More on Sexual Relations, Priests, and Sacrifices

Leviticus 20-22

            Our reading covers the three broad categories in the heading above. We’ve read about prohibited sexual relations already in chapter 18. Here in chapter 20, punishments—usually death—are specified. I commented on Saturday that sex is much more than a matter of biology and it’s much, much more than a matter of pleasure. Only when we realize this do we begin to understand these punishments. Now these commands no longer apply in the New Testament, so we aren’t going all theocratic law here. But there are two interesting bits in 1 Corinthians we should note. First, in 1 Corinthians 5:1, Paul makes this statement, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife!” That is hardly the extensive list of prohibitions in Leviticus, but it does indicate that there remain some forbidden degrees of sexual contact in the NT. Second, in the next chapter, Paul argues that our bodies are “members,” that is, body parts, of Christ; our physical bodies are part of the mystical body of Christ. He says that sex with a prostitute makes a man one with her. The implication is that uniting yourself in sex with a person who is not your spouse also unites Christ with that person. Then, Paul goes on to say that the church is also the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, again connecting loose sexual practice in the New Testament to desecrations that would make a person unclean, unfit for the tabernacle/temple in the Old Testament. Clearly, the significance of sex is much more than our culture is currently willing to assign to it.

            We’ve also read a lot about the priests, but today’s reading clarifies even more how the priests are to be set apart. Again, a New Testament connection. Paul argues in 1 Timothy that the pastoral office is reserved for men; however, in the same chapter, he is clear: not just any man. There are a host of ethical tests that would either qualify or disqualify a man from consideration. This is similar to today’s reading: the priesthood is reserved for Aaron’s sons, but not just because of being Aaron’s son: there are other qualifications (and disqualifications). The men set aside to represent a holy God are to pay attention to their holiness!

            Finally, a word about sacrifices: the Israelites can’t just bring in any, old goat. It has to be goat without blemish—one of the best. God deserves our best—a lesson we could certainly think on! Sometimes we latter day Christians take God’s love for granted and so show up for worship when it’s convenient instead of starting with worship and working the rest of our schedule around it. Similarly, we often make our gifts to the Lord after we have worked out what we need financially for everything else in life. Israel’s laws can remind us that the Lord comes first and gets the best. We work out everything else out around Him.