The Qualifications for the Priesthood
by Robert Burgess
Lev 21:17-24

This study can be applied as criteria for the Ministry, for the Overcomers, and for the Bride of Christ. God is showing a "Glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be Holy and without blemish (See Eph 5:27)." The Scriptures declare that "As He is, so are we in this world (1John 4:17)." We are called to be Holy as He is Holy (See Lev 20:7; 1Pet 1:16-17, Rev 18:20); Therefore, these criterea are qualifiers for True Holiness according to the Scriptures.

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(Lev 21:17) "Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish[1], let him not approach to offer the bread[2] of his God."

1 "BLEMISH": 3971. m'uwm, moom; usually muwm, moom; as if pass. part. from an unused root prob. mean. to stain; a blemish (physical or moral):--blemish, blot, spot.

2 "BREAD": Bread: i.e. The Word of God The living Word ~ See John 6:35 & John 6:48-50

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(Lev 21:18) "For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish[1], he shall not approach: a blind[2] man, or a lame[3], or he that hath a flat[4] nose, or any thing superfluous[5],"

1 "BLEMISH": or, Stain - See Exod 12:5; Eph 5:27; 1Tim 6:14,

2 "BLIND": Blind, as to being ignorant of Spiritual things: See Isa 6:10, 42:18-19, Mat 15:14, Eph 4:18. The opening of the eyes of the blind is peculiar to the Christ Isa 29:18. Elymas was smitten with blindness at Paul's word See Acts 13:11; Rev 3:17

3 "LAME": Lame on the feet Gen 32:31; Pss 38:17 As to "halt between two opinions" ... See 1Kgs 18:21 etc. The Greek Septuagent renders the expression "How long go ye lame on both knees?" They "Leaped" upon/around the altar 1Kgs 18:26 It indicates "To become lame," or to be (come) "uncertain.." An uncertain walk, Undependable in his walk (Feet). Unstable, or uncertain in his "Stance.."

4 "FLAT": Flat Nose; A notable (Pronounced) lack of Spiritual discernment.. Insensitive to Spiritual conditions..

5 "SUPERFLUOUS": Anything Unnecessary, overdone, out of place, or overly extended; unbalanced, deformed, anything taken to excess..

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(Lev 21:19) "Or a man that is brokenfooted[1], or brokenhanded[2],"

1 "BROKENFOOTED": The foot is seen as the Spiritual "Walk" here; An unbroken walk with God is necessary for the Priesthood. Not continually "Up and down (To and Fro)," as a brokenfooted man. See Heb 12:13

2 "BROKENHANDED": The Hand here speaks of Fellowship; See Gal 2:9 The "Right hand" speaks of Honor, Devotion, Integrity, Authority, Divine Fellowship.. The Hand is called by Galen "The instrument of instruments." It is the symbol of human action Job 9:30; Pss 9:16; Isa 1:15; 1Tim 2:8 The Hand (Five-Fold Minstry) of God is extended through His Ministers; Unbroken fellowship with the Five-Fold Ministry may also be seen here. See Eph 4:11

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(Lev 21:20) "Or crookbacked[1], or a dwarf[2], or that hath a blemish in his eye[3], or be scurvy[4], or scabbed[5], or hath his stones[6] broken;"

1 "CROOKBACKED": Crookbackt: Either a jellyfish backbone (No Backbone), or a "Crooked Background" can be in view here.. An honest and "Upstanding" character is of absolute necessity for any Priest of God. See Acts 6:3

2 "DWARF": The Spiritually underdeveloped are in view; Childishness, Immaturity, and the spiritual "Big head ( the Proud Look)" is also pictured in these.

3 "EYE": The Evil, or the "Darkened Eye (See Mat 6:23);" The eyes of the understanding, or one who has his "Eye" on "Things" instead of God. See 1John 2:16 The "Lust of the eyes."

4 "SCURVY": Scurvy is caused from a lack of vitamins, Fruit is the remedy; Hence, a lack of Spiritual Fruit in a person could point to a "Scurvied" condition. Fruit of the Spirit See Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9.

5 "SCABBED": Unhealed wounds.. Unforgiveness, lack of power to overcome past problems, Hurts, Difficulties, Disagreements with people.. We need to be overcomers in this area for sure. See Mat 6:12; 1John 1:9

6 "STONES": Stones Broken: An inability to reproduce.. Spiritually "Sterile.." We need to keep our "Loins" girded about with truth continually for protection against all the "Low Blows" of the Devil against us (See Eph 6:14). The enemy's tactics are to dishonor the ministry somehow, and cause a resulting condition of "Sterility," or lack of ability to reproduce spiritual children in our own image (Image of God). Though there be 10,000 Instructors in Christ, there are not many "Fathers.." See 1Cor 4:15

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(Lev 21:21) "No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God."

Lev 21:21: None that have a blemish may "Offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire." The Priests were to be just as unblemished as the sacrifices they were to offer. None who was blemished could offer the "Bread (Word) of God;" Nevertheless, they may "Eat" or, receive the Word, both that which pertains to the Holy Place, and even that which pertains to the Most Holy Place (This is called the "Hidden Manna" of Rev 2:17), Lev 21:22. See also Jude 1:20 "Your Most Holy Faith."

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(Lev 21:22-24) "He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. {23} Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane[1] not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. {24} And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel."

1 "PROFANE": Profane not my Sanctuaries: To stain; Both "Pollution and Prostitution" are in view here..

RRB

4/21/2000

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