Leviticus 22:9-13: a reflection

9“‘They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 10“‘No stranger shall eat of the holy thing: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11But if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and those who are born in his house shall eat of his bread. 12If a priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things. 13But if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s bread; but no stranger shall eat any of it.

In the laws about the holy offerings, God specifies who may partake of them: the priest and those of his household. A stranger, an outsider, might not eat the holy thing; but those who belonged to the priest's household, his family, even a slave born in his house, could eat of his bread and share in what was holy. Belonging to the priest's household granted access to what was his; the outsider had no share, but the one who belonged to his house did. Belonging brought access to the holy things.

Notice the principle: belonging to the household granted access to what was holy. The outsider, the stranger, had no share in the holy things; but those who belonged to the priest's household, who were of his house, could partake of them. It was not their own worthiness, but their belonging to the household, that granted them access. To be of the priest's house was to share in what was his, including the holy bread. Belonging, not outside status, was the key; those of the household partook, the outsider did not.

That principle points to a gospel truth: that belonging to God's household grants us access to what is his. In ourselves, we were outsiders, strangers to God, with no claim on his holy things; but through Christ, we are brought into God's household, made members of his family, and so given access to what is his, the blessings and privileges of belonging to God. It is not our own worthiness, but our being brought into God's household through Christ, that grants us access. Do not think yourself a perpetual outsider to God's blessings; through Christ, you are brought into God's household, and belong to his family, with access to what is his. Rejoice that through Christ you belong to God's household, no longer an outsider but a member of his family, with access to what is his, as those of the priest's household could partake of the holy bread; for belonging to God's household through Christ grants us a share in what is his, and we who were outsiders are made members of his family.

Lord, in the laws about the holy offerings, you specify who may partake of them: the priest and those of his household. A stranger, an outsider, might not eat the holy thing; but those who belonged to the priest's household, even a slave born in his house, could eat of his bread and share in what was holy. Belonging to the priest's household granted access to what was his. Show me the principle: belonging to the household granted access to what was holy. The outsider had no share; but those who belonged to the priest's household could partake. It was not their own worthiness, but their belonging to the household, that granted them access. To be of the priest's house was to share in what was his. Belonging, not outside status, was the key. Let that principle point me to a gospel truth: that belonging to your household grants me access to what is yours. In myself, I was an outsider, a stranger to you, with no claim on your holy things; but through Christ, I am brought into your household, made a member of your family, and so given access to what is yours. It is not my own worthiness, but my being brought into your household through Christ, that grants me access. Keep me from thinking myself a perpetual outsider to your blessings; through Christ, I am brought into your household, and belong to your family. Help me rejoice that through Christ I belong to your household, Lord, no longer an outsider but a member of your family, with access to what is yours.