Restrictions. Standards. Find those who have a good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, not just anybody. Those who are proven. not to be a problem.
So restrictions continue. If you do well, you have nothing to worry about. You enter into its rhythm. But if you're in the flesh all the time, Then you're going to We're gonna butt heads. And you don't want to do that in ministry.
This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Leviticus. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio. specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.
But for now, let's tune Pastor Rick in the book of Leviticus chapter 21. with today's edition of Cross-Reference Radio. Leviticus chapter 21.
Now some people They just have a problem with authority. And, you know, it doesn't work well in Christianity, it doesn't work well in the church. It's not. It's something that The Scripture addresses quite often From the very beginning, Cain had a problem. with authority evidently.
Respect for pastoral authority. has to be taught to many people.
Some don't ever get it. And it's it's perplexing. It is a fact. that if you want to be Particularly for the men. If you want to be a man of authority, You have to learn how to be under authority.
That's the best route. And Christ by o constantly saying That he was under the authority of his father was just one of many ways the Bible teaches this lesson. As we consider the priestly standards and restrictions, this is something that. God expected his people to com comply with and to conform to. Laws for the priests demanded higher standards of conduct, holy conduct.
higher than the people. In some areas, even their family. were held. The family of the priests were held to higher standards. God set the standards.
and the restrictions for the priests. Of course it impacted the people. It had something to do with The nation. Being a a holy people. Different from everyone else.
We get to the New Testament, it's still an issue. How many times we have Paul having to deal with it, Peter had to deal with it, James deals with it. Paul John had to deal with a Diotrephes, for example. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Well, it's It's it's New Testament teaching. On an Old Testament Principal These restrictions and standards They Include disqualifications and prohibitions. There are rules, there are rules to follow. You just can't do whatever you want, though the flesh does not ever like to hear that. God has no room for today's destructive diversity, equity, inclusion, gobbledygook.
And as we go through chapters 21 and 22 of Leviticus, which are zeroing in on the priest. It has to do with the people, but it's about the priest. in chapter 21, verses 1 through 9, rules about Mourning or grief. and marriage for the priests. Verses 10 through 15 rules about The same issues, but for the high priest at this time.
Then sixteen through twenty four Physical disqualifications for officiating as a priest, Not every child of Aaron. would be allowed to be a priest.
Some were disqualified simply by a birth defect or an accident. There were restrictions there. Then we get to chapter 22, and there are restrictions concerning contaminated and unclean priests. Verses 10 through 16 in chapter 22. the right of priestly relatives.
And food. Concerning the priests and the sacrifices. And then verses 17 through 33. Physical disqualifications pertaining to sacrificial animals.
So it's all about rules.
Now we get to the next, to chapter 23. We get to Prophecy in the book of Leviticus. But right now it's business, and so let's get to it. Verse 1. And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, None shall defile himself for the dead among his people.
Verse 2, except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father. His son is daughter, and his brother, Verse three also his virgin sister, who is near to him, who has had no husband, for her he may defile himself.
Well, the priest, of course, having a significant role in society, And Leviticus from Throughout the book, but here at the closing of the book, is showing their authority. In the New Testament, we read this in Hebrews 5:4 priest is taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God. That he may offer both gifts. Gifts and sacrifices for sins. A lot to be learned from what the Bible says about the priest and the high priest.
We being a royal priesthood, we should pay attention to all of it. It says here in verse 1, none shall defile himself for the dead among his people.
Well, this is a ministry goes on. Claws in the scripture. Yes, someone has died, but ministry still has to continue. Ministry was not to be easily interrupted by death. There were, again, some.
Some reasons why they could. Even for today with our prayer chain, we we have some restrictions on that, or else we burn out the people. I mean, and we try to keep it tight to immediate family.
Well, that comes from verses like this in the scripture that teach us how to handle things, or else they just get out of hand. None shall defile himself for the dead among his people. Numbers 19, verse 11 and 14. He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. This is the law.
When a man dies in a tent, all who come into the tent and all who are in the tent shall be unclean seven days.
So the priests would be tied up. They couldn't minister. They'd be tied up for seven days. without these restrictions. In verse 2, There is, again, that allowance.
That would be appreciated. And verse 3, of course, for a virgin sister. Verse 4, otherwise. He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
Well, holding such a position of authority, did not allow for grief again to easily interfere with ministry. God? Takes the ministry of His Anointed Ones very seriously. Once again, they are not mascots. They are agents of God.
Paul says, He himself has given us some to be. apostles, evangelists. Uh prophets, evan pastor teachers. This is something God has given. And unfortunately, you know, I like encouraging Christians who attend other churches.
I like encouraging them to stay in there. And If there's no doctrinal heresy going on, support your pastor. It is for the good of all. I'm not saying that just because I'm a pastor, it's what the Bible teaches. In verse five: they shall not make any ball place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beards, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Now, this is covered in chapter 19. and he revisits it. This behavior that's pointed out in chapter 5. it would draw attention to themselves. wouldn't benefit the dead nor the society, and it would also bring some identity with false religions of the surrounding peoples.
