Leviticus 21
Leviticus 21:1–9: Laws Concerning the Priests This section gives special rules for the priests, who served God in a special way and were examples to the people. God expected the priests to follow the laws they taught the people, not only in words but also in how they lived (Leviticus 10:10,11 a). Because priests went closer to God and worked in the sanctuary, they had to avoid anything that would make them unclean or lower the honor of their priesthood (1 Timothy 4:12 b).vv. 1–3: Priests were not allowed to make themselves unclean by mourning for the dead, except for their closest family members, like parents, children, brothers, or an unmarried sister (Leviticus 21:1-3 c). This rule even included their wives, unless God gave a special command not to mourn, as in Ezekiel’s case (Ezekiel 24:17 d). God allowed this because He values natural affection, but the priests could not let their sorrow keep them from serving in the sanctuary for more than seven days. – – v. 4: Priests were not allowed to become unclean for anyone else, not even for a “chief man among the people.” Only close family members counted. This was to keep the priests from being kept away from their duties too often and to show special honor for close relatives . v. 5: Priests could not use superstitious or pagan ways to mourn, like cutting their hair or skin, which was common among other nations . They also should not show too much emotion. As spiritual leaders, priests needed to be examples of patience and hope, even in sadness (1 Thessalonians 4:13 e). The same rules about mourning also applied to all Israelites (Leviticus 19:27,28 f), but it was especially important for priests. v. 6: Priests had to be extra careful because they offered the “bread of their God”—the sacrifices on the altar. They were given a special honor by God and always busy with holy work, so they had to keep themselves pure and never act in a way that would bring shame to God’s name . v. 7: Priests were not allowed to marry women with a bad reputation, such as prostitutes or women who behaved indecently. They could not marry a divorced woman either, because there might be suspicion about her past . This rule was stricter than for ordinary Israelites. If a priest’s wife was not honorable, it could hurt the priest’s reputation and the respect for the priesthood. Leaders in the New Testament were also told to marry women of good character (1 Timothy 3:11 g). v. 8: God tells Moses and all Israel to make sure the priests stay holy and respected. The people should do their best to honor the priests, because God has chosen them to be holy. Christians are also taught to honor their spiritual leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:13 h). v. 9: If a priest’s daughter became a prostitute, her punishment was severe—she was to be burned with fire . This was because she not only disgraced herself but also brought shame on her father and the priesthood. The children of spiritual leaders must be careful not to do anything that would bring dishonor, since their actions are judged more strictly. Leviticus 21:10–15: Rules for the High Priest This section gives special laws for the high priest. The high priest had a higher position than other priests because he was anointed with special oil and wore special clothes . These things pointed to Jesus Christ, who is the perfect and most honored High Priest. Because the high priest had such a great responsibility and honor, he also had stricter rules.v. 10: The high priest was not allowed to show normal signs of mourning, such as uncovering his head or tearing his clothes, even if someone close to him died (Leviticus 21:10 i). He was expected to put God’s work first and be more focused on serving the people than on his own personal feelings. v. 11: He could not go near any dead body, not even for his father or mother. This rule was stricter than for other priests. If the high priest became unclean, there would be no one else to take his place . This showed the importance of his role. In the Old Testament, the high priest had to stay completely separate from death. In the New Testament, Jesus, our High Priest, was different—He touched the dead to give them life (Deuteronomy 33:8,9 j). v. 12: The high priest was not allowed to leave the sanctuary while he was serving. Even if a close family member died, he could not leave his duties. This showed that serving God was more important than anything else . Jesus also showed this attitude, not stopping His work to see His mother and brothers (Matthew 12:48 k). vv. 13–14: The high priest was not allowed to marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a prostitute. He could only marry a virgin from his own people (Leviticus 21:13,14 l). This rule made him even more distinct from other priests. It also pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who would have a pure and holy people as His church (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ezekiel 44:22 m; Song of Solomon 1:3; Revelation 14:4 n). – v. 15: The high priest was not to “profane his seed.” This means he had to make sure his children kept a good reputation and did not act in a way that brought shame on his family . He also had to be careful to arrange good marriages for his children. Ministers today should also teach their children to live in a way that honors God (2 Chronicles 22:11 o). Leviticus 21:16–24: Priests with Blemishes This passage explains the rules for priests who had physical defects or blemishes. Since the priesthood was passed down through one family, it was likely that some men would be born with or develop physical problems. God gives directions on how these priests were to be treated and what their roles could be in the sanctuary. vv. 17, 21, 23: Priests with physical defects could not serve at the altar or help with sacrifices. They could not perform duties like offering sacrifices or burning incense. God wanted those who served in these visible roles to be physically whole, because people often judge by outward appearance. If a priest looked awkward or had a visible deformity, people might disrespect the sanctuary or take the worship less seriously (Leviticus 21:17,21,23 p). – – – – v. 22: Even though priests with blemishes could not serve at the altar, they were still allowed to eat the holy food—the offerings and sacrifices—just like the other priests. Their physical problems were not their fault, so they were not to be treated badly or left out. God was fair and made sure they were still cared for (Leviticus 21:22 q).General teaching: In the New Testament, physical defects do not stop anyone from offering spiritual sacrifices to God or from serving in ministry if they are otherwise qualified. What really matters is having a pure heart and good character. People whose lives are spoiled by sin—like being spiritually blind or corrupt—are truly unfit to serve God. The bad behavior of priests like Hophni and Phinehas was worse than any physical defect (1 Samuel 2:12-17 r). All Christians, who are called “spiritual priests,” should try to be holy and without blame before God. Even if we have weaknesses here on earth, one day we will stand before God “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27 s).
Copyright information for
MHM