Leviticus 22: 1 – 33
A cut above the rest
22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the LORD. 3 Say to them: ‘Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the LORD. 4 ‘Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen, 5 or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean, whatever his uncleanness may be— 6 the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water. 7 And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food. 8 Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the LORD. 9 ‘They shall therefore keep My ordinance, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby, if they profane it: I the LORD sanctify them. 10 ‘No outsider shall eat the holy offering; one who dwells with the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat the holy thing. 11 But if the priest buys a person with his money, he may eat it; and one who is born in his house may eat his food. 12 If the priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she may not eat of the holy offerings. 13 But if the priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food; but no outsider shall eat it. 14 ‘And if a man eats the holy offering unintentionally, then he shall restore a holy offering to the priest, and add one-fifth to it. 15 They shall not profane the holy offerings of the children of Israel, which they offer to the LORD, 16 or allow them to bear the guilt of trespass when they eat their holy offerings; for I the LORD sanctify them.’” 17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows or for any of his freewill offerings, which they offer to the LORD as a burnt offering— 19 you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats. 20 Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf. 21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. 22 Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD. 23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any limb too long or too short you may offer as a freewill offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 ‘You shall not offer to the LORD what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; nor shall you make any offering of them in your land. 25 Nor from a foreigner’s hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of your God, because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on your behalf.’” 26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, do not kill both her and her young on the same day. 29 And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD. 31 “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the LORD. 32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.”
‘A cut above the rest’ is a step in a scale of value or quality; degree: You are deemed to be "better" than others, generally in a particular field. For example: "What do you think of Joe as a teacher?" The reply would be "he is excellent, definitely a cut above the rest"!
Moses and his family have been known to produce some songs. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 31, we read this, “30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended” Also in the book of Exodus chapter 15 we find Moses’ sister Miriam joining in the music ministry. [ The Song of Miriam ] Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the tumbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tumbrels and with dances.
So, although it is not recorded in our Bibles I thought perhaps that Moses and Aaron with his sons put together a little song entitled A cut above the rest. Sung to the music from Beauty and the Beast
Moses:
To each his own my brothers you know how to get me stressed but when it comes to serving Yahweh Special
Aaron:
A-hem, I have to be a cut above the rest
Moses:
If you could see things clearly, you would say that I’ve been blessed
Eleazar:
I can't hold a candle to light the Lamp stand
Aaron
Unless you are a cut above the rest
Ithamar:
Moses and Aaron belong side by side
You should never be apart
Cause when your both hear Yahweh
Your really twice as smart
Aaron:
They say that as a team
We have got to be the best
Moses:
Now we’ve found something we all agree on
We have to be a cut above the rest
Aaron and Eleazar:
There’s no doubt that as a team
We have to be the very best
Everyone who knows us must agree
We have to be a cut above the rest
Aaron, Eleazer,Ithamar :
There’s no doubt that as a team
Moses:
You are to be the very best
Everyone who sees you must agree
Eliazar, Ithamar:
We must be a cut
Moses:
a cut above
Aaron, Eleazar, Ithamar:
Above the rest.
This chapter is divided into sections. The priesthood are not to approach our Holy God while unclean (2-9), eligibility to partake of priestly food which is Holy but not Most Holy (10-16), nothing unblemished must be offered to Yahweh (17-25), and reference to the right use of Peace offerings (26-33).
22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the LORD. 3 Say to them: ‘Whoever of all your descendants throughout your generations, who goes near the holy things which the children of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from My presence: I am the LORD.
Aaron and his sons must ensure that they see themselves as separate from the holy things of the children of Israel offer to Yahweh God. The sanctuary was not theirs; they were privileged to minister there. The holy things were not theirs; they were privileged to have a part in them. They had no automatic right to have contact with them. They may minister with them when they were clean, but not when they were unclean. Such things were God’s and God’s alone. Thus when they were unclean they must have nothing to do with them. They must see themselves as separate from those holy things in such a way that uncleanness barred them from them. Otherwise they would profane and make common the Holy Name of Yahweh. Even Aaron and his sons must not presume on God.
So even looking into the far future, if anyone of the seed of Aaron presumes, and approaches the holy things of Yahweh while ritually unclean, he is to be cut off from being a priest for they must remember that God Is Yahweh, The Holy One whose holy things must not be defiled.
4 ‘Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen, 5 or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean, whatever his uncleanness may be— 6 the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening, and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he washes his body with water. 7 And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food.
Indeed all the laws of uncleanness apply equally to the priests. This includes the fact that a man of the seed of Aaron is barred from eating the holy things until he is clean. This includes those who have a suspicious skin disease, and those who have an issue. They are unclean all the while that they have either.
He shall not eat of holy things until that uncleanness is dealt with. This will be by washing his flesh thoroughly in water and waiting until the evening. Then he may eat of holy things because it is his God-provided food.
8 Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the LORD.
They must also not eat anything that dies of its own accord, or anything that is torn by beasts. Both would defile them. And they must remember that God Is Yahweh, The Living God.
9 ‘They shall therefore keep My ordinance, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby, if they profane it: I the LORD sanctify them.
All the priests must keep His charge, lest they receive punishment for any transgression or sin that they commit, a punishment which will result in death. To touch holy things while unclean would be to insult and disparage Yahweh and treat them as common. They must remember that the One Who has sanctified them Is Yahweh. And He must not be approached with defilement.
Once more then we have an emphasis on the fact that all who would serve God must keep themselves from all forms of uncleanness. They must be pure in heart and mind and in outward living. They must avoid all that could defile them.