As a man of God, they were To be disassociated from the false and the superficial. Who wants a superficial leader? Who says, Hi, how are you doing? But they don't mean it. They're just superficial.
It's fake. You would like them to be sincere all the time. except when making jokes. like that. Verse verse six.
They shall be holy to their God. and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and the bread of their God, therefore they shall be holy. This likely this The the bread that's referred to here The bread of their God, and verse 6, likely includes the grain offerings at the brazen altar as well as the showbread within the sanctuary. They ministered.
On behalf of God, and all of these things, their symbolism is very significant to us. It doesn't Fade in the New Testament, it continues on. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Verse 7, they shall not take a wife who is a harlot or a defiled woman, nor shall they take a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.
Now, if you read this out loud, you're going to come in contact Through these two chapters with the word holy quite frequently, and also God saying, This is what I want. in his own special way. And we'll close chapter 22 with a review of that. But here in chapter in verse 7 Marriage to a harlot increased opportunity and appearances of corruption to the priesthood, because only the sons of Aaron were to be priest in Israel. And if there was a suspicion that she was unfaithful with maybe someone from another tribe, how would we or just no, it could be a Levite, but not a son of Aaron.
It could just bring all of this doubt into the picture. The Aeronautic line had to be protected. This was a problem Hosea the prophet faced in being married to unfaithful Gomer. In Hosea 2, he says, I will not have mercy on her, for they are the children of harlotry. A hurt Hosea the prophet.
Profit. Question The legitimacy of the children That Gomer had given birth to. Were they are they even my children? And so here in Leviticus, we see God saying, I'm going to make this as tight as I can. I want to shield the priesthood from easy accusations.
And in those days, there was no DNA testing. And so it was imperative that the priest be a descendant of Aaron without any testing available. and to move remove suspicions. Uh the priest could only marry a virgin. And this is one of also one of the reasons Why God made this law to remove the suspicions.
And or limit them as best he could. Leviticus 21, verse 15, in this same chapter, verse 15. Nor shall he profane his posterity. Among his people for I, Yahweh, sanctify him. And there is God emphasizing how important this is.
Now when he re ref refers to a defiled woman, What he is talking about is any non-virgin. Maybe she was a victim of a crime and violated. Either way, He was only to marry a virgin woman. Verse 8: Therefore you shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread. Of your God, he shall be holy to you, for I, Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy.
Well, serving in God's house is a privilege. though I have come across many a Christian who thinks or behave as though it's owed to them. No, it's a privilege. But ministry should also at some point be a burden. And an honor.
all at the same time. And here God is saying, Therefore you shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you. For I, Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy. God is saying, I got my fingerprints all over this.
I am the author of this. 1 Peter 2 Verse 9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Well, there we, of course, we've read this verse, or I've read it to you, several times through Leviticus to make sure we understand that. We we share in much of The role of the priest of the Old Testament on behalf of the people. In verse 9, now the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the harlot, she profanes her father, she shall be burned with fire.
Well, that's pretty harsh, a great deterrent, no doubt.
Now, it is unlikely that they were burned alive. A legalistic mind won't want it that way. Make sure you don't think that way. And the reason why I can say. This is because when Achan Had committed his sin, and those in the family.
who were guilty with him, For covering the sin up, they were first stoned, we're told in Joshua 7:25. Then their bodies were burned. And this is sort of a humiliation, it's a public shaming that was taking place. Uh on and also I I w I should add, if the daughter entered into such Shameful acts of sin. The priest was not defrocked.
It's like, I can't believe your daughter did that. You can't be a priest anymore. You know, there are some Christians that they want to throw that in the face of some people. But the daughter was punished and you know Be careful of those that are just quick to condemn parents. Hophnai and Phineas were the sons of Eli the high priest, And they caused many people to stumble.
They committed some Just Really bad sins, and they were priests, and God dealt with them no less than twice. Once when they were slain on the battlefield, and then after death. in judgment.
So God is of course not mocked. That all men be a liar, God is not mocked. Verse 10: He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured, and who is consecrated to wear the garment, shall not uncover his head, nor tear his clothes, nor shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself, verse 11. for his father or his mother, nor shall he go out Of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am Yahweh.
So this now is the high priest. Previously it was the priest. This is the high priest, and the the standards have Intensified. Affections are taking a second seat to duty. The idea of holiness.
Amongst us, continues to dominate in the book of Leviticus. There was nothing more he could do for the dead anyway. They were gone. And not to sound flippant about that at all. There were other people that certainly would should rise up and minister.
But the primary care of the high priest was for the temple of God on behalf of the living.
Now, I can tell you as a pastor, there are times when people have past and My presence is just because of my position. has made a big difference. People were looking for me, they were wanting me to show up, and when I got there, it made it very clear. One time I remember It was by the time I was the first one there, the person passed away, the spouse was. Holding them, and they were sitting.
