Torah Portion Emor – A Priesthood without Blemish

The video version is available at: https://youtu.be/rKCGMmoq7bE

Reading – Leviticus 21:16-24

 

By Dan and Brenda Cathcart

Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Itamar were the only priests serving before the LORD after the death of Nadab and Abihu. Eleazar and Itamar’s future sons would serve after them. However, not all of their descendants would be able to serve as priests. God requires that all the priests that serve Him be without blemish.

Leviticus 21:16-17 MKJV 16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 Speak to Aaron, saying, No man of your seed in their generations shall draw near to offer the bread of his God if there is a blemish in him.

Later on in the Torah portion, God instructs that the offering is also to be without blemish. So, both the priest coming before God and the offering he presents to God need to be physically perfect. What constitutes physical perfection? This passage goes on to explain the physical defects that would disqualify a priest from bringing the offerings of the children of Israel before God. As we examine these blemishes, we will see that God is using the physical characteristics of these blemishes to teach a spiritual lesson.

As we know, both the Aaronic priesthood and the offering system foreshadow Yeshua’s dual roles of high priest and all the offerings combined. As our offering, Peter states that He is the lamb without blemish.

1 Peter 1:18-19 MKJV 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;

As our high priest, Yeshua is the perfect high priest.

Hebrews 7:26 MKJV 26 For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens,

However, not only does the priesthood and offering system foreshadow Yeshua’s role, but they also foreshadow our role. We are instructed to present ourselves as a living sacrifice acceptable to God. We are also called a royal priesthood. So, these spiritual lessons apply to us.

God, through Moses, outlines twelve blemishes that disqualify a priest from serving.

Leviticus 21:18-20 KJV 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, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

The first blemish is that of blindness. Those who are spiritually blind cannot discern the spiritual. Paul was uniquely qualified to write about this. Because when Paul was on the road to Damascus to persecute the followers of Yeshua, God struck him with blindness. Yeshua spoke to him and instructed him to seek out Ananias who would open his physical eyes and teach him to spiritually see.

Acts 9:17-18 NKJV 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Paul had a zeal for God even before this encounter with Yeshua and Ananias, but His mind was blind to the truth about the identity of Yeshua. Paul says the same thing about the children of Israel in the wilderness.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16 NKJV 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Those who try to discern the spiritual without Christ are blind. Only knowing Yeshua takes away the blindness of the mind and, afterwards, one is able to read the scriptures and see God.

Ephesians 4:17-18 NKJV 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

Peter lists the qualities of one who is not blind, concluding that anyone who lacks these qualities is blind.

2 Peter 1:5-9 NKJV 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Indulging in hatred, selfishness and an unforgiving attitude leads to spiritual blindness.

The second blemish is being lame. A person who is lame has an uneven gait; he doesn’t walk straight. As a figure of speech, it refers to one who lives foolishly dealing dishonestly with others.

Proverbs 26:7 MKJV 7 The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

When the legs are not equal, the body is out of balance. It is like a dishonest scale.

Deuteronomy 25:13 MKJV 13 You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a great stone and a small.

Paul warns us to walk wisely, living our lives with purpose.

Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

When Paul writes his second letter to the Thessalonians, there seems to be some gossip and slander going around about Paul. He reminds them that they are witnesses to how he and his companions behaved among them, finishing with the exhortation to walk worthy of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NKJV 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

The third blemish is that of a flat nose. What is wrong with a flat nose? The word flat nose is the Hebrew word “charam,” number 2763 in Strong’s Concordance, meaning devoted to religious use or set apart for destruction. It appears from this definition that we are looking at a form of religion but without substance or depth. To help us understand a flat nose, let’s look at the opposite of a flat nose, that of a long or pointed nose.

Song of Solomon 7:4 NKJV 4 Your neck is like an ivory tower, Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon By the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.

The groom in the Song of Solomon describes a beautiful nose as being like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus. What is the purpose of such a tower? It looks on a potential enemy and keeps watch for danger. If we are to be watching as Yeshua instructed us, our noses need to be alert, sniffing for danger. The figure of speech “I smell a rat” indicates that the nose can smell an enemy coming. The writer of Hebrews says that those who are mature in faith use their senses to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 NKJV 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We see in scripture that God has a discerning nose. An offering brought in sincerity and truth is a sweet aroma to God, but a false offering is a stench in God’s nostrils.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NKJV 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

The fourth blemish is anything superfluous. The Hebrew word for superfluous is “sara`,” number 8311, meaning to be deformed by excess of members, to stretch out self. Paul tells us not to elevate ourselves in our own thinking thus “stretching out” our importance.

Romans 12:3 NKJV 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Yeshua tells us that those who proclaim their own importance receive their reward on earth with nothing in heaven.

