SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:17
Habla a Aarón, y dile: El varón de tu simiente en sus generaciones, en el cual hubiere falta, no se acercará para ofrecer el pan de su Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 21:17
Verse 17. Whosoever-hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.] Never was a wiser, a more rational, and a more expedient law enacted relative to sacred matters. The man who ministers in holy things, who professes to be the interpreter of the will of God, should have nothing in his person nor in his manner which cannot contribute to render him respectable in the eyes of those to whom he ministers. If, on the contrary, he has any personal defect, any thing that may render him contemptible or despicable, his usefulness will be greatly injured, if not entirely prevented. If however a man have received any damage in the work of God, by persecution or otherwise, his scars are honourable, and will add to his respectability. But if he be received into the ministry with any of the blemishes specified here, he never will and never can have that respect which is essentially necessary to secure his usefulness. Let no man say this is a part of the Mosaic law, and we are not bound by it. It is an eternal law, founded on reason, propriety, common sense, and absolute necessity. The priest, the prophet, the Christian minister, is the representative of Jesus Christ; let nothing in his person, carriage, or doctrine, be unworthy of the personage he represents. A deformed person, though consummate in diplomatic wisdom, would never be employed as an ambassador by any enlightened court, if any fit person, unblemished, could possibly be procured.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Speak unto Aaron, saying , etc.] Who being the high priest, it was incumbent on him, at least at this time, to see that the laws and rules relating to the priesthood were observed; and particularly to examine carefully who were and who were not to be admitted to serve in it: whosoever [he be] of thy seed in their generations ; or, “a man of thy seed” f763 , for this only respected his male seed, females of his seed had no concern in the following laws; but his sons, in all successive ages and generations, to the coming of the Messiah, had, whether high priests or common priests: that hath [any] blemish ; in any part of his body, particularly such as are after mentioned: let him not approach to offer the bread of his God ; neither go into the holy place, to set the shewbread in order there, nor to offer any sacrifice upon the altar; so Josephus explains this law; that a priest should be perfect, and if he laboured under any defect, should not ascend the altar, nor enter into the temple: this was imitated by the Heathens: Romulus ordered that such as were weak and feeble in any part of the body should not be made priests f765 : the Jewish priests were types of Christ, who is holy, harmless, without spot and blemish; and through whose blood and righteousness all who are made priests by him are unblamable, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; and a Gospel minister, bishop, or pastor, ought to be unblemished in his life and conversation, ( Titus 1:6,7); and there are some who think that the blemishes of the mind and of the life are rather here meant than those of the body.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Laws concerning the priests. --As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers must be followers of him, that their example may teach others to imitate the Saviour. Without blemish, and separate from sinners, He executed his priestly office on earth. What manner of persons then should his ministers be! But all are, if Christians, spiritual priests; the minister especially is called to set a good example, that the people may follow it. Our bodily infirmities, blessed be God, cannot now shu us out from his service, from these privileges, or from his heavenl glory. Many a healthful, beautiful soul is lodged in a feeble, deforme body. And those who may not be suited for the work of the ministry, ma serve God with comfort in other duties in his church __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
דבר 1696 אל 413 אהרן 175 לאמר 559 אישׁ 376 מזרעך 2233 לדרתם 1755 אשׁר 834 יהיה 1961 בו מום 3971 לא 3808 יקרב 7126 להקריב 7126 לחם 3899 אלהיו׃ 430
