Leviticus 22
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CHAPTER 22
Further Rules for Priests (22:1–16)
1–9 We have already seen in the previous other Israelites. Here we see that if the priests failed to obey the regulations of the tabernacle service and all the laws about cleanness, they would receive a harsh penalty. They would certainly be cut off 80 from God’s presence (verse 3), but they could also die (verse9). Aaron’s two eldest sons learned that the hard way (Leviticus 10:1–2).
The conditions causing uncleanness that are listed in verses 4–5,8 have been discussed in earlier chapters of Leviticus81(see Leviticus 11:1; 15:1 and comments). We can assume that the conditions listed here in verses 1–9 are only examples and that all other conditions that caused uncleanness would apply to the priests as well.
10–16 These verses specify which persons in a priest’s family could eat the sacred offering (verse 10)—that is, the portion of the offering set aside for the priests and their families (see Leviticus 7:28–36 and comment). If one ate a sacred offering by mistake, he had to make restitution to the priest and add a fifth to the value of it82 (see Leviticus 5:16).
Unacceptable Sacrifices (22:17–33)
17–25 All major animal offerings to the Lord had to be without defect (see Exodus 12:3–7; Leviticus 1:1–2 and comments). Here just two offerings are mentioned: in verse 18, the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:117); and in verse 21, the fellowship offering (Leviticus 3:1–17). There were three kinds of fellowship offering: an offering of thanksgiving, an offering to fulfill a vow, and a freewill offering (Leviticus 7:15–16). For the freewill offering, the offerer could present an ox or a sheep that was deformed or stunted (verse 23); this was the only exception to the rule that all animals be without defect.83
Later in Israel’s history, the priests and the people became lax and began to offer defective animals that were of no economic value. This was a terrible insult to the Lord; He rebuked the priests through His prophets and refused to accept such offerings (see Malachi 1:1–14).
Everything we offer to God must be the best, whether our offering be animals or service or worship. Just as the Old Testament priesthood pointed to Christ the perfect Priest, so the sacrifices pointed to Christ the perfect sacrifice (1 Peter 1:19). Our sacrifices, then, must be “perfect”—that is, sincerely offered out of a desire to honor God with the very best we have. But if our worship and devotion is cold or superficial or full of distractions, then we are in effect offering to God sacrifices that are blind, injured and maimed (verse 22).
God is perfect; therefore His servants need to strive for perfection in all they do (Matthew 5:48). Though we can never be completely perfect in this life, with the help of the Holy Spirit we will be able to lead lives that please God and bring honor to His name.
26–28 Newly born animals were to remain with their mother for seven days (verse 27); this would relieve the buildup of milk (see Exodus 22:30).
It was forbidden to kill an animal and its young on the same day (verse 28). The mother animal was often not sacrificed, because it could have more young and was thus more valuable alive than dead.
29–30 See Leviticus 7:11–18 and comment.
31–33 Again the Lord says to the Israelites that they must keep His commands. His commands are based on His character, His holiness. God in His grace brought Israel out of Egypt—He redeemed them—and now by His grace He makes them holy. How could the Israelites not desire to keep the commands of sucha holy and gracious God?
We don’t have to offer perfect animals today; Christ has made that unnecessary by the offering of Himself. We don’t divide believers into priests and non-priests as was done in Old Testament times; today all Christians are priests, all Christians have equal access to the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–22). Today we don’t have to remain ceremonially clean or keep ourselves separate from unbelievers; Christ has broken down the barrier between people (Ephesians 2:11–22), and He has sent us out into the world to reconcile men and women to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). No one is excluded from Christ’s gracious invitation; indeed, He issues a special call to the poor, the prisoner, the oppressed, the blind, deaf, lame and crippled (Luke 4:1819; 7:22; 14:12–14). These, then, are some of the differences between our life in Christ today and life under the laws of Leviticus.
Today we don’t offer sacrifices on a literal altar, but we do offer spiritual sacrifices on a “spiritual altar.” We offer our bodies (Romans 12:1); we offer our praise (Hebrews 13:15); we offer our good works (Hebrews 13:16). And all these sacrifices are acceptable to God because Jesus Christ has anointed us with the Holy Spirit to be His “priests” (1 Peter 2:5).