Leviticus 21:1-24
Q.1. How could a priest disrespect his calling … and God? Why were some marital relationships to be avoided? – (Lev.21:1-9)
God had warned Israel not to practice the abominable customs of the surrounding nations whom He had removed from the land (c.f. Lev.18:3, 24-30). The Lord told Moses that He required an even higher standard to be observed by the priests – no one shall defile himself for a dead person among his people (Lev.21:1 c.f. Lev.21:1-4). They were not to tattoo their bodies or cut off their hair or beards. For – they shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God for they present the offerings by fire to the Lord, the food of their God; They shall be holy (Lev.21:6 c.f. Deut.14:1-2). They were not to copy the heathen nations or make heroes of them. Nothing should distract the people from their focus on God. They were commanded to avoid the distractions and complications arising from marriages to either harlots or divorced people (Lev.21:7-9). They were to model to the rest of the nation, love, and loyalty in the marriage relationship.
Q.2. Was divorce recognized under the Law? What prohibitions were to be observed by priests? How important was the anointing oil? – (Lev.21:7-15)
Not only was divorce addressed in the Law, divorce and remarriage was also accepted as part of the fabric of society (Lev.21:7 & 14 c.f. Deut.24:1-4). However, the priests were to model God’s standard, for the marriage to be of one man to one woman (Lev.21:7-8, 13-15). The High Priest, once the anointing oil had been applied, was not to express grief the same way as did the rest of the people – 10 The priest who is the highest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes; 11 nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself even for his father or his mother; 12 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the Lord (Lev.21:10-12). To be a priest required complete devotion (c.f. 1 Pet.2:9; Rev.1:6).
Q.3. Why were priests with defects precluded from serving at the temple? What concession was made for those with defects? – (Lev.21:16-24)
The priesthood was a picture of God’s perfect High Priest, Who would become the sacrifice for sin, and also the One to represent us before our holy God (c.f. Heb.1:3; 4:14-16; 7:23-25). Nothing about a priest should distract him or the people from the worship of God. For that reason – No man of your offspring throughout your generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God (Lev.21:17). Nevertheless, those priests who did not qualify because of a defect, were still provided for from the offerings for priests – He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and the holy (Lev.21:22).