This chapter contains two main sections of parameters around the consumption of the “holy things” (offerings sanctified through tabernacle sacrifice) and more details on which animals are acceptable for the different types of offering (in summary, animals without blemish).
“Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name… If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord. A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired worker shall eat of a holy thing… They shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, which they contribute to the Lord, 16 and so cause them to bear iniquity and guilt, by eating their holy things: for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” (v1-3,10,15-16)
In summary, a priest who was ceremonially unclean was not allowed to partake of sanctified food until he was clean, and those who were not priests (or immediate family members of priests) were never allowed to partake of the holy things. An unclean priest who partook of holy things was “cut off from the people” (ie. executed, or at the very least banished) and a “lay person” had to repay what they ate plus twenty percent.
This may not seem applicable today, until we consider that the sanctified food shared as a meal with God’s sanctified people, is the OT/OC (Old Covenant) parallel of the NT/NC (New Covenant) “Lord’s supper”.
During the “Lord’s supper” (sometimes called “communion” or “Eucharist”), the bread and wine (sometimes called “elements”) are shared only with Christ followers who have been sanctified by Jesus’ redeeming blood and declared clean/righteous by God. People who have not dedicated their lives to Jesus are not invited to participate.
Just as the priests had specific boundaries around consumption of holy things, so do we have some boundaries on the Lord’s supper. Paul speaks against divisiveness, gluttony and greed around the sharing of the Lord’s supper: “…when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Cor 11:17b,18,20-22,27-32)
Paul condemns several of Corinth’s practices because they defiled the Lord’s supper. They were not reconciled to each other, they were selfish/greedy/unfair, they were disrespectful of Jesus, and they didn’t consider the needs of others around them. Paul scolded them quite harshly because they were not Christ-like in the way they followed Christ, and God judged them for it (resulting in sickness and even death).
Now, I’m not suggesting we need to be flawless in order to participate in the Lord’s supper, because that’s impossible. What I’m suggesting, based on the scriptures, is just like the priests and disciples we need to be consecrated (set apart, dedicated) to God, and reconciled to our brothers/sisters in Christ. God does not allow for divisiveness or unfair treatment of His people when we commune before Him in Jesus’ name. Jesus shared the Lord’s supper with people to whom He was fully reconciled, and who were Christ followers – we should do the same. We are to participate out of reverence for Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and for the people next to us, for they too are loved and redeemed.
Father God, thank you for the important reminders You provide through Your scriptures, and through our time with other believers. We ask that You would forgive our unforgiveness, and soften our hearts toward our brothers/sisters. Would Your Spirit please guide us toward reconciliation with our brothers/sisters wherever possible, and at the very least toward full reconciliation in our own spirits. We acknowledge that there may be some who do not wish to reconcile with us, even though we take the necessary steps. Would You please soften their hearts, and forgive their unwillingness, as we do all that we can to make peace. Please grant us peace in our hearts when others don’t allow for reconciliation, knowing that we have done all that we can and the rest is up to them. Thank you for reminding us that we are not responsible for others’ decisions when they choose not to reconcile. Thank you in advance for the healing that will come in time as we become internally reconciled, and thank you for aiding others in their personal journeys of reconciliation as well. All honor, glory and praise belongs to You Father, the healer of broken relationships and reconciler of hearts. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training