You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
Leviticus 22:20
In Leviticus 22, the Lord clarifies to the people what an acceptable sacrifice is. Since the Lord is perfect and holy, the animals brought to the Lord must also be free from defects and blemish. The Lord goes on describing that a defect or blemish include an animal being injured, blind, and diseased.
Who would bring an blemished or defective animal to the Lord as an offering? One who despises the Lord.
In Leviticus 21-22, the Lord gives instructions to the priests to ensure that they remain clean and what the members of his family should do so that the priest remains clean. The cost of the priest not being clean can be death (Leviticus 22:9). Two of Aaron’s sons already died because of using unauthorized fire.
In Malachi 1, which happens hundreds of years later, the Lord describes how the priests have let the people offer blemished animals (Malachi 1:6-9). The priests, who were in charge of making sure the people follow the Lord’s command. The priests, who were the people’s representatives before the Lord. The priests, who know the law inside and out. They allowed blemished sacrifices to happen and the Lord is rightfully pissed.
How did the Israelites get to such a point in their history? We will have to read the rest of the Old Testament to find out.
So how does this apply to us today?
- We must be intentional with our offering.
In order to offer an animal without blemish or defect, a person must have gone through the herd or flock to find one without blemish or defect. Then the person must keep it from being damaged until the time of one of the appointed feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23. - When we give things to others, don’t give things that you wouldn’t eat or wear
Giving is good. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Whatever we do, we are to do it as if you are doing it to the Lord (Colossians 3:23). So make sure what you give to charity or to others is good and not something that can not be used anymore. Don’t donate broken things, clothes that are torn, or things that are missing pieces. - God doesn’t accept our offering if we don’t offer our best (Leviticus 22:20)