Leviticus 22

Leviticus 22 focuses on instructions regarding the holiness and sanctity of the priests, their families, and the offerings they bring before the Lord. This chapter emphasizes the need for purity and careful adherence to God's commandments when offering sacrifices, reinforcing the separation between the sacred and the profane. The priests, as mediators between God and the people, are called to uphold a higher standard of holiness. It also outlines who may partake in the sacred offerings and how offerings with defects are to be handled.

Leviticus 22:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the Lord.
3 Say to them: ‘Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the Lord.

These verses remind the priests of their sacred duty to remain pure when handling holy things dedicated to the Lord. Priests must not approach holy offerings with uncleanness, as doing so would profane God's name. This is a strong warning that emphasizes the gravity of disrespecting the sacred, and the consequence is separation from God's presence. The Lord asserts His authority, making clear that His standards of holiness must be upheld for those in His service.

Leviticus 22:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen,
5 or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean, whatever his uncleanness may be—
6 the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water.

These verses outline the specific conditions that render a priest unclean, including leprosy, bodily discharges, and contact with dead bodies or impure persons. Such impurities prevent the priest from eating the holy offerings until he is cleansed. The washing of the body and waiting until evening is a ritual process to restore cleanliness. This process highlights the importance of maintaining ritual purity to partake in the sacred, ensuring that priests approach God's offerings with reverence.

Leviticus 22:7-9 (NKJV)
7 And when the sun goes down, he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food.
8 Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the Lord.
9 They shall therefore keep My ordinance, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby, if they profane it: I the Lord sanctify them.

Once evening comes, the priest is considered clean and may eat the holy offerings, which serve as his sustenance. The prohibition against consuming animals that die naturally or are torn by beasts reinforces the need to avoid defilement. God commands the priests to strictly observe these ordinances to avoid sin, which carries severe consequences. The Lord emphasizes that He sanctifies the priests, setting them apart for this holy work.

Leviticus 22:10-12 (NKJV)
10 No outsider shall eat the holy offering; one who dwells with the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat the holy thing.
11 But if the priest buys a person with his money, he may eat it; and one who is born in his house may eat his food.
12 If the priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she may not eat of the holy offerings.

These verses clarify who is permitted to eat the holy offerings. Outsiders, including hired servants, are not allowed to partake in the sacred food. However, a person bought by the priest, or those born in his house, may eat it, as they are considered part of the priest's household. Additionally, if a priest’s daughter marries an outsider, she loses the right to eat the holy offerings, as she is no longer part of the priestly household.

Leviticus 22:13 (NKJV)
13 But if the priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food; but no outsider shall eat it.

If a priest's daughter is widowed or divorced and childless, and she returns to live with her father, she regains the right to eat the holy offerings, as she is again part of the priestly household. The emphasis remains that no outsider may partake in these offerings, maintaining the sacredness of the food reserved for the priest's family.

Leviticus 22:14-16 (NKJV)
14 And if a man eats the holy offering unintentionally, then he shall restore a holy offering to the priest, and add one-fifth to it.
15 They shall not profane the holy offerings of the children of Israel, which they offer to the Lord,
16 or allow them to bear the guilt of trespass when they eat their holy offerings; for I the Lord sanctify them.’”

If someone accidentally eats a holy offering, they are required to restore it to the priest and add a fifth of its value as restitution. This ensures that the sanctity of the offering is preserved and that the priests remain blameless in handling the sacred items. These instructions safeguard the holiness of the offerings and prevent defilement, as the Lord Himself sanctifies the offerings and the priests.

Leviticus 22:17-19 (NKJV)
17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows or for any of his freewill offerings, which they offer to the Lord as a burnt offering—
19 you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats.

The Lord commands Moses to instruct both the priests and the people of Israel regarding the offerings. Sacrifices, whether made as vows or freewill offerings, must be voluntary and involve animals without blemish. The requirement for a perfect animal underscores the principle that what is offered to God must be the best, reflecting the purity and holiness of the One to whom the sacrifice is made.

Leviticus 22:20-22 (NKJV)
20 Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf.
21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it.
22 Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the Lord.

Offerings with defects are unacceptable, as they do not represent the perfect and holy nature of God. Only animals without blemish are considered worthy to be sacrificed, whether for peace offerings or other types of offerings. Animals that are blind, broken, or diseased cannot be used in sacrifices, maintaining the standard of purity for offerings presented to the Lord.

Leviticus 22:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any limb too long or too short you may offer as a freewill offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
24 You shall not offer to the Lord what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; nor shall you make any offering of them in your land.
25 Nor from a foreigner’s hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of your God, because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on your behalf.’”

Animals with minor defects, such as a limb that is too long or too short, may be offered as a freewill offering but not for a vow. However, severely injured or mutilated animals are prohibited from being offered. Additionally, animals with defects acquired from foreigners are also unacceptable. These regulations uphold the principle that offerings must reflect purity, and what is dedicated to God must be of the highest quality.

Leviticus 22:26-28 (NKJV)
26 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
27 “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the Lord.
28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, do not kill both her and her young on the same day.

The Lord instructs that newborn animals must remain with their mothers for seven days before they can be offered as a sacrifice. After the eighth day, they are deemed acceptable. Additionally, the killing of both a mother and her offspring on the same day is prohibited, reflecting God's care for life and the humane treatment of animals, even in the context of offerings.

Leviticus 22:29-30 (NKJV)
29 And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will.
30 On the same day it shall be eaten; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the Lord.

Thanksgiving sacrifices must be offered willingly, not out of compulsion. The sacrificial meat must be consumed on the same day and not left until the next morning, signifying the immediate and complete dedication of the offering to God. This ensures that the sacrifice is fresh and unspoiled, reflecting the sacredness of the act of thanksgiving.

Leviticus 22:31-33 (NKJV)
31 “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the Lord.
32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you,
33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.”

The chapter concludes with a call to obedience. The Israelites are to keep God's commandments and uphold His holiness. God reminds them that He is the one who sanctifies them and brought them out of Egypt. This final reminder emphasizes the relationship between obedience to God's laws and the covenant, as God is their Lord and Redeemer.