Leviticus Study Notes - Chapters 21 and 22 (Instructions For Priests)

9 times in these two chapters, "I am the Lord"
vs. 8, 12; 22:2-3, 8 and 30-33

What is the purpose of the Jews lives? To acknowledge the greatness of God
What is the purpose of our lives?
As we come before God today, we also need to be impressed with the great holiness of God and serve Him in reverence

Verses 1-4: Avoiding contact with dead bodies
Priests couldn't prepare wife for burial, she wasn't a blood relative
Egyptians were so preoccupied with death, hence the pyramids

Verses 5-9: More heathen practices forbidden
Canaanite funeral practices
7: Marrying a prostitute. 2 types, common and cultic which were used in "worship"
Same principle today Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:14-16
9: "burned with fire" after stoning, more than likely

Verses 16-23 Defects in priests
12 physical issues listed. Rabbis later expanded the list to 142 issues
This is more foreshadowing. Restricting those who had an imperfection was to avoid profaning God's sanctuary and sacrifices without blemish
Today: Our spiritual defilements are washed away by the spotless Son of God. We then have a responsibility to remain as clean as possible (Ephesians 5:26-27)

Chapter 22

1-3: Separation from ceremonial uncleanness
Which is harder, ceremonial uncleanness or spiritual uncleanness? (Consider when and how we approach the Lord's Supper)

4-16: Rights of the priest to the holy things
Look at 4-5, Pharisees became angry when Jesus would touch anyone who would make Him ceremonially unclean

19: "without blemish" Complete, perfect, conveys the idea that the sacrifice must be flawless
2nd Temple Period (Malachi 1:8-14)
New Testament repeatedly teaches God's people must bring their best
2 Corinthians 8-9, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 4:1-20, Hebrews 13:15-16, 1 Peter 2:5

Billy Bland writes: Christians should remember the special relationship they have with God. It was God who brought us out of spiritual captivity and sanctified us. Like John, we should exclaim, 'Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knows us not because it knew Him not.' (1 John 3:1)