The deceased was in a chair, the spouse was standing up. And I just embraced it was sort of a group hug. With the surviving spouse, the corpse, myself, and the Holy Spirit. And it was a very God-ordained moment. And where I'm going with this is.
not to undervalue the office that God has given. The people oftentimes associate their pastor. directly to the authority of God in a proper way. There's a wrong way to do that, and there are right ways to do that. And I was very glad I was there.
And that's not the only time, again, that my presence showing up when death is just visited has been a blessing to the people. But here the high priest would not be allowed to do that. He'd be out of work for seven days, and God was not going to let ministry stop.
So, some of those differences between the New Testament and Old Testament, very significant. Verse 13: And he shall take a wife in her virginity, a widow, or a divorced woman, or a defiled woman, or a harlot, these he shall not marry, but he shall take a virgin of his own people as wife, nor shall he profane his posterity among the people, for I Yahweh sanctify him.
So as in verse 7, but again, this is the high priest. Verse sixteen, and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron, saying, No man of your descendants in succeeding generations who has any defect may approach to offer the bread of his God.
Well, here's a restriction. Here's a place where people, some might want to rebel and protest, especially today's generation.
Well, just as the sacrifice. Was to be without a blemish, so the one receiving and offering the sacrifice. was supposed to be without physical blemish. God is setting qualifying standards. He is pursuing excellence in ministry.
He has every right to do that. The apostles, when a church was growing there in Jerusalem, And there began to be a need for servants other than the apostles This is what they said to the church. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Restrictions. Standards.
Find those who have good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, not just anybody. Those who are proven. not to be a problem.
So restrictions continued. If you do well, you have nothing to worry about. You enter into its rhythm. But if you're in the flesh all the time, then you're going to you're going to butt heads. And you don't want to do that in ministry.
Because even if you think you succeed, God's going to deal with you for that. God told Ezekiel, I'm going to make your head hotter than their head. since they want a buttheads with you. And it should never come to something like that. Verse 18.
For any man who has a defect shall not approach A man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long. Again, disqualifying features.
Well, if you can't run fast enough, you can't be on the track team. There's a fair restriction. And God says, whether you think it's fair or not, this is what I want. Visual things cannot always be discounted. They can interfere.
Years ago, I read about this. tests that took place in this university. where they cooked up some mashed potatoes. and dyed them blue. And no one could eat them.
It matters. We're dealing with human beings, not machines. And you know, it's just so, how do you manage these things?
Well, that's the scripture helps us. with these things.
So diversity Equity, inclusion. Those things lower standards and are detrimental. God says, This is how I want it to His people. We come away reading this and we say, Well, We're not putting these restrictions on people, but we're paying attention. We're paying attention to things that we have to manage.
to make sure they do not cause damage. And someone's always going to not like it.
Well that comes with leadership. When you lead, you're not, you know, you hope everybody appreciates it. But they won't always, and that can unless they're right and you know you're wrong. Then you have to make Corrections, but if you say, no, this is the way it's going to be, then Will it raise your taxes? What w what is it going to make you nauseous to submit?
What happens if you submit? What happens if you rebel? What happens if you become an Absalom at the gate? began to badmouth the king. win people over to your side.
Absalom was left dangling between heaven and earth. It counts, it matters, and it shouldn't be this way. You know, Judas Iscariot, that was a rebellion. He thought he had a better way. We all need to hear these lessons.
On the Side of the priests, you say, Well, what about them?
Well Ideally, They're so busy pursuing integrity That's the standard that they're trying to conform to for the excellence of ministry, to not be the hypocrite. To be sincere, not superficial. to give the best pastoral ministry that they can they can give. What more would you ask for? The the church is not corporate America.
The church is the house of God first. For the people of God, it is blood bought. There is violence involved. their enemies, their opponents. Hopefully, they're not going to be coming from within.
So, the priest, incidentally, back to this. With the defect, one blind, one who was marred in the face or limb too long. The priests had to be physically fit to carry out their duties. We covered that in the very first early chapters of Leviticus. They had to work hard physically.
And some of these restrictions Would have interfere with the work. Verse 19: A man who has a broken foot or broken hand.
Well, the physicians weren't as skilled in those days as they were today with broken limbs, but Why would God have to say this? Because there's going to be some hard-charging priest who breaks his hand, but I can still do it. I know you can't. You can't skin a bull with one hand. lame foot.
And so these rules are put in place. Thanks for tuning in to today's edition of Cross-Reference Radio. Pastor Rick Gaston is currently going through the book of Leviticus. We're glad you joined us. We trust that you're gaining some valuable insights into God's Word as we go through this Old Testament book.
Cross-reference radio comes to you from Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Virginia. If you'd like to subscribe to our podcast, you can do so by going to your favorite app store. and downloading from there. For any additional information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website, Crossreference Radio.com. Make sure to come back again for the upcoming edition in the book of Leviticus, as Pastor Rick has much more to share.
We thank you for being with us right here on Cross Reference Radio.
