7 "Because a priest is holy to his God he must not marry a woman who has been a harlot or a cult prostitute or a divorced woman. 8 Make sure he is holy because he serves the food of your God. Treat him as holy because I, God, who make you holy, am holy. 9 "If a priest's daughter defiles herself in prostitution, she disgraces her father. She must be burned at the stake.
10 "The high priest, the one among his brothers who has received the anointing oil poured on his head and been ordained to wear the priestly vestments, must not let his hair go wild and tangled nor wear ragged and torn clothes. 11 He must not enter a room where there is a dead body. He must not ritually contaminate himself, even for his father or mother; 12 and he must neither abandon nor desecrate the Sanctuary of his God because of the dedication of the anointing oil which is upon him. I am God. 13 "He is to marry a young virgin, 14 not a widow, not a divorcee, not a cult prostitute - he is only to marry a virgin from his own people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 21:7-14
Chapter Contents
Laws concerning the priests.
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 on earth. What manner of persons then should his ministers be! But all are, if Christians, spiritual priests; the minister especially is called to set a good example, that the people may follow it. Our bodily infirmities, blessed be God, cannot now shut us out from his service, from these privileges, or from his heavenly glory. Many a healthful, beautiful soul is lodged in a feeble, deformed body. And those who may not be suited for the work of the ministry, may serve God with comfort in other duties in his church.