum.” —.” — Lat. “A sacrifier.” — .” — Fr..