6 They shall be holy H6944 unto their God, H430 and not profane H2490 the name H8034 of their God: H430 for the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire, H801 and the bread H3899 of their God, H430 they do offer: H7126 therefore they shall be holy. H6918
And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 it upon the altar: H4196 it is the food H3899 of the offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068
And I will sanctify H6942 the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and the altar: H4196 I will sanctify H6942 also both Aaron H175 and his sons, H1121 to minister to me in the priest's office. H3547
Thou shalt sanctify H6942 him therefore; for he offereth H7126 the bread H3899 of thy God: H430 he shall be holy H6918 unto thee: for I the LORD, H3068 which sanctify H6942 you, am holy. H6918
In that ye have brought H935 into my sanctuary strangers, H1121 H5236 uncircumcised H6189 in heart, H3820 and uncircumcised H6189 in flesh, H1320 to be in my sanctuary, H4720 to pollute H2490 it, even my house, H1004 when ye offer H7126 my bread, H3899 the fat H2459 and the blood, H1818 and they have broken H6565 my covenant H1285 because H413 of all your abominations. H8441
A son H1121 honoureth H3513 his father, H1 and a servant H5650 his master: H113 if then I be a father, H1 where is mine honour? H3519 and if I be a master, H113 where is my fear? H4172 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 unto you, O priests, H3548 that despise H959 my name. H8034 And ye say, H559 Wherein have we despised H959 thy name? H8034 Ye offer H5066 polluted H1351 bread H3899 upon mine altar; H4196 and ye say, H559 Wherein have we polluted H1351 thee? In that ye say, H559 The table H7979 of the LORD H3068 is contemptible. H959
For from the rising H4217 of the sun H8121 even unto the going down H3996 of the same my name H8034 shall be great H1419 among the Gentiles; H1471 and in every place H4725 incense H6999 shall be offered H5066 unto my name, H8034 and a pure H2889 offering: H4503 for my name H8034 shall be great H1419 among the heathen, H1471 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 But ye have profaned H2490 it, in that ye say, H559 The table H7979 of the LORD H3068 is polluted; H1351 and the fruit H5108 thereof, even his meat, H400 is contemptible. H959
But G1161 ye G5210 are a chosen G1588 generation, G1085 a royal G934 priesthood, G2406 an holy G40 nation, G1484 a peculiar G1519 G4047 people; G2992 that G3704 ye should shew forth G1804 the praises G703 of him who hath called G2564 you G5209 out of G1537 darkness G4655 into G1519 his G846 marvellous G2298 light: G5457
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 21
Commentary on Leviticus 21 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 21
This chapter might borrow its title from Mal. 2:1, "And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you.' It is a law obliging priests with the utmost care and jealousy to preserve the dignity of their priesthood.
Lev 21:1-9
It was before appointed that the priests should teach the people the statutes God had given concerning the difference between clean and unclean, ch. 10:10, 11. Now here it is provided that they should themselves observe what they were to teach the people. Note, Those whose office it is to instruct must do it by example as well as precept, 1 Tim. 4:12. The priests were to draw nearer to God than any of the people, and to be more intimately conversant with sacred things, and therefore it was required of them that they should keep at a greater distance than others from every thing that was defiling and might diminish the honour of their priesthood.
Lev 21:10-15
More was expected from a priest than from other people, but more from the high priest than from other priests, because upon his head the anointing oil was poured, and he was consecrated to put on the garments (v. 10), both which were typical of the anointing and adorning of the Lord Jesus, with all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, which he received without measure. It is called the crown of the anointing oil of his God (v. 12); for the anointing of the Spirit is, to all that have it, a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty. The high priest being thus dignified,
Lev 21:16-24
The priesthood being confined to one particular family, and entailed upon all the male issue of that family throughout their generations, it was very likely that some or other in after-ages that were born to the priesthood would have natural blemishes and deformities: the honour of the priesthood would not secure them from any of those calamities which are common to men. Divers blemishes are here specified; some that were ordinarily for life, as blindness; others that might be for a time, as a scurf or scab, and, when they were gone, the disability ceased. Now,