Leviticus 21
Lutheran reading notes
In Leviticus chapter 21, the story continues to develop the theme of holiness, priesthood, sacrifice, and covenant worship. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.
1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:
Leviticus 21:1 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
But for his kin, that is near unto him, {that is}, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,
Leviticus 21:2 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.
Leviticus 21:3 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
{But} he shall not defile himself, {being} a chief man among his people, to profane himself. {he...: or, being an husband among his people, he shall not defile himself for his wife, etc}
Leviticus 21:4 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Leviticus 21:5 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, {and} the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
Leviticus 21:6 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
They shall not take a wife {that is} a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he {is} holy unto his God.
Leviticus 21:7 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, {am} holy.
Leviticus 21:8 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
Leviticus 21:9 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And {he that is} the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Leviticus 21:10 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
Leviticus 21:11 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God {is} upon him: I {am} the LORD.
Leviticus 21:12 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
Leviticus 21:13 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, {or} an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
Leviticus 21:14 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.
Leviticus 21:15 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 21:16 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever {he be} of thy seed in their generations that hath {any} blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. {bread: or, food}
Leviticus 21:17 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
For whatsoever man {he be} that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,
Leviticus 21:18 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,
Leviticus 21:19 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; {a dwarf: or, too slender}
Leviticus 21:20 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Leviticus 21:21 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
He shall eat the bread of his God, {both} of the most holy, and of the holy.
Leviticus 21:22 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.
Leviticus 21:23 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
And Moses told {it} unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
Leviticus 21:24 highlights holiness and worship with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.