I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the LORD as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the LORD will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.

Num. 18:12-13 NIV

Why do some men may receive more honour than others?

All men and women have the same worth and value; the immense value of being a human being. Even foetuses that haven't been fully formed in the womb yet, have an extremely great value; the immense value of being a human being.

 However, some men have been chosen to represent the Eternal before the people in a special manner. They are set apart and are in a higher level of authority and responsibility than the rest of the people. This doesn't mean that their worth as human beings is higher than the others'. It's only the position and the task they have which has a higher value.

The priests, and specially the high priest have the right to receive the offerings that the people bring to the Eternal, because they represent the Eternal on earth. The one who honours the priest thinking that he is a superior human being is not doing right. We are all the same before the Eternal. But the one who honours the priest because of the position and responsibility he has, is honouring the Eternal.

Every human being must be honoured because he was created in the image and likeness of the Eternal. However, those chosen by the Eternal to be His representatives must be doubly honoured, as human beings and as ministers of the Eternal. The one who honours the minister for being the minister of the Eternal is honouring the Eternal. The one who gives presents or goods to the ministers for being ministers of the Eternal, are giving those goods to the Eternal; He sees their hearts and will reward them for those offerings.

We are not exalting any man over the rest of the people; we are lifting up the Eternal who gave certain men those powers to be over others.

May the Eternal help us see the difference between these two things.

Ketriel