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Leviticus 21 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
This chapter primarily deals with the holiness of the religious leaders. We read that higher standards were expected from them as opposed to ordinary citizens.
The New International Commentary – OT provides a good summary of the chapter.
- Lev 21:1-9 – Restrictions on mourning and marriage for ordinary priests
- Lev 21:10-15 – Restrictions on mourning and marriage for the high priest
- Lev 21:16-24 – Physical impediments to exercise of priestly office
- Lev 22:1-9 – Impediments to eating priestly food
- Lev 22:10-16 – Relatives’ right to priestly food
- Lev 22:17-33 – Physical impediments to sacrificial use of animals
Even though these laws were required of the religious leaders, they were given publicly. This was so that each Israelite would know what was expected of them by God. It was possibly a foreshadowing of the accountability that should exist between religious leaders today and their church body.
Too often I come across people who have been abused by church leaders. It’s a very common scenario. Although no leader is perfect, God has a standard and a calling for their ministry and personal conduct. He takes it very seriously. In His role as our Savior, Jesus exemplified the perfect leadership for all of us to follow.