Leviticus 21:20

Context

Leviticus 21 details specific regulations concerning the priests (the descendants of Aaron) in ancient Israel. These laws were crucial for maintaining the sanctity and purity of those who served directly before God in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. The chapter emphasizes that priests were to be set apart, reflecting the holiness of God they served. Verses 17-23 specifically list various physical blemishes or defects that would disqualify a priest from actively performing his duties at the altar, though he was still permitted to eat from the holy offerings.

The purpose was not to condemn individuals with disabilities, but to uphold a standard of physical perfection in service that symbolized the spiritual perfection and wholeness required to approach a holy God. This foreshadowed the ultimate, blemish-free sacrifice and high priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Key Themes

• Holiness and Purity: The primary theme is God's demand for holiness, particularly in those who ministered in His presence. The physical perfection of the priests was a symbolic representation of the spiritual perfection God requires.
• Symbolic Representation: The physical integrity of the priest symbolized the perfect mediation between God and humanity. Any defect would symbolically mar the representation of a perfect God. This points forward to the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who was without sin or blemish.
• Divine Standard: These regulations underscored the absolute nature of God's holiness and the meticulous care required in His worship. They taught Israel that God's presence was not to be approached casually or imperfectly.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV text uses specific terms to describe the disqualifying blemishes:

• "Crookbackt" (Hebrew: gibben) refers to someone with a hunchback or a severely curved spine.
• "Dwarf" (Hebrew: daq) indicates someone of unusually small stature.
• "Blemish in his eye" (Hebrew: t'valul b'eyno) suggests a film, cataract, or spot that impairs vision.
• "Scurvy" (Hebrew: garab) describes a persistent skin disease, possibly a chronic eczema or ringworm, not necessarily the modern vitamin C deficiency disease.
• "Scabbed" (Hebrew: yallefet) refers to a festering sore, a spreading skin eruption, or a chronic ulcer.
• "Hath his stones broken" (Hebrew: m'roach ashek) points to a severe injury to the testicles, often implying castration or rendering one infertile. This speaks to the integrity of the reproductive system, vital for the continuation of priestly lineage.

These terms collectively emphasize physical wholeness and integrity, which were crucial for the symbolic representation of God's perfection in the Old Covenant priesthood.

Spiritual Application

While these physical requirements for priests are part of the Old Covenant law and were fulfilled in Christ, they offer profound spiritual lessons for believers today:

• The Perfection of Christ: These laws highlight the absolute necessity of a perfect, blameless High Priest, which is Jesus Christ. He alone was without blemish, capable of making a perfect sacrifice for sin and interceding for us.
• Inner Purity: For New Testament believers, the focus shifts from outward physical perfection to inner spiritual holiness and character. As a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), we are called to offer spiritual sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and live lives that reflect God's holiness.
• God Looks at the Heart: Unlike the Old Covenant priestly requirements, God now emphasizes the condition of the heart over outward appearance. As 1 Samuel 16:7 states, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." This reminds us that God desires genuine faith, love, and obedience from within.

Leviticus 21:20, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute holiness and His provision of a perfect mediator in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills all the requirements of a blemish-free priesthood.