“’Tell them, “Any descendant of yours through all your generations who approaches the holy things that the people of Isra’el consecrate to Adonai and is unclean will be cut off from before me; I am Adonai.”’”
Leviticus 22:3
We have seen it already stated quite a few times throughout Leviticus that Adonai requires that we be holy as He Himself is holy. In this portion, it is no exception. In speaking of people in Leviticus 21:18-20, Adonai states that no one who is blind, lame, with a mutilated face or a limb too long was able to approach and present the offerings. Additionally, no one with a broken foot or arm, hunched back, stunted growth, cataract, festering or running sores, or damaged testicles was able to approach.
Looking then in Leviticus 22:22-24, we read that just as people were to be holy when approaching, so also the animal was to be holy in being used. The animal could not be used if it was blind, injured, mutilated, had an abnormal growth or festering wound, a shortened limb, or damaged genitals. The use of an animal in these conditions was considered unholy and would not be tolerated by Adonai.
So as not to beat the same horse over and over, I leave you with this one thought. We are required to be holy. I realize that since Moshe wrote these words, the Messiah came and paved a way for forgiveness of sin. However, I am also aware that whether sin was happening then or now, the fact remains that we are supposed to be the one people look to that points to Adonai. We cannot do this if we are living and offering ourselves unholy before Him. The unclean are cut off. May we be found as the holy sacrifice.
Leviticus 21:16 – 22:16
Leviticus 22:17-33
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