John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 9:22

"And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings." — Leviticus 9:22 (ASV)

And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people. This was a kind of application of the sacrifice, so that the people might know that God was reconciled to them through the priest as their mediator and surety.

The form of benediction⁴¹⁴ has already been expounded. For now, let this one point suffice: when the priests, by lifting up their hands, testified to God’s paternal favor toward the people, their commission was ratified and efficacious. Sacred history presents us with a memorable instance of this, where it records that:

the priests and Levites blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven. (2 Chronicles 30:27).

The fulfillment of this type was eventually manifested in Christ, who is not only the source and cause of blessing, but also publishes it by the Gospel with effectual results. For He came to preach peace to them which were afar off, and to them that were nigh, (Ephesians 2:17); and although He does not appear or speak in a visible form, yet we know what He says, namely, that:

whatsoever His disciples shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever they shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18).

⁴¹⁴ See ante on on Numbers 6:22-27, , vol. 2, p. 245 et seq..