This week’s Parashat deals with the requirements for the Priests, worth and unworthy offerings, the list of all of God’s Festivals, the oil and show bread and the blasphemer. The last 3 weeks of Parashat all go together and build upon the other. Everything begins with the Atonement Offering. God is detailed on what is to be offered and when. He explains how the animals are to be perfect without blemish. Now God says the Priests have to be without any defects. Even though someone has a defect and can not serve in the House of God, provision has been made for them. There is a place at the table. They are able to eat of the Priest’s portion of the offerings. If the Priest with the defect is healed he is able to go back to work after cleansing himself.

It may seem cruel that God does not allow someone with a defect to serve in His house. However this is merciful to give someone the opportunity to become healed to prevent the defect to become worse. If the defect is an injury like a broken bone God allows them time off with pay ie their portion of the offerings for themselves and their family while they recover. If a man is blind is the House of God a safe place for him to serve with animals running around or blood on the ground that could cause him to slip and fall. However even though he is blind and unable to serve he is provided for. There is room at the Father’s Table.

Then God goes to say the High Priest is held to a higher standard. He can only marry a woman who is a Levite and a virgin. If the Priest’s daughter becomes a prostitute she must be burned to death. The High Priest cannot defile himself by touching a dead body. He is not even able to go to his father’s or mother’s funeral. If someone touches a dead body they are unclean for 7 days. If the High Priest defiles himself, he leaves the community vulnerable as there is no one to stand in the gap. There is no longer a buffer between the people and God.

Today we no longer have a Temple to go to as we now are the Temple. We no longer have to sacrifice animals as Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. However we are held to a higher standard than the High Priest was held to. Jesus said if you even look at a woman with lustful thoughts you have committed adultery. If you hate someone you have already murdered them. We have to be careful not to defile ourselves. We have live in the balance that are depending on us for our relationship with the Father to stand in the Gap for others. Keep yourself pure as you are the only Holy Place some will ever see.