John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 22:17

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Leviticus 22:17 (ASV)

And the Lord spoke. He now more clearly teaches and more abundantly instills what He has frequently referred to until now: that it is sinful to offer to God a maimed, or weak, or otherwise imperfect animal. This external soundness admonished the ancient people that God is served improperly when He is served by halves, since He abominates a double heart.²⁹² (Proverbs 11:20). At the same time, this symbol revealed the perfect purity of that victim by which God was finally to be reconciled.

We know how greatly the world indulges itself in the service of God. For while it casually and contemptuously forces mere trifles upon Him as if He were a child, it still imagines that its duty is properly fulfilled. Consequently, it claims a reward for any rubbish (sordibus) and exults in mere mockeries of God, as if it were placing Him under obligation.

A notable example of this foolish complacency is seen today in the Papacy, when they mock God with no less audacity than if they were dealing with a block of wood. To omit innumerable other cases, what can be more monstrous than their arrogance when, as they mutter their prayers, their minds wander not only into frivolous but even into unholy imaginations, and yet they pretend that the final intention, as they call it, is meritorious and approved by God?²⁹³ Suppose a priest (sacrificus) has proposed to recite the godly prayers of his breviary. When scarcely three words have been said, his mind is occupied with dishes, it runs away now to his cups, now to dicing, or other pastimes; still, as if his task were performed, he boasts that he has offered worship to God.

Therefore, to prevent this fault, God commands that sacrifices free from all blemish should be presented to Him. Hence His sharp rebuke in Malachi 1:7-8, because the Jews polluted His altar and thought His table contemptible when they said that their blind, lame, and sick victims were not evil. Offer it now (he says) to thy governor; will he—accept thy person? This was not because God cared for the fatness or the juiciness of the animals, but because it was thus made plain that true piety was neglected, indeed, altogether despised.

We perceive, then, that all defective sacrifices were rejected so that the Israelites might learn sincerely and seriously to consecrate themselves entirely to God, and not to deal childishly with Him, as is often the case. Elsewhere we have indeed seen that all uncleanness is repudiated by God. However, we must remember that two things are required for legitimate worship: first, that he who approaches God should be purged from every stain, and secondly, that he should offer nothing except what is pure and free from all imperfection. What Solomon says, the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 15:8), is true, even if it is fat and splendid. But for the things offered by the good to be pleasing to God, another point must also be attended to: namely, that the offering should not be poor, stingy, and deficient. And again, by this symbol, as I have already said, they were directed to Christ, besides whom no integrity will anywhere be found that will satisfy God.

²⁹² A. V., “They that are of a “They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord.” The word heart are abomination to the Lord.” The word עקש, however, says Cocceius, quoted in Taylor’s Concordance, “expresseth the character of a man who walketh in a , however, says Cocceius, quoted in Taylor’s Concordance, “expresseth the character of a man who walketh in a double way,” etc.way,” etc.

²⁹³ “Wherefore the schoolmen grossly err when they lay it down that actual attention, as they call it, is not required in our prayers, but that it is sufficient for us to give attention, as they call it, is not required in our prayers, but that it is sufficient for us to give virtual attention, as they say, since our hearts, they affirm, are not in our own power; and hence it is enough if, at the commencement, we resolve to wish to pray to God.” — Petr. Mart. Loci Com. C1. 3 chap. 13:11.attention, as they say, since our hearts, they affirm, are not in our own power; and hence it is enough if, at the commencement, we resolve to wish to pray to God.” — Petr. Mart. Loci Com. C1. 3 chap. 13:11.