Leviticus Chapter 22 Bible Study: Holiness of Priests and Offerings, and the Sanctity of Sacred Things

Introduction to Leviticus Chapter 22

Leviticus chapter 22 continues the “Holiness Code” (Leviticus 17-26), focusing specifically on the holiness required of priests when handling and consuming sacred offerings, and the holiness required of the offerings themselves. While chapter 21 addressed the personal purity and physical qualifications of priests, chapter 22 details the conditions under which priests could (or could not) partake of the holy food from the altar, and the strict standards for the animals brought as sacrifices.

This chapter underscores the profound truth that everything associated with God’s worship, from the ministers to the offerings, must be holy and undefiled. It highlights God’s meticulous concern for the sanctity of His Tabernacle, His presence, and His provisions. Understanding these laws is crucial for grasping God’s unwavering demand for holiness in worship, the seriousness of profaning sacred things, and the ultimate foreshadowing of the perfect and sinless nature of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest and the ultimate spotless sacrifice.

Holiness of Priests Handling Holy Things

Leviticus 22 begins by emphasizing the absolute necessity of ritual purity for priests when they handle or consume the holy offerings. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the Lord.'”

Separation from Holy Things (when unclean): Priests were commanded to “separate themselves from the holy things” if they were ritually unclean. This meant they could not touch, handle, or eat the consecrated portions of the sacrifices.
Not Profaning God’s Holy Name: The severe consequence of violating this rule was that they would “profane My holy name.” The priests, as God’s representatives, directly impacted how God was perceived. Any impurity on their part when dealing with sacred items would dishonor God and His holiness.
“I am the Lord”: This recurring phrase underscores God’s authority and His intrinsic holiness as the basis for these commands.

This foundational principle established that holiness was contagious; sacred things could not be touched by the unclean without defilement. It highlighted the constant need for priests to maintain ritual purity to ensure the integrity of the Tabernacle service and to avoid bringing reproach upon God’s name.

Disqualifications for Priests Eating Holy Things

The chapter details specific conditions that would temporarily disqualify a priest from eating the holy portions of the offerings. These conditions primarily involved various forms of ritual impurity.

Contact with the Dead: “Whoever of the descendants of Aaron who has leprosy, or a discharge, he shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen, or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean, whatever his uncleanness may be—the person who has touched any such thing shall be unclean until evening and shall not eat the holy offerings unless he has bathed his body in water. And when the sun goes down he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat the holy offerings, because it is his food.” (Leviticus 22:4-7)
- Corpse: Contact with a dead body (Numbers 19) was a major source of defilement.
- Bodily Discharges: Having leprosy (tzara’at) or any of the abnormal bodily discharges mentioned in Leviticus 15 (abnormal flow, seminal emission).
- Unclean Creeping Things: Touching the carcass of an unclean creeping thing (Leviticus 11).
- Unclean Person: Touching another person who was ritually unclean.
Duration and Purification: In most cases, the priest became “unclean until evening” and had to “bathe his body in water.” After sunset, he would be clean and could then eat the holy offerings.
Eating Unclean Animals: “Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 22:8) This reiterated the prohibition from Leviticus 17, emphasizing that priests, above all, must avoid such defiling food.

These rules ensured that the priests, who represented the people before God and handled His holy provisions, maintained a high standard of ritual purity. Any defilement, even unintentional, temporarily separated them from their sacred duties and privileges.

Consequences of Profaning Holy Things

The consequences for priests who violated these purity laws were severe, underscoring the gravity of treating God’s holy things lightly.

Death or Bearing Iniquity: “They shall therefore keep My ordinance, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it. I the Lord sanctify them.” (Leviticus 22:9) Profaning holy things could lead to bearing “sin for it” (incurring guilt) and even “die thereby.” This highlights God’s uncompromising justice.
Exclusion for Non-Priests: “No outsider shall eat the holy offering; one who dwells with the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat the holy offering. But if the priest buys a person with his money, he may eat it; and one who is born in his house may eat it. If the priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she may not eat of the holy offerings. But if the priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food; but no outsider shall eat it.” (Leviticus 22:10-13)
- Outsiders: Anyone not of the priestly lineage (including guests or hired servants) was strictly forbidden from eating the holy offerings.
- Priest’s Household: Only those who were permanently part of the priest’s household (slaves bought with money, or those born in his house) could eat.
- Priest’s Daughter: A priest’s daughter could eat if she was unmarried or if she returned to her father’s house as a widow or divorcee without children (and thus dependent on the priestly household). If she married an “outsider,” she lost the right to eat holy food.
Penalty for Eating Unknowingly: “If a man eats the holy offering unintentionally, then he shall restore a fifth of it to the priest, and add one-fifth to it, and give it to the priest with the holy offering.” (Leviticus 22:14) If a non-priest accidentally ate holy food, they had to make restitution by paying the priest the value of what was eaten, plus a 20% penalty. This was similar to the guilt offering for unintentional trespasses against holy things (Leviticus 5:15-16). This ensured that even unintentional violations were addressed.