Matthew 6:16 NIV 16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Not only can we stretch ourselves out, but we can also stretch out God’s Word. When we try to add to God’s perfection, we merely distort it. We are “stretching ourselves” to be more important than we are; we think we can edit God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV 2 "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Yeshua spoke against this “stretching out” of God’s word when he condemned the Pharisees for following tradition instead of God’s word.

Mark 7:8-9 NKJV 8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Adding to God’s Word leads to confusion and false doctrine. Yeshua’s words to John in his vision recorded in the book of Revelation warn against adding to His words.

Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The fifth and sixth blemishes go together. They are a broken foot and a broken hand. Those with a broken foot either have stumbled and fallen or are walking in the wrong direction. The prophet Balaam was going in the wrong direction when his donkey slammed him against a wall and broke his foot because he did not walk in the path that God wanted him to go.

Numbers 22:34 NKJV 34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back."

Our foot is broken when we get off the path and stumble.

Proverbs 4:26-27 NKJV 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

We can avoid getting a broken foot like Balaam by walking in Messiah.

Colossians 2:5-7 NKJV 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

A broken hand refers to those who mishandle the word of God. Paul cautions the Corinthians not to walk in craftiness or to handle the word of God with deceit.

2 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

The seventh blemish is a crooked back. Those with a crooked back are weighed down with the cares of this world or the idols they carry on their backs. Isaiah warns against carrying the weight of worthless idols.

Isaiah 46:1-2 NKJV 1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, A burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity.

Yeshua instructs us to let Him bear our burdens.

Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The eighth blemish is described as being a dwarf. The Hebrew word translated dwarf is “daq,” number 1851, meaning small or thin, a very little thing. Those who are dwarfs in this sense have not matured in faith; they remain small. The writer of Hebrews says the milk is good, but we need to progress to solid food continuing to grow in the Word.

Hebrews 5:12-14 NKJV 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We see that as we grow in the maturity of our faith, it is not only our stature that grows. We are more able to discern good and evil. Our nose grows more like the tower of Lebanon described by the bridegroom in the Song of Solomon!

The ninth blemish is a blemish in the eye. A blemish in the eye causes distorted vision. Yeshua warns us not to be too quick to judge the mote in our neighbor’s eye.

Matthew 7:2-5 NKJV 2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

When we have a blemish in our eye, we are unable to see clearly. One way that happens is that we look at only the outward appearance, especially that valued by the world. When God sent Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse as the future king of Israel, God warned him not to judge by appearance. Saul saw Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance.

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Isiah tells us that Yeshua judges by what is in the heart.

Isaiah 11:3 NKJV 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;

Those with a blemish in the eye see everyone else’s faults and miss their own or they look only at the surface and value the superficial.

The tenth and eleventh blemishes are having scurvy or being scabbed. Scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. Its symptoms are swollen bleeding gums and bleeding under the skin that causes red blotchiness of the skin. Being, like the symptoms of scurvy, affects the skin. Both have to do with an outward appearance of the skin. However, scurvy is caused by malnourishment. We need to follow the entire Word of God and not focus on just one part.

Acts 20:27-28 NKJV 27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

The last blemish is that of damaged or crushed testicles. A man with damaged testicles can’t reproduce. As Believers, we are to make disciples, that is, reproduce our faith in others. Paul looks on those he brings into the faith as his children.

Galatians 4:19-20 NKJV 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

One of Yeshua’s last words to His disciples was to make more disciples throughout the entire earth.

Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Paul tells us in Romans to present our entire bodies as a living sacrifice to God, one that is holy, pure, and perfect. He tells us that the way we can do this is to allow ourselves to be conformed to Yeshua’s image by allowing the water of the word to wash us and purify us. When we follow these instructions, we can be both the perfect priest in our service to God and the perfect sacrifice as we live for Him.

Study Questions:

Teaching Questions

 

1.      Compare Paul’s words to the assembly of Messiah in Ephesians 5:27 to the blemish free requirements for the priesthood.

 

2.      Paul says that the minds of the children of Israel were blinded in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 referring back to Moses and events at Mt. Sinai. What caused their blindness? What caused Paul’s spiritual blindness

 

3.      The list of blemishes begins with blindness and ends with crushed testicles or the inability to reproduce. How does these two encompass all of the blemishes?

 

General Portion Questions

 

4.      This Torah portion includes the instructions that offerings brought to the LORD also be without blemish in Leviticus 22:17-25. How does Malachi address this issue in Malachi 1:6-8? How does this apply to us?

 

5.      Who can eat the offerings that are holy to the LORD? Are there greater implications about this restriction?

 

6.      What other insights did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there in this Torah Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?

 

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