Why were people with physical defects disqualified from offering gifts or sacrifices to God in the Old Testament? (Leviticus 21: 16-21)

The following instructions applied to the Levite priest:  16 Then the Lord said to Moses, 17 “Give the following instructions to Aaron: In all future generations, none of your descendants who has any defect will qualify to offer food to his God. 18 No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, 19 or has a broken foot or arm, 20 or is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or has a defective eye, or skin sores or scabs, or damaged testicles. 21 No descendant of Aaron who has a defect may approach the altar to present special gifts to the Lord.   

Why does God not want people with physical defects offering gifts or sacrifices to Him?   (Leviticus 21: 16-21)

Leviticus 21:1 - 24

NLT - ¹ The Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the priests, the descendants of Aaron. “A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean by touching the dead body of a relative. ² The only exceptions are his closest relatives - his mother or father, son or daughter, brother.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked February 21 2014 • David Killick