Single lesson
Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant
Sirach 45:1–5; Sirach 45:6–22; Sirach 45:23–26
Sirach 45:1–5 praises Moses in careful, weighty language. Rather than retelling a story, it gathers key descriptions of who he was, what God did for him, and why he received God’s commandments. This lesson also brings together Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated, Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership.
Before you teach
In these verses from Sirach, Moses is described through a series of statements about God’s action toward him. The passage speaks of favour, glory, faithfulness, meekness, God’s voice, and the commandments Moses received in order to teach Jacob and Israel.
Explain the central teaching of Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant, using two details from the reading. Sirach 45:1–5 presents Moses as one whom God loved, sanctified, chose, and entrusted with commandments to teach the covenant and God’s judgments. Sirach presents Aaron’s priesthood as a holy calling given by God, marked by service, remembrance, teaching, and dependence on the Lord. This prayer links lasting leadership with wisdom of heart and righteous judgement before God.
Welcome: Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant
5 minIntroduce “Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant”, “Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated”, “Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership” and locate Sirach 45:1–5; Sirach 45:6–22; Sirach 45:23–26. Sirach 45:1–5 presents Moses as one whom God loved, sanctified, chose, and entrusted with commandments to teach the covenant and God’s judgments. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Sirach 45:1, Sirach 45:3, Sirach 45:5
Read and explain the passage
12 minMoses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant (Sirach 45:1–5): The passage begins by calling Moses “a man of mercy”. It says he “found favor in the sight of all people” and was “loved by God and men”. It also says, “his memory is blessed.” These phrases present Moses as honoured, loved, and remembered with blessing.
Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated (Sirach 45:6–22): The passage begins by saying Aaron was exalted as a holy man like Moses, and identifies him as Moses’ brother from Levi. God established an everlasting covenant with him and gave him the priesthood of the people. His glorious robe shows that this role carries honour as well as responsibility.
Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership (Sirach 45:23–26): The passage begins by naming Phinehas as "third in glory" and explaining why. He was zealous in the fear of the Lord, stood firm when the people turned away, and made atonement for Israel. The emphasis is on his faithful response to God, not on extra details beyond this verse.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant”, “Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated”, “Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 45:1, Sirach 45:6, Sirach 45:7, Sirach 45:23
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “Which exact phrases in verse 1 show how highly Moses is spoken of?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This prayer links lasting leadership with wisdom of heart and righteous judgement before God. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 45:1, Sirach 45:14, Sirach 45:15, Sirach 45:16, Sirach 45:17, Sirach 45:26
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
12 minWork on “Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant”, “Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated”, “Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 45:1, Sirach 45:14, Sirach 45:26
Closing: return to Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership
3 minRevisit Sirach 45:23–26. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 45:23, Sirach 45:25, Sirach 45:26
Questions to explore
Which exact phrases in verse 1 show how highly Moses is spoken of?
Look for the direct descriptions, including “a man of mercy”, “found favor”, “loved by God and men”, and “his memory is blessed”.
Sirach 45:1
Which priestly tasks are named in this passage?
List the actions the text gives Aaron, including worship, blessing, atonement, and teaching.
Sirach 45:14, Sirach 45:15, Sirach 45:16, Sirach 45:17
What does the prayer ask God to give, and why?
The request is for wisdom in the heart, and the stated purpose is judging the people in righteousness so their good things and glory remain.
Sirach 45:26
Make, think or respond
Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Sirach 45:1–5; Sirach 45:6–22; Sirach 45:23–26. Use “Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant”, “Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated”, “Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Sirach 45: Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Moses is honored as the faithful teacher of covenant”, “Aaron’s priesthood, vestments, and inheritance are celebrated”, “Phinehas’s covenant leads to a prayer for wise leadership” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 45:1–5; Sirach 45:6–22; Sirach 45:23–26. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 45:1–5; Sirach 45:6–22; Sirach 45:23–26. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 45
1 He brought out of him a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all people, a man loved by God and men, even Moses, whose memory is blessed.
2 He made him equal to the glory of the saints, and magnified him in the fears of his enemies.
3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease. God glorified him in the sight of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and showed him part of his glory.
4 He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness. He chose him out of all people.
5 He made him to hear his voice, led him into the thick darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments.
6 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
7 He established an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and dressed him in a glorious robe.
8 He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with symbols of authority: the linen trousers, the long robe, and the ephod.
9 He encircled him with pomegranates; with many golden bells around him, to make a sound as he went, to make a sound that might be heard in the temple, for a reminder for the children of his people;
10 with a holy garment, with gold, blue, and purple, the work of the embroiderer; with an oracle of judgment—Urim and Thummim;
11 with twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; with precious stones engraved like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller, for a reminder engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel;
12 with a crown of gold upon the mitre, having engraved on it, as on a signet, “HOLINESS”, an ornament of honor, the work of an expert, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.
13 Before him there never have been anything like it. No stranger put them on, but only his sons and his offspring perpetually.
14 His sacrifices shall be wholly burned, twice every day continually.
15 Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil. It was an everlasting covenant with him and to his offspring, all the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord, to serve as a priest, and to bless his people in his name.
16 He chose him out of all living to offer sacrifice to the Lord— incense, and a sweet fragrance, for a memorial, to make atonement for your people.
17 He gave to him in his commandments, authority in the covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel in his law.
18 Strangers conspired against him and envied him in the wilderness: Dathan and Abiram with their company, and the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger.
19 The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. In the wrath of his anger, they were destroyed. He did wonders upon them, to consume them with flaming fire.
20 He added glory to Aaron, and gave him a heritage. He divided to him the first fruits of the increase, and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance.
21 For they eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring.
22 However, in the land of the people, he has no inheritance, and he has no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is your portion and inheritance.
23 Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, in that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, and stood fast when the people turned away, and he made atonement for Israel.
24 Therefore, a covenant of peace was established for him, that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, that he and his offspring should have the dignity of the priesthood forever.
25 Also he made a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son. So the inheritance of Aaron is also to his seed.
26 May God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things may not be abolished, and that their glory may endure for all their generations.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.