God chose the house of Aaron as a priestly family to represent him to the people and the people to him. To fulfill this calling, the priests were required to live holy lives, showing that God is holy. Because God is the source of life, they were to remain separate from death. A priest could take part in burial rites only for immediate family but was not allowed to mourn others. He was also forbidden to marry a defiled or divorced woman. Their primary role was to offer sacrifices while remaining holy before God.

Holiness in Israel functioned in layers. The whole nation was called to be holy, but the priests had greater responsibility, and the high priest the greatest. The high priest could not have contact with any dead body, even his parents. He was required to marry a virgin from his own people and was held to the highest standard as the nation’s representative before God.

Priests with physical defects were not permitted to offer the bread of God, though they could eat it. Under the New Covenant this responsibility of the priest has been given to believers, who are called a “royal priesthood.” We are called to live holy lives and represent God to others.
Application: Lord, help us to live holy lives and represent God to others as Jesus, our High Priest, has done.
One Word: Live a holy and dedicated life