在前兩章我們看到針對一般以色列人而設的聖潔標準。這兩章則是對祭司的要求。由於他們的職位和責任，對他們的要求自然也較高，因為「多給誰就向誰多取」（路12：48）。不論什麼事都必須根據上帝的聖潔和完美來做；所以祭司也要保持模範的聖潔生活，如此才能領導、教訓以色列的子孫聖潔之道，以及如何真正尊崇上帝的聖名。

        祭司在會幕裡服事上帝要隨時保時潔淨。他們不准碰觸死屍而玷污自己（因為死是罪的結果），只有在近親死時例外。任何祭司在任何情況下都不得用異教徒的方式哀悼死人（21：5、10）。有關大祭司如何保持潔淨的規矩遠較其他祭司更為嚴格。在任何情況下大祭司都絕不可接近死屍而玷污自己，因他穿了聖衣，承接上帝聖職的膏油也在他頭上（21：12）。他不可公開表現出憂愁或哀傷，而要隨時準備好執行上帝喜樂的事奉。大祭司和所有的祭司一樣，只能娶以色列人中敬虔、身家清白的處女為妻（21：7、13~14），他的行為也要在各方面做以色列人的榜樣，因為他是百姓在上帝面前的代表，也是上帝在以色列人中的代表。

        祭司的地位很特別，他們要遠離任何污穢或罪惡，表現出上帝的聖潔。如果任何一個祭司犯罪，那是件很嚴重的事，所受的刑罰也比一般百姓嚴厲，因為他們身負更大的責任，也應該懂得更多。祭司的家人也要無可指責，過聖潔的生活，否則將給祭司帶來極大的羞辱（21：9）。在東方文化裡，家人的關係很緊密（現在仍是如此），所以不論其中一個成員做了什麼事，都會直接影響到整個家庭。

        祭司和用來贖罪的祭牲是要預表最完美的大祭司，耶穌基督，所以獻聖物的祭司不可有殘疾（21：17）。與會幕服事有關的每件事都要能展現上帝的完美，使祂得榮耀；任何的缺陷都是褻瀆了祂的聖潔。這項規定正如許多嚴格的措施一樣，皆在表明接近上帝是一件很嚴肅的事，一點也不可掉以輕心。上帝是聖潔的，祂的僕人也要像祂一樣的聖潔。

        今天的信徒就是基督的祭司，也要像舊約對祭司的期許一樣，過模範式的聖潔生活。如使徒保羅所說：「我們凡事都不叫人有妨礙，免得這職分被人毀謗，反倒在各樣的事上表明自己是上帝的用人：就如在……廉潔、知識、恆忍、恩慈、聖靈的感化、無偽的愛、真實的道理、上帝的大能、仁義的兵器……」（林後6：3~4；6~7）。我們迫切需要聖靈成聖的工作使我們在這個污穢、敗壞的世上過聖潔的生活。

        主啊，我們為我們的屬靈領袖禱告。求您施恩保守他們行事廉潔，使他們樹立良好的模範，能像保羅一樣，說：「效法我，像我效法基督一樣」。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        In the preceding chapters, we have seen the standards of holiness for the common Israelite. In these two chapters, we see the standards of holiness required for the priesthood. These are naturally high standards because of their position of responsibility, for “everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). Whatever is to be done must be done in light of the holiness and perfection of God; therefore, the priest had to maintain a holy, pure, and exemplary life, so that he could then lead and teach the children of Israel the ways of holiness and how to truly hallow God’s holy name.

        In their service to God at the tabernacle, the priests were to remain pure at all times. They were forbidden to touch any dead body and thereby defile themselves (since death is the result of sin), although exceptions were made in the case of a very close relative for whom the priest was responsible. Under no conditions was any priest to mourn for the dead in the manner of the heathen (21:5, 10). The rules regarding cleanness for the high priest were even stricter than for the other priests. He was never, under any circumstances, to go near a dead body, which would then defile him, for, he wore the holy garments and the consecrating anointing oil of God was upon him (21:12). He was to openly express no sadness or mourning, but be ready for the joyous service of God at all times. He, as all priests, was only to marry a godly, noble, virgin Israelite (21:7, 13-14), and his behavior was to be exemplary in all areas, for he was the people’s representative to God and God’s representative to the people.

        The priests stood in a special place and were to exemplify the holiness of God by separating themselves from any defilement or evil. If any priest transgressed, it was very serious and the penalties were far more severe than for the rest of the people, since they had greater responsibility and were expected to know better. The priests’ families were also to be above reproach and live holy lives, for if not, they would bring extreme disgrace upon him (21:9). In the eastern culture, the family ties were (and still are) very close, so that whatever one member does effects the whole family in a personal way.

        The priests and the sacrificial animals, which atoned for sin, were to picture, or typify, the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ. Therefore, those priests who offered the holy things were to have no blemish or deformity (21:17). In God’s service at the tabernacle, everything involved was to display perfection and thus be glorifying unto Him, for anything short of perfection profanes His holiness. This regulation was another of the many external sighs to show that it is a serious thing to approach God and was not to be taken lightly. God is holy; thing to approach God and was not to be taken lightly. God is holy; therefore His servants alike were to be holy and symbolize His holiness.

        Believers today, as Christ’s priesthood, are to have the same exemplary holy life that was expected of the Old Covenant priests. As the Apostle Paul exhorted: “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be lamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: …by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth,, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness…” (2 Cor. 6:3-4a, 6-7). The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is desperately needed that we may live pure and holy lives in this unclean and defiled world.

        O Lord, we pray for our spiritual leaders. Grant to them the grace of purity so that their example will be excellent and so that they can say as Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”