OVERVIEW:
The qualifications of priests; God sets the dates of the Jewish feasts; the death penalty instituted and carried out.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As was mentioned when we began making our way through the Book of Leviticus, most Christians have a hard time actually getting through this Book for the simple fact that they don’t see how it has application to those of us living in the Church Age. But, as we’ve seen, the Book of Leviticus is the Book of the PRIESTHOOD. That alone should perk up our spiritual eyes, ears and minds—because God tells us in 1 Peter 2:5 that He has set you and me apart as “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ!” Wow! The connection is obvious! The priesthood of the Old Testament, provides us graphic pictures of our New Testament priesthood!
You see, the reality is, every born-again believer is a priest. (Rev. 1:6) No, not in the same sense as an Old Testament priest, and certainly not in a Roman Catholic sense—but in a very BIBLICAL sense! As New Testament priests, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of teaching unbelievers to worship God properly—we call that teaching “evangelism.” We have been commissioned to “go… and TEACH all nations.” (Matt. 28:19) But, as New Testament priests, we have also been entrusted with the responsibility of offering up “spiritual sacrifices” that are pleasing to God. Biblically, some of the “spiritual sacrifices” we are to offer to God is our FAITH (Phil. 2:17), our FINANCES (Phil. 4:18), our PRAISE (Heb. 13:15–16), our WITNESS (Rom. 15:16) and most importantly—obviously, our LIVES! (Rom. 12:1–2; 2 Cor. 2:15) Note that all of these “spiritual sacrifices” are symbolically represented by the physical offerings presented by the Old Testament priests.
As we acquaint ourselves with this spiritual/biblical concept, keep in mind that as priests, we are ambassadors, or representatives of God, and as such, have been called by God to represent Him on the earth in HOLINESS! Peter said, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:15-16)
In Leviticus 21, God presents a list of physical blemishes that prevented a potential priest in the Old Testament from offering “the bread of God.” (Lev. 21:16–17) Keep in mind that these “physical blemishes” that were certainly binding upon the Old Testament priesthood, are simply representative of the “spiritual blemishes” that limit our ability to function in our New Testament priesthood. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:27 that we “should be holy and without blemish!” When our holiness is “blemished” by sinful attitudes and actions, we are hindered in our effectiveness to offer the Word of God (the bread of God) to the lost world, and are unable to offer up acceptable “spiritual sacrifices!”
Let’s briefly examine some of the “blemishes” that are pictured for us in Leviticus 21…
1. BLINDNESS. (21:18) In the New Testament, a blind man is one who is not adding to his faith the seven things God specifically intended for our spiritual growth and development. (2 Pet. 1:5-9) It is someone who is not SPIRITUALLY MATURE.
2. A BLEMISHED EYE. (21:20) An Old Testament priest with a blemished eye was unable to see his reflection in the bronze laver where he was to wash/cleanse himself in preparation for service. (Ex. 30:18) In the New Testament, we allow our eyes to be blemished when we hear the Word of God, and choose not to obey it. (James 1:22-25)
3. A FLAT NOSE. (21:18) A flat-nosed Old Testament would not be able to smell the incense on the golden altar, picturing prayer, of course. A flat-nosed New Testament priest is a believer who neglects prayer, and therefore, experiences no power in his walk with God.
4. LAMENESS. (21:18) Obviously, a lame Old Testament priest was very simply one who could not WALK. It is a picture of New Testament priests who because of spiritual blemishes in their lives are no longer walking in obedience to the Word of God, and no longer walking in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:16–17, 22–23)
5. A SUPERFLUOUS (or extra) BODY PART. (21:18) An extra body part has no feeling, no place, no function and interferes with the service to be offered by the priest. A New Testament priest is one who has allowed superfluous things to be attached to us that were never intended to be a part of our lives. Namely, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice. (Eph. 4:31-32) These superfluous things have no place in the life of a believer—and will cause us to be unable to function properly in our responsibility to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
6. A BROKEN FOOT or BROKEN HAND. (21:19) An Old Testament priest with a broken foot would not be able to keep his balance, walk or run. A New Testament priest with a broken foot would likewise be unable to balance his spiritual responsibilities (Col. 3:1-17), “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) or “run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1; Gal. 5:7)
7. BROKEN “STONES.” (21:20) Obviously, “broken stones” would have caused an Old Testament priest to be unable to reproduce. It is a picture of New Testament believers (priests) who have broken God’s revealed will through His Word, causing them to be unable to reproduce spiritual offspring. (2 Pet. 1:8)
Some of us may find ourselves “blemished” in one of these areas pictured in Leviticus 21. May I remind you today that our Lord Jesus Christ has proven through His earthly ministry that He has the power to open the eyes of the blind, cause the lame to walk, and heal any deformity or abnormality in our lives. May we humble our self before Him today that we might receive His spiritual healing.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
- As our PERFECTLY SPOTLESS HIGH PRIEST – Leviticus 21:16–23 (Heb. 8:1)
- As the UNREVEALED REALITY of the eternal feasts of Israel – Leviticus 23:2, 21, 42 (Col. 2:16–17)