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The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 19:31
This verse contains a prohibition of all dealings with those that have familiar spirits or are wizards. The punishment of such persons is appointed in the next chapter. Both in the Old and the New Testament, the real ex…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 19:32
Respect for old age is not only inculcated as a preservative against the rule of brute force, but as a part of the fear of God, the parent's relation to the child representing that of God to his creature.
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 19:32
Reverence for the old is inculcated as being a part, not merely of natural respect, but of the fear of God. In the East this virtue, implying deference on the part of the strong to the weak, and of the inexperienced to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 19:37
Moral commandments have a double sanction. They are to be obeyed In the latter respect all Divine injunctions stand on a level. All transgressions of what is commanded are equally sin, but they are not equal sins. A man…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 19:37
Moral precepts are rested on their right foundation—the command of God and the religious motive. HOMILETICS
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 20:1-9
Are we shocked at the unnatural cruelty of the ancient idolaters in sacrificing their children? We may justly be so. But are there not very many parents, who, by bad teaching and wicked examples, and by the mysteries of…
Moral Laws. (b. c. 1490.)
MORAL LAWS. (B. C. 1490.) Moses is here directed to say that again to the children of Israel which he had in effect said before, Leviticus 20:2. We are sure it was no vain repetition, but very necessary, that they might…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 20:10-27
These verses repeat what had been said before, but it was needful there should be line upon line. What praises we owe to God that he has taught the evil of sin, and the sure way of deliverance from it! May we have grace…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 20:10-21
Sins against the seventh commandment are here ordered to be severely punished. These are sins which, of all others, fools are most apt to make a mock at; but God would teach those the heinousness of the guilt by the ext…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 20:22-27
The last verse is a particular law, which comes in after the general conclusion, as if omitted in its proper place: it is for the putting of those to death that dealt with familiar spirits, Leviticus 20:27. It would be…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 21:1-24
As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers must be followers of him, that their example may teach others to imitate the Saviour. Without blemish, and separate from sinners, He executed his priestly office o…
Laws Concerning the Priests. (b. c. 1490.)
LAWS CONCERNING THE PRIESTS. (B. C. 1490.) It was before appointed that the priests should teach the people the statutes God had given concerning the difference between clean and unclean, Leviticus 10:10-11. Now here it…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-24
The perfection of the priesthood. The priests, when officiating, and eminently so the high priest, were types of Christ. It was, therefore, needful that they should be holy and without blemish. They were also types of C…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-24
PART III. SECTION IV. THE UNCLEANNESS AND DISQUALIFICATION OF PRIESTS. EXPOSITION The two remaining chapters of this division of the book (Leviticus 21:1-24, Leviticus 22:1-33) deal with the ease of defilements attachin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-6
The first paragraph refers to ceremonial uncleanness derived to the priest from his family relations. The priest may not take part in any funeral rites, the effect of which was legal defilement, except in the case of th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-24
Priestly qualifications. cf. Hebrews 7:26-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-12. From the moralities of the common people we have now to pass to the morality of the priestly class. As special officers, they require special qualification…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-24
Law of holiness for the priests. In all circumstances and relations of life the priests must be an example of purity. The higher the office, the more conspicuous the example, and therefore the more solemn the duty of pr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-15
Distinctions and degrees in obligation. In the kingdom of God there is, as a rule, but one law for all subjects. What applies to one applies to another. The same principles of righteousness are obligatory on both sexes,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:7-9
The marriage of the clergy, according to the discipline of the reformed Churches, is one of the points on which the latter bear a marked superiority to the Latin Church, which forbids its bishops and priests to marry; a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:7-9
Moral uncleanness or defilement passes to the husband and father kern an immoral wife or daughter, and therefore the priest is to be specially careful in the selection of his wife; and his daughter, if she leads a licen…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 21:10-15
More was expected from a priest than from other people, but more from the high priest than from other priests, because upon his head the anointing oil was poured, and he was consecrated to put on the garments (Leviticus…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:10-15
The high priest, upon whose head the anointing off was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, symbolizing in his person the Holy One in a more special manner than the other priests, has to aim so much t…
Matthew Henry on Leviticus 21:16-24
The priesthood being confined to one particular family, and entailed upon all the male issue of that family throughout their generations, it was very likely that some or other in after-ages that were born to the priesth…
The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 21:16-24
Perfection of the body being typical of perfection of the mind and of the whole man, and symbolical perfection being required of the priest of God, none may be admitted to the priesthood with bodily defects, or excresce…