Who May Offer the Bread of His God?

Who May Offer the Bread of His God?

In Leviticus 21, the Lord teaches Moses who may approach to offer the bread of his God. It had to be a man who had no blemish. “For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long, a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab, or is a eunuch.

No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.”

We know that everything in the old covenant was written for our instruction. The old covenant is the shadow of things to come. But now the shadow has passed, and we have entered into the Person who cast the shadow—into Christ Himself. If the priests of the old covenant (the priests of the shadow) had to be without blemish to offer the bread of their God, we can conclude that the servants of the new covenant (servants of the Spirit) must be even more free from blemish if they are to stand before Him to receive spiritual food from His table to bring to the people.

He must not be blind. The eyes of his heart must be enlightened. Eph. 1:18. He must be able to see clearly so that he can separate the holy from the unholy. He must know the flock by sight and perceive their condition. His eyes must always be looking for the best pastures. He must see that none is unhappy or suffering want.

He must not be lame. He must not halt to one side or the other. He must be able to run in the race that is set before him and always stand on the front line. He must always be able to say with Paul, “Imitate me even as I follow Christ.” The sheep must always live with the feeling that they cannot escape from their shepherd’s care to enjoy a freedom that is not permissible. He must be quick on his feet, being shod with the gospel of peace in preparation for war. He must be able to capture and drive off every enemy who tries to break into the sheepfold.

He must not have a marred face. His spiritual face must be free from blemish. A disfigured face will rob him of his boldness. He must not feel that he has a reason to hide his face. If he is to offer the bread of his God, his face must not be marred.

He must not have any limb too long. He must not have some areas that grow great and strong while other areas remain stunted and underdeveloped. He must be able to relate to everyone if he is to provide them all with the bread of his God. He must not have any limb too long.

He must not have a broken foot or a broken hand. A broken hand or a broken foot will impair his ministry; he will not be able to give bread at the right time. Even if the break is healed, he will still feel his weakness. In hand-to-hand combat—if such were necessary—he would not be able to grip as hard as he would like. He has a broken foot or hand and therefore must not offer the bread of his God.

He must not be a hunchback or a dwarf. A person who has fallen and as a result has become a hunchback must not offer the bread of his God. Because of his fall, he has received permanent injury. A dwarf shall not approach the table to offer the bread of the Lord because he has stopped growing spiritually and is therefore not able to instruct anyone else.

He must not have a blemish on his eye. His eye must be unblemished. A blemish or spot on his eye signifies that he looks at things with warped judgment. He will fail in his discernment and waver in his judgment. His eyes must reflect faithfulness and confidence. No blemish must be permitted to hide that precious jewel. He must be able to openly gaze upon the face of God. There must be no spot behind which he can hide the true condition of his soul from the eye of the Lord Sabaoth.

He must not have any scab or eczema. No evil report must cling to him, neither should his flesh be active so that the rash of sin can be seen on his body. He must have his body washed with pure water at all times so that his flesh is pure like that of a young boy. Scab and rash will cause reproach, and therefore he must not offer the bread of his God.

He must not be a eunuch. No one shall be able to rob him of his manhood. He must possess life and courage and not be slothful or discouraged. He must be a man whom people respect if he is to offer the bread of his God.

“No man of the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, shall come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He has a defect; he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.” Verse 21.

When God wants a person brought to the altar of burnt offering, he cannot use as a co-laborer one who has a blemish. He will always use a soul who is well acquainted with the fire.

“He may eat the bread of his God, both the most holy and the holy . . . .” Verse 22.

God in His infinite love will not withhold spiritual food from anyone. He desires that all eat of both the most holy and the holy. Those who are blind, lame, disfigured, hunchbacked, who have a broken foot or hand, scabs or eczema, or a blemish on their eye may all eat of the most holy and the holy bread of God.

“Only he shall not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest he profane My sanctuaries; for I the Lord sanctify them.” Verse 23.

We learn from this that God cannot use anyone who has a blemish to offer spiritual food. They are permitted to eat and be satisfied with both the holy and the most holy, but they must not profane the sanctuary by drawing near to the veil.

The veil is rent by the spirit of judgment and fire. Anyone with a blemish will not be able to withstand this, and they must not approach the veil. The glory of God is revealed within the veil and from there, the bread of God is brought out. But if anyone wants to enter in to find spiritual food, he must first offer himself on the altar of burnt offering where every blemish is consumed.

Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He might send many such workers into His harvest.