These strict rules underscored the sacredness of the offerings and the exclusive right of the consecrated priesthood to partake of them. They served as a constant reminder that God’s holy things were not to be treated casually or profaned by the unclean or unauthorized.

Holiness of the Offerings Themselves

Beyond the holiness of the priests, Leviticus 22 also details the strict requirements for the animals brought as offerings, emphasizing that the sacrifices themselves must be without blemish and of acceptable quality. “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel or of the strangers in Israel who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows or for any of his freewill offerings, which they offer to the Lord as a burnt offering—you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats. Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf.'” (Leviticus 22:18-20)

Without Blemish: This was the paramount requirement for all sacrificial animals, reiterated from Leviticus 1. The animal had to be physically perfect, free from any defect, disease, or injury. “Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf.”
- Specific Defects Listed: Blindness, broken bones, mutilated, running sores, scabs, crushed testicles, etc. (Leviticus 22:22-24).
- No Torn or Mauled Animals: Animals that were torn by beasts (Leviticus 22:25) were also forbidden, as they were already defiled and not a proper offering.
Reason for No Blemish: The unblemished animal symbolized the perfect holiness and purity of God to whom the offering was made. It also foreshadowed the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice. Offering a blemished animal would be an insult to God and would not be accepted.
Age Requirements: “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted as an offering made by fire to the Lord. Whether it is a cow or a ewe, you shall not kill both it and its young on the same day.” (Leviticus 22:27-28)
- Animals had to be at least eight days old to be offered. This allowed the animal to gain strength and perhaps symbolized a “new beginning” (similar to circumcision on the eighth day).
- The prohibition against killing a mother and its young on the same day demonstrated God’s compassion and reverence for life.
Thanksgiving Offerings: “And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will. It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 22:29-30) This reiterated the strict rule for Thanksgiving Peace Offerings from Leviticus 7, emphasizing immediate consumption and preventing decay.

These meticulous regulations for the offerings themselves underscored God’s absolute standard of perfection in all that was presented to Him. It taught Israel that God deserved nothing less than their very best, and that only a perfect sacrifice could truly be acceptable in His holy presence. This principle powerfully foreshadows the perfect and spotless sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Theological Themes in Leviticus 22

Leviticus 22, with its meticulous laws concerning the holiness of priests and offerings, reveals profound theological themes about God’s character, the nature of worship, and the seriousness of sin.

1. God’s Absolute Holiness and Demand for Purity: The overarching theme is God’s uncompromising holiness. He is utterly separate from sin and defilement. The strict rules for priests handling holy things and the requirement for unblemished offerings underscore that everything associated with God’s worship must reflect His purity. Any impurity or defect profanes His name and sanctuaries.

2. The Seriousness of Profaning Sacred Things: The severe penalties for priests who violate purity laws (death, bearing iniquity) and for non-priests who eat holy things (restitution + 20%) highlight the extreme gravity of treating God’s holy things lightly. This teaches that God’s holiness is not to be trifled with, and disrespect for sacred things carries dire consequences.

3. The Contagious Nature of Impurity: The detailed rules about how various forms of defilement (contact with dead, bodily discharges) rendered a priest temporarily unclean illustrate the pervasive and contagious nature of ritual impurity. This serves as a powerful object lesson for the pervasive and contagious nature of sin in a fallen world, affecting individuals and their ability to draw near to God.

4. God Deserves Our Best: The unwavering requirement for “unblemished” animals in all offerings emphasizes that God deserves nothing less than our very best. Offering anything with a defect or blemish was an insult to His perfection and would not be accepted. This principle extends to our spiritual offerings today.

5. The Importance of Discernment in Worship: Priests had to constantly discern between clean and unclean, holy and common. This highlights the importance of spiritual discernment in our approach to God and our service. We must be able to distinguish what is acceptable and pleasing to Him from what is defiling or disrespectful.

6. Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, Our Perfect Priest and Sacrifice: This chapter is a rich tapestry of types and shadows fulfilled in Christ: * Perfect Priest: Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus is perfectly holy and sinless, needing no purification for Himself (Hebrews 7:26-27). He is eternally clean and fully qualified to minister. * Perfect Sacrifice: He is the “Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19), the ultimate and only truly acceptable sacrifice to God. He perfectly fulfilled the requirement for an unblemished offering. * Ultimate Cleansing: His blood cleanses us from all sin and impurity, making us truly clean and acceptable before God (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7). * Access to Holy Things: Through Christ, believers, as a “royal priesthood,” can now partake of spiritual holy things and draw near to God’s presence, not based on their own ritual purity, but on Christ’s perfect work.

