211 Then the Lord said to Moses , "Speak to the priests , the sons of Aaron , and say to them: ' No one shall defile himself for a dead person among his people , 2 except e for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother and his father and his son and his daughter and his brother , 3 also for his virgin sister , who is near to him because she has had no husband ; for her he may defile himself. 4 'He shall not defile himself as a relative by marriage among his people , and so profane himself. 5 ' They shall not make any baldness e on their heads , nor shave off the edges of their beards , nor make any cuts in their flesh .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 21:1-5
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.