THE THEME OF THIS DEVOTION CONCERNS THE FACT THAT:
THE PHYSICAL PERFECTION OF PRIESTS WHO OFFER THE SACRIFICES OF GOD, WHO APPROACH THE ALTAR AND WHO ENTER BEHIND THE VAIL, IS A PICTURE OF THE PERSON OF YESHUA—THE GREAT KING-PRIEST OF ETERNITY WHO IS SINLESS, SPOTLESS, AND ABLE TO MINISTER THE REDEMPTION OF GOD FOR IMPERFECT HUMANITY—THAT IS, FOR US ALL.
BEFORE I CITE THE PASSAGE IN LEVITICUS 21:16-24, I WISH TO POINT OUT THAT IN MESSIAH THERE IS NO IMPERFECTION AND THEREFORE WE WHO ARE IN HIM ARE MADE PERFECT (COMPLETE, WHOLE, UNBLEMISHED) BY HIS REDEEMING GRACE, HIS IMPARTED HOLINESS AND HIS REGENERATING POWER.
THERE IS TO BE NO HINT IN THIS DEVOTION OF INFERIORITY BECAUSE OF NATURAL BIRTH DEFECTS OR ANY FORM OF HANDICAP WHATSOEVER. OUR GOD LOVES US ALL EQUALLY AND HAS FORMED US ALL ACCORDING TO HIS UNIQUE PURPOSE FOR EACH OF US. FURTHERMORE, SOME AMONG US WHO HAVE SPECIAL CHALLENGES ARE OFTEN SOME OF THE MOST NOBLE-SPIRITED AMONG US.
LEVITICUS 21:16-24
HERE IS VERSE 21 IN HEBREW WITH TRANSLATION: (OWENS translation, modified):
KOL-ISH ASHER—BO MOOM
Any person (lit., man) who has a blemish
MIZ-ZERA AHARON HA’KOHEYN
of the descendants [“seed”] of Aaron the Priest
LO YI’NASH LE’HAK’RIV ET—ISHEI YHVH
shall not come near to offer Yahweh’s offering by fire
MOOM BO
Since he has a blemish
EYT—LE’CHEM ELOHAIV LO YIN’NASH
the bread of his God he shall not come near to offer.
Among the blemishes cited in this passage (Leviticus 21:16-24) are the following:
Blind, lame, flat nose, anything superfluous [a limb too long or too short], broken-footed or broken-handed, hunchback, a dwarf, an eye defect, an itching disease, scabbed, crushed testicle(s).
It is of vital importance to remember that every sacrifice offered to God on the altar had to be spotless, without blemish and in every way physically perfect [in accordance with God’s creation].
Why?
Because only the Perfect Sacrifice can atone for the imperfect person for whom atonement is being made. Only by this means can the Covenant Transfer be made (Our Sin and Blemish in exchange for His Sinlessness and Perfection). (2 Corinthians 5:21)
In effect, the Priest who offers the Perfect Sacrifice must also himself match the sacrifice being offered by also being without blemish.
This is why only Yeshua qualifies in the Court of Eternity as the actual, acceptable Sacrifice: ONLY HE among all the sons of Adam (through the virgin of prophecy) is without sin, without spot, without blemish, perfect in every way. Only He is qualified to make us holy. (Hebrews 12:14)
Remember that “not a bone of him was broken” on the cross when the soldiers broke the legs of the other two men being crucified alongside him. This fulfilled Psalm 34:20 concerning the righteous (One)—“[God] keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (cf. John 19:36)
YESHUA is both Sacrifice and Priest. Therefore, he is Perfect in all respects. (Isaiah 53)
When we come into Yeshua, we are given his Righteousness and are therefore qualified before God to offer acceptable sacrifices. (again, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 3:18-19)
Let us do so out of a perfect heart, by His Spirit, upright, spotless and unblemished. (James 1:4)
Have faith that our LORD can make this real in your life. (Mark 9:23; 2 Peter 1:4-11)
O LORD! Grant to us all that it be so! B’Yeshua ha’Mashiach ADONEYNU, Amen. Amen.
