Exodus 19:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God instructed him to proclaim to the people that they would become a 'kingdom of priests' and a 'holy nation' if they followed His commands.

Among them will be rulers, among them will be spiritual leaders, and all shall be sanctified, meaning free from the impurities of the pagan nations.

In what form, other than in the flesh, did He make amends for the transgressions of humankind? In what manner did He endure suffering other than in the body, as we have previously stated that Christ experienced affliction in His physical form? In what way was He appointed as a priest if not through a body derived from the priestly lineage?

What is the significance of the phrase, ‘Ye shall be My chosen people from every tongue, for Mine is the whole earth’? I am the Lord, the Creator and Sovereign of all, and as the Creator, I have concern for everyone; however, I have set you apart for myself as My chosen nation. Additionally, He declared, “Ye shall be My royal sanctuary; the people shall be holy” (Ex. 19:6). Just as He selected the Levites from among the tribes of Israel, dedicating them to the sacred priesthood, not out of disregard for the others but so that they could minister to the others as well, He also chose the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

This glorious covenant was initially bestowed upon God's people through Moses, and now it is freely shared with the Gentiles by the apostle Peter (1 Pet. 2:9). They have genuinely placed their faith in Christ, the cornerstone of what Israel once relied upon for salvation. Through faith, the nations are united and designated as a chosen people, distinct from those who, by rejecting the rock of life, have found themselves cast aside (1 Pet. 2:6-7). He has declared them to be a royal priesthood, as they are united in the body of Christ, the supreme King and true High Priest, who justly governs His kingdom and cleanses them from their sins through His own blood sacrifice. He proclaims them a royal priesthood so that they may hold steadfastly to the hope of an eternal kingdom and continually offer sacrifices of repentance without sin to God.

In essence, all of you are priests serving the Most High. The term holy, ‘Kho-desh,’ signifies not only purity but also dedication to God. Had Israel adhered to God's commands and refrained from wandering into idolatrous practices, it could have exemplified a remarkable nation, where each individual embodied truth and represented the highest ideals of humanity. Such individuals would have functioned as priests, wise men before whom all nations would respectfully submit.