These chapters are dedicated to the priests and how they had to keep themselves clean, even cleaner than the laymen among Israel. The rules continue through two chapters. The statutes of the priesthood say he may not make himself unclean for the dead, unless it is immediate family. He will not make bald spots or cut the edges of his beard. And He can only marry a virgin. There are a number of distinctions between the priests and the people. Chapter 21 verse 6 reads,
“They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. “
The Lord has higher expectations of the priests, they are the chosen among the chosen people. They minister to Him and to the people. It is through the priest that the people could worship God and make their offerings to Him.
Today, all believers are priests and Jesus Our Savior is our High Priest. The high priest of The Old Covenant was the only one who could go beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies into the presence of God. Verses 16-23 read,
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, 19 or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, 20 or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the Lord's food offerings; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 22 He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things, 23 but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.”
We are born blemished by our sin nature. Just as a person has no say about the defects he is born with or incurs through trauma, we have no say over the sin nature we are born with. None of us is worthy to be the high priest. None of us is able to pay for our own sins. We are not qualified. Jesus is our High Priest and the perfect sacrifice for atonement of our sins. He was not born with a sin nature and though tempted in every way, He never sinned. His death on the cross paid the price and tore the veil that separated the people from The Lord God. His resurrection means that sin is paid for once and for all, death is conquered and the enemy is defeated. We belong to the Lord, we are sanctified by the Lord. We are not made holy with anointing oil, by the anointing of The Holy Spirit, God Himself. 1 John 2:20 reads,
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge”
The holy things of God, His Spirit, His Word, His knowledge and union with Him is not for Joe Schmo, who has not acknowledge Him as Lord and has not been anointed with His Spirit. These things are for His priests, the Believers who are consecrated for Him. This relationship is special. Chapter 22 verse 10 reads,
“A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing,”
Our walk is higher than the walk of the lost. We follow Christ. They follow their desires. We desire Christ. They desire the pleasures that satisfy their insatiable appetites. Jesus is our joy. He is enough, more than enough.
Remember who you are, Believer. You are holy, because God anointed you as holy by covering you with the blood of Jesus and by giving you His Spirit. He calls you His royal priest, His child, and His chosen. He speaks only the truth. You are a royal priest, a chosen child of The Lord God Almighty.