Priests and high priests who possessed certain physical conditions were not permitted to participate in sacrificial offerings (could not “come nigh unto the altar”) nor partake of the holy food (Lev. 21:16–23). The Lord revealed: “For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God” (Lev. 21:18–21). Priests who violated these commandments were subject to excommunication or even death (see Lev. 22:1–9).
The physical conditions (or “blemish,” which is used twice) identified in these verses may be symbolic of spiritual blemishes, or sins. Priests, who represent Jesus Christ, must be clean and spiritually unblemished in order to serve in the temple. These verses in Leviticus may be likened to each of us who serve in God’s temples—we must strive to serve without spiritual blemishes.