Leviticus 22, therefore, is far more than a dry list of ancient regulations. It is a divinely inspired blueprint, meticulously designed to teach Israel fundamental truths about God’s holiness, the seriousness of worship, and the absolute necessity of purity and perfection in all that is presented to Him, all of which find their ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Practical Lessons from Leviticus 22

Leviticus 22, though detailing ancient laws for priests and offerings, offers several profound and timeless practical lessons for believers today concerning holiness, worship, and our identity in Christ.

1. God Deserves Our Absolute Best in Worship and Service: The unwavering demand for “unblemished” offerings teaches us that God deserves nothing less than our very best in all that we offer Him—our time, talents, resources, and lives. Our worship should be sincere, heartfelt, and of the highest quality we can give, not leftovers or half-hearted efforts.

2. Approach God with Reverence and Purity: The strict rules for priests handling holy things and the severe consequences for profaning them remind us that God is holy and must be approached with utmost reverence and purity. While we have bold access through Christ, this access is granted through His holiness, not despite it. Our attitudes, actions, and hearts in worship should reflect His majesty.

3. Recognize the Seriousness of Spiritual Defilement: The temporary disqualifications for priests due to various impurities (bodily discharges, contact with dead) serve as a powerful metaphor for spiritual defilement (sin). Sin makes us unclean and temporarily hinders our ability to draw near to God or serve Him effectively. This should cultivate a sensitive conscience and a constant reliance on Christ’s blood for cleansing (1 John 1:7, 9).

4. Integrity in All Aspects of Our Lives: The detailed rules for offerings, even down to their age and physical condition, highlight God’s concern for integrity in every detail. This calls us to live lives of honesty and integrity in all our dealings, knowing that God sees and cares about every aspect of our conduct.

5. Appreciate Christ’s Perfect Priesthood and Sacrifice: The limitations and imperfections of the Levitical priests and their sacrifices (their need for purification, their mortality, the need for unblemished animals) powerfully highlight the absolute perfection and eternal sufficiency of Jesus Christ. He is the perfectly holy Priest and the spotless Lamb whose one sacrifice has perfectly and eternally cleansed us, making us acceptable to God. Our confidence and access to God are solely through Him.

6. We Are All a “Royal Priesthood” in Christ: In the New Testament, all believers are declared a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5, 9). This means that the principles of holiness, reverence, and dedication seen in Leviticus 22 apply to all of us. We are all called to draw near to God and offer spiritual sacrifices (praise, good deeds, our lives) through Christ, always striving for purity and excellence.

These practical lessons from Leviticus 22 are timeless, guiding us in our pursuit of holiness, our understanding of worship, and our profound gratitude for the perfect priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Cross-References and Broader Biblical Themes

Leviticus 22, detailing the holiness of priests and offerings, connects to numerous major biblical themes and finds profound echoes throughout Scripture, particularly concerning holiness, purity, the priesthood, and the person and work of Jesus Christ.

1. God’s Absolute Holiness and Demand for Purity:

Leviticus 10:10: Priests are to “distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”
Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26: Repeated commands for holiness: “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

2. Seriousness of Profaning Sacred Things:

Leviticus 10:1-3: Nadab and Abihu’s death for “unholy fire.”
Numbers 18:32: Warning against profaning the holy gifts.
1 Samuel 2:12-17, 27-36: Eli’s wicked sons profaning the offerings and facing judgment.
Malachi 1:6-8: God condemns priests who despise His name by offering defiled food and blemished sacrifices.

3. Contagious Nature of Impurity:

Leviticus 15: Laws of bodily discharges and their defiling effects.
Numbers 19: Laws concerning purification from contact with a dead body.
Haggai 2:13-14: Illustrates how uncleanness spreads, but holiness does not.

4. God Deserves Our Best (Unblemished Offerings):

Leviticus 1:3, 10: Requirement for unblemished animals for burnt offerings.
Malachi 1:8, 13-14: God condemns offering blind, lame, or sick animals.
Romans 12:1: “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Hebrews 13:15: Offering the “sacrifice of praise to God continually.”

5. Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, Our Perfect Priest and Sacrifice:

Perfect Priest:
- Hebrews 7:26-27: Christ is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” needing no sacrifice for Himself.
- Hebrews 8:1-2: Christ is the Minister of the true tabernacle in heaven.
Perfect Sacrifice:
- John 1:29: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
- 1 Peter 1:18-19: Redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” This directly links to the “unblemished” requirement.
- Ephesians 5:2: Christ “gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
- Hebrews 9:14: Christ, “who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.”
- Hebrews 10:10-14: Christ’s “one offering” perfectly cleanses and perfects those who are sanctified, making the repeated Old Testament sacrifices obsolete.

6. The Priesthood of All Believers:

1 Peter 2:5, 9: Believers are a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood,” called to offer spiritual sacrifices.
Revelation 1:6; 5:10: Believers are made “kings and priests to our God.”