Lev.21:18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
This passage is often misunderstood and misapplied by those who do not rightly divide the word of truth. Some have used it to suggest that people with physical disabilities are disqualified from serving God today, or that such individuals are somehow less acceptable in ministry. This interpretation is not only doctrinally incorrect—it is spiritually harmful. To understand this passage properly, we must begin by recognizing its dispensational context.
Leviticus was written to the nation of Israel under the Mosaic Law. It outlines ceremonial, civil, and religious instructions for Israel’s priesthood, particularly the sons of Aaron who served in the tabernacle. Leviticus 21 sets physical qualifications for those priests, not for believers in the Body of Christ. These requirements were part of Israel’s covenant relationship with God and were designed to maintain ceremonial purity in a physical temple system. They were never intended for the Church, which is a spiritual body functioning under a completely different program.
Today, we are not under the Law. Scripture is clear: “For ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). The Law, with its ordinances and priesthood, was abolished in Christ (Ephesians 2:15). God is no longer operating through Israel’s prophetic program. That program has been temporarily suspended (Romans 11:25), and we now live in the dispensation of the grace of God, revealed to the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:2). In this dispensation, God is forming the Body of Christ—a spiritual organism made up of all believers, regardless of nationality, gender, or physical condition.
To apply Leviticus 21:18-20 to the Church today is to wrongly divide the word and confuse Israel’s earthly program with the Church’s heavenly calling. In the Body of Christ, there is no distinction based on physical appearance or ability. All believers are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), and God delights in using the weak and overlooked to display His grace and power (1 Corinthians 1:27). The Church is not a continuation of Israel’s priesthood; we are a new creation, with a heavenly position and spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) means recognizing the distinctions between Law and Grace, Israel and the Church, Prophecy and Mystery. Leviticus belongs to the Law and the prophetic program for Israel. That program is not in effect today. Our doctrine comes from Paul’s epistles—Romans through Philemon—which were written to the Church, the Body of Christ, in this present age of grace.
In summary, Leviticus 21:18-20 does not apply to us today. It was written to Israel under the Law, governing their Levitical priesthood. We are not under that law, nor are we part of that priesthood. We are under grace, and in Christ, all believers are fully accepted and qualified to serve, regardless of physical condition. To teach otherwise is to misrepresent the gospel of grace and to deny the truth of our position in Christ. Let us stand firm in rightly divided truth and teach others to do the same.
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