10 ‘No outsider shall eat the holy offering; one who dwells with the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat the holy thing.
Those not of priestly stock may not eat of a holy thing, whether they be visitors or hired servants.
11 But if the priest buys a person with his money, he may eat it; and one who is born in his house may eat his food.
However permanent members of the household may eat of holy food, because they are seen as part of the household.
12 If the priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she may not eat of the holy offerings.
If a priest’s daughter marries outside the line of Aaron she may no longer eat of the contribution offering of the holy things. She no longer comes under the descent of ‘Aaron and his sons’.
13 But if the priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food; but no outsider shall eat it.
On the other hand if through widowhood or divorce she return to her father’s house childless she once again becomes eligible. If she has a child than she will have responsibilities to her husband’s family and will still be seen as part of that family. But none who is not of true descent may eat of it.
14 ‘And if a man eats the holy offering unintentionally, then he shall restore a holy offering to the priest, and add one-fifth to it.
If a man accidentally and unwittingly partakes of a holy thing, then he must remedy the situation by replacing it and adding a fifth part to it. He would presumably do this by offering a guilt offering or peace sacrifice himself, with the holy thing going to the priest, and extra besides.
15 They shall not profane the holy offerings of the children of Israel, which they offer to the LORD, 16 or allow them to bear the guilt of trespass when they eat their holy offerings; for I the LORD sanctify them.’”
So the priests are to guard their privileges and not treat them lightly. They are not to profane what they receive as holy things from Yahweh, which have been offered by the children of Israel. Otherwise they will bring guilt on themselves when they eat of them. They must remember that they are from Yahweh Who sets them apart and has made them holy.
We too must ensure that when God entrusts us with something we are careful to ensure its right use. It is not given to us for us to do what we like with, but to use it in accordance with His instruction. Some is for use in God’s work alone; other is for us and our families. We must not mix the two. But what is His should not be used for our own pleasure.
Having come to the end of this section concerning the priests the people are now reintroduced. For God’s words and commands are for them all, and His desire and demand is that they all be holy. For as the children of God all believers are to be a cut above the rest of mankind. As the record will now move shortly into the times and seasons which are in God’s hands, all are to be involved. But first an application must be made to the people occasioned by the idea of blemishes. They too must not come with what is blemished.
17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows or for any of his freewill offerings, which they offer to the LORD as a burnt offering— 19 you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats. 20 Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf.
Whoever offers a whole burnt offering whether it be in relation to a vow, or as a freewill offering must offer an animal which is without blemish. A blemished offering will not be acceptable. It will not count. Thus the person themselves will not be accepted on the basis of it.
21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. 22 Those that are blind or broken or maimed, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD.
The same applies to a peace sacrifice, again whether in respect of a vow or a freewill offering. To be accepted it must be ‘perfect’. Any animal which has a fault and is blemished will not be accepted. Nor must they offer such as an offering made by fire on the altar to Yahweh.
23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any limb too long or too short you may offer as a freewill offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
However, if the offering is freewill offering an animal with what is merely a genetic malformed may be accepted but not as a vow offering. I cannot fathom why someone would try to offer to God something even in the slightest deformed. Sadly, I use to be in charge of the ‘Hospitality Ministry’. People would call the church and say they wanted to donate something for the benefit of others. I wanted to name the ministry ‘Junk for Jesus’ but I am sure I was not allowed to do so. People would donate a Junker of a vehicle that most salvage yards would not accept, yet they wanted to donate such a car and claim thousands on their tax returns as charitable donations.
24 ‘You shall not offer to the LORD what is bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; nor shall you make any offering of them in your land.
An animal mutilated or injured or in any way affected in its vitals shall not be offered to Yahweh. It is unable to produce seed and is not a whole animal.
25 Nor from a foreigner’s hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of your God, because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on your behalf.’”
Even if the offering be brought by a foreigner it shall not be accepted if it is blemished. A blemished animal is unacceptable under any circumstances with the sole exception of the example in verse 23 where there is limited acceptance of an animal naturally born with a genetic malformation. Thus no blemished offering will be accepted from anyone. Thus does God stress that we must not bring to Him what is blemished. If we would bring to Him the offering of our praise, or our worship, or our service, it must be from a full heart. Half hearted worship and service is unacceptable. But if our heart is right then it will be accepted through the One Who made His perfect sacrifice on our behalf.
It is noteworthy that behind all these examples the special idea of thoughtfulness and consideration stands out. God’s people are not to be callous or greedy. They must do what is right.
26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD.
No animal may be offered in sacrifice until it is at least eight days old. Remember boys are to be circumcised on the 8th day.
28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, do not kill both her and her young on the same day.
A mother and its young should not be slain in sacrifice on the same day. Our Holy God’s people were not to be greedy or callous or thoughtless. So must they not kill a cow and its young on the same day?
29 And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD.
When a peace sacrifice for thanksgiving is offered it must be offered in a way that will be accepted. Especially must it all be eaten on the same day. The thanksgiving should be shared with as many as possible rather than be simply retained for the benefit of the one who is bringing the sacrifice. Thus none must be left until the morning. They must remember Who Yahweh Is and how generous He Is, and be generous as well.
31 “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the LORD. 32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.”
All the people and priests together are to keep Yahweh’s commandments and do them. His Holy Name must be honored by their lives, and by their behavior, and by their obedience so that His holiness is recognized and acknowledged. That is why He has made them holy, setting them apart as His people and delivering them and giving them His instruction (torah - Law). That is why He requires them to be holy for they are His covenant people whom He has brought out of Egypt so that He could be their God. He Is Yahweh. There is no other.
