Leviticus 21

Notes

[Ver. 1. Defiled—by touching the dead body, entering the house where it lay, following to the grave, or mourning.—Patrick. This prohibition extended to every common priest, except in cases of near kindred, in which, however, though he might be defiled, by the unavoidable demands of affection, still he must not voluntarily defile himself farther. The entire priesthood was a type of Christ, who was 'undefiled and separate from sinners,' He. 7.26; yet was not ashamed to call his church for which he gave himself, Ep. 5.25, brethren, He. 2.11, and who, 'himself having suffered, being tempted, was able (by sympathy and power) to succour them that are tempted.' C.]

Ver. 7. [This verse would seem to imply the possibility of such moral degradation in the priesthood as, to modern ideas, may appear impossible. But it was necessary to guard against the infectious example of the heathen priests, who, in their impure rites, prostituted their wives and daughters. The Mosaic law is even more morally stringent than our translation represents, for zorah does not signify a prostitute, but one who had been humbled.—He is holy—not the husband, but the priest, who, whatever might be his personal character, was ceremonially holy, or dedicated to God, and should be personally holy in accordance with his profession. C.]

Ver. 12. [High-priest, literally, the priest, the great one, who, in respect of his greatness, was the emblem of Christ exalted, with 'a name above every name.' Now, as Christ 'endured the cross for the joy set before him,' He. 12.2, and was 'anointed with the oil of gladness,' He. 1.9, a mourning high-priest would not have fitly represented him to the eye of faith. Neither might the high-priest go out of the sanctuary; so Christ, once exalted, 'the heavens must receive till the times of the restitution of all things,' Ac. 3.21, when he will appear the second time without sin to salvation, He. 9.28. C.]

Ver. 14. [This peculiarity in the marriage of the high-priest is the emblem of the spiritual marriage of Christ with his church, so beautifully set forth in Scripture. See particularly Is. 54.5; Ho. 2.7, 16 (She signifies my husband); 2 Co. 11.2. C.]

Ver. 17. [Blemish, deficiency, redundancy, or injury of any bodily member, blindness, imperfection of growth, or any unclean disease, excluded from the priesthood, and constituted, as it were, a providential excommunication, not from certain sacred privileges, but from sacred offices. This ordinance forms, 1. A beautiful image of Christ, the 'lamb without blemish,' 1 Pe. 1.19. 2. Of the holy priesthood (of the church, appointed) 'to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,' 1 Pe. 2.5; while, 3. It reads, in the name of God, a solemn rebuke to those parents who, from worldly motives, dedicate the most incompetent members of their families to the service of God in the holy ministry, and to those who, from similar worldly motives, enter into a work for which they know themselves incompetent, and to which they feel no call from the Spirit of God. C.]

Ver. 23. [The priest with a blemish may eat of the holy things, the priest unclean must not taste, lest he die, ch. 7.20; 21.2. The reason of the distinction is plain—a blemish is the infliction or correction of God, for which church privileges are the appropriate remedy; uncleanness is the wicked choice of the sinner's own will, and would be sanctioned and encouraged by latitudinarian church-fellowship. C.]

Reflections.—In these ceremonial figures I behold Jesus, my priest for ever, untainted with selfish affections or immoderate passions—I behold him holy, harmless, and undefiled—perfect as his Father who is in heaven is perfect; personally united with an unspotted manhood; graciously united to virgin churches; and spiritually married to washed and sanctified souls; nor ever decoyed from attending his work, no, not by the most powerful temptations. Let me learn likewise what noted examples gospel-ministers ought to be of holiness and purity; what close and earnest attention they ought to give to their work; with what patience and resignation they ought to bear the loss of worldly comforts; how circumspect they ought to be with respect to their marriage and family; and how, as servants, they ought to labour to be perfect and unblemished, even as their Master. Yea, if I name the name of Christ, whatever be my place in his church, let me depart from iniquity, and follow after holiness in all manner of conversation. While God is my portion, as well as my Master, on no account should I desert or neglect his worship; and while my God liveth, never should I sorrow for deceased relations, or withdrawn comforts, as those who have no hope. Since I am a child of Jesus, let me never by whorish pollutions or apostasy discredit him or endanger myself. Since I am betrothed to him, let me never wittingly lay his enemy, an heir of hell, in my bosom. And since God hath promised to supply all my wants, let me cast my cares on him, and firmly trust that he will perfect his work which concerneth me, rendering me perfect, even as my Father which is in heaven is perfect. And let me bless the Lord, that though my infirmities should disqualify me for office in the church, they do not debar me from partaking of Jesus, my sacred provision, in the courts and ordinances of his grace.