Leviticus 22: Holiness in Offerings and Offerers
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the Lord.
Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;
The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.
And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.
That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the Lord.
They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the Lord do sanctify them.
There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.
But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.
If the priest’s daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.
But if the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.
And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.
And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the Lord;
Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the Lord do sanctify them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering;
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the Lord.
Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.
And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.
On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the Lord.
Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 22 delves into the crucial theme of holiness, specifically focusing on the qualifications for priests and the standards for sacrificial animals. This chapter underscores the profound respect and reverence due to God and His holy things. It serves as a powerful reminder that approaching God requires purity and integrity, both in our actions and in our offerings. Let's explore the depths of Leviticus 22 and uncover its timeless truths.
The Priests' Responsibility (Leviticus 22:1-16)
This section highlights the solemn responsibility placed upon the priests in handling the holy offerings. Leviticus 22:2 emphasizes the crucial point: priests were to treat the holy offerings with utmost respect, lest they profane God's holy name. This extended even to how they consumed these offerings. God's repeated affirmation, "I am the LORD who sets them apart" (Leviticus 22:9, 16), underscores the gravity of their duties. Any priest who knowingly approached the holy offerings while unclean was to be cut off from God's presence (Leviticus 22:3). This wasn't merely a matter of ritual; it was a matter of respecting God's holiness and the sacred nature of the offerings.
God graciously provided for the priests' needs through portions of the people's sacrifices. However, because these meals were comprised of food offered in sacrifice, they were considered holy (Leviticus 22:10). Strict regulations were put in place regarding who could partake of these meals at the priest's table (Leviticus 22:10-16). Only family members under his roof were permitted, as it was inappropriate for non-priests to benefit from the congregation's offerings. Should an Israelite mistakenly eat a holy offering, they were required to add a fifth of its value and return the offering to the priest (Leviticus 22:14). This highlights the importance of awareness and adherence to God's laws, even in unintentional transgressions.
Unblemished Offerings (Leviticus 22:17-33)
The focus shifts to the animals presented for sacrifice. These animals were to be without blemish or defect (Leviticus 22:18-25). This standard symbolized the perfect and unblemished nature of God and the need for offerings that reflected His holiness. Any animal with physical flaws was deemed unacceptable, emphasizing the principle that only the best should be offered to God.
The chapter concludes with a powerful reminder of God's grace and redemption: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God" (Leviticus 22:33). This statement encapsulates the foundational reason for obedience and holiness. God had already demonstrated His love and power by delivering the Israelites from slavery. Their response should be a life of gratitude and devotion, expressed through obedience to His commands.
This truth resonates deeply with us today. As Christians, we are reminded that God sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from His righteous judgment. This ultimate act of love compels us to live a life that honors Him. Why would we choose any other path but to live for Him, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1)?
Leviticus 22 serves as a powerful reminder that holiness is not merely an external observance but a reflection of an internal commitment to God. It challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that our actions and offerings are pleasing to Him. Just as the priests and the sacrifices were to be set apart, so too are we called to be a holy people, dedicated to serving and honoring the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the Lord.
Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;
The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.
And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.
That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the Lord.
They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the Lord do sanctify them.
There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.
But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.
If the priest’s daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.
But if the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.
And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.
And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the Lord;
Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the Lord do sanctify them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering;
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the Lord.
Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
Neither from a stranger’s hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.
And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.
On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the Lord.
Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 22 delves into the crucial theme of holiness, specifically focusing on the qualifications for priests and the standards for sacrificial animals. This chapter underscores the profound respect and reverence due to God and His holy things. It serves as a powerful reminder that approaching God requires purity and integrity, both in our actions and in our offerings. Let's explore the depths of Leviticus 22 and uncover its timeless truths.
The Priests' Responsibility (Leviticus 22:1-16)
This section highlights the solemn responsibility placed upon the priests in handling the holy offerings. Leviticus 22:2 emphasizes the crucial point: priests were to treat the holy offerings with utmost respect, lest they profane God's holy name. This extended even to how they consumed these offerings. God's repeated affirmation, "I am the LORD who sets them apart" (Leviticus 22:9, 16), underscores the gravity of their duties. Any priest who knowingly approached the holy offerings while unclean was to be cut off from God's presence (Leviticus 22:3). This wasn't merely a matter of ritual; it was a matter of respecting God's holiness and the sacred nature of the offerings.
God graciously provided for the priests' needs through portions of the people's sacrifices. However, because these meals were comprised of food offered in sacrifice, they were considered holy (Leviticus 22:10). Strict regulations were put in place regarding who could partake of these meals at the priest's table (Leviticus 22:10-16). Only family members under his roof were permitted, as it was inappropriate for non-priests to benefit from the congregation's offerings. Should an Israelite mistakenly eat a holy offering, they were required to add a fifth of its value and return the offering to the priest (Leviticus 22:14). This highlights the importance of awareness and adherence to God's laws, even in unintentional transgressions.
Unblemished Offerings (Leviticus 22:17-33)
The focus shifts to the animals presented for sacrifice. These animals were to be without blemish or defect (Leviticus 22:18-25). This standard symbolized the perfect and unblemished nature of God and the need for offerings that reflected His holiness. Any animal with physical flaws was deemed unacceptable, emphasizing the principle that only the best should be offered to God.
The chapter concludes with a powerful reminder of God's grace and redemption: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God" (Leviticus 22:33). This statement encapsulates the foundational reason for obedience and holiness. God had already demonstrated His love and power by delivering the Israelites from slavery. Their response should be a life of gratitude and devotion, expressed through obedience to His commands.
This truth resonates deeply with us today. As Christians, we are reminded that God sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from His righteous judgment. This ultimate act of love compels us to live a life that honors Him. Why would we choose any other path but to live for Him, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1)?
Leviticus 22 serves as a powerful reminder that holiness is not merely an external observance but a reflection of an internal commitment to God. It challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that our actions and offerings are pleasing to Him. Just as the priests and the sacrifices were to be set apart, so too are we called to be a holy people, dedicated to serving and honoring the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind.