“But he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.”
Context:Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and is part of the Old Testament. It contains laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites through Moses. Leviticus 21 specifically addresses the regulations for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, regarding their conduct and qualifications for serving in the tabernacle.
Explanation: In Leviticus 21:24, God sets a standard for the priests regarding their approach to the sanctuary and the altar. A priest who has a physical blemish or defect is prohibited from entering the inner sanctuary (behind the veil) or approaching the altar to perform their priestly duties. The reason for this restriction is to ensure that the priests maintain the holiness and sanctity of the Lord’s dwelling place.
This regulation emphasises the importance of the priests’ purity and their role as mediators between God and the people. The physical blemish is seen as a symbol of imperfection or impurity, which would render the priests unfit to represent the holiness of God before the congregation. The priests were required to present themselves in a state of ceremonial purity and without any physical defects, as a reflection of the holiness of God whom they served.
This verse also highlights God’s desire to maintain the sanctity of His dwelling place. The sanctuary and the altar were considered sacred spaces, and God sanctified them. The priests, as the appointed representatives of the people, were responsible for upholding the holiness of these places by their own adherence to the prescribed regulations.
Application:While the regulations in Leviticus 21:24 specifically applied to the priests of Israel, there are some principles that can be gleaned from this verse for our lives today:
- Holiness and purity:Just as the priests were required to maintain physical and ceremonial purity, we are called to pursue holiness in our lives. As believers, we are called to live in a manner that reflects the holiness of God (1 Peter 1:15-16).
- Representation:The priests served as representatives of the people before God. Similarly, as Christians, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We should strive to represent Christ well, both in our actions and in our words.
- Reverence for God’s presence:The sanctuary and the altar were regarded as sacred spaces because God had sanctified them. We, too, should approach God’s presence with reverence and awe, recognising His holiness and the privilege we have to come before Him through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16).
- Inner purity:While the physical blemishes mentioned in Leviticus 21 refer to the priests’ physical appearance, it can also be a metaphor for our inner lives. We should strive to maintain spiritual purity and guard against moral, ethical, and spiritual blemishes by regularly examining our hearts and seeking God’s forgiveness and cleansing (Psalm 139:23-24; 1 John 1:9).
Remember that as Christians, we are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, including the regulations for the priests. However, the underlying principles of holiness, representation, reverence, and inner purity are still relevant and applicable to our lives as followers of Christ.
