Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that presenteth his offering for any of his vows, and for any of his voluntary offerings, which they present to Jehovah as a burnt-offering,
本节注释
The Setting
Leviticus 22:18 opens a section (verses 17–25) that governs voluntary worship — burnt offerings, vows, and freewill offerings — addressed not only to Aaron's sons but to "all the children of Israel" and even "the sojourners in Israel." The verse insists that what is willingly brought to Jehovah must still be unblemished, and so it raises the question of what acceptable worship looks like when love, not mere law, prompts the gift.
The Address Reaches Beyond the Priests
Kelly preserves the verse as a direct command spread to the whole congregation, setting voluntary worship under the same standard as commanded worship:
William KellySpeak to Aaron and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, If there be any man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that presents his gift (corbon) for any of his voluntary offerings which they present to Jehovah as a burnt offering, it shall be accepted for you without blemish, a male of the oxen, of the sheep, and of the goats.
Notice the breadth: the stranger is included. As the Christian Friend magazine summarises:
MagazinesFrom a stranger in Israel, too, the Lord would receive a free-will offering or a sacrifice for a vow, and that whether it was presented as a burnt-offering, or as a peace-offering.
The Unblemished Standard — Christ Foreshadowed
The voluntary nature of the offering does not lower the standard; in fact, it exposes the heart. Kelly notes how easily worshippers slip into giving God what costs them little:
William KellyWe can readily understand how prone the people were to forget His honour and all-seeing eye in presenting as an offering for His altar what was damaged or defective; and how disposed the priest would be to wink at such artifices. It was really a heinous transgression, and in effect denied His being the living God.
The unblemished male required here is not simply a ritual rule but a type:
William KellyAn unblemished male was imperative, as representing the Holy one of God. And a stranger had no more licence than an Israelite.
Mackintosh draws the same line straight to Christ, in whom alone both the priest and the offering are without flaw:
C. H. MackintoshNow, we have both the perfect priest, and the perfect sacrifice, in the Person of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He, having "offered himself without spot to God," passed into the heavens, as our great High Priest, where He ever lives to make intercession for us.
Vow versus Freewill Offering
Verse 18 names two categories — "vows" and "voluntary/freewill offerings" — and the chapter goes on to distinguish their strictness. The vow is more rigid because it is pledged directly to Jehovah; the freewill offering allows a slight relaxation:
William KellyYet even the law tolerated a lower note in a voluntary peace offering, because man was there allowed an unusual place. Leavened bread, besides the unleavened cakes mingled with oil, was presented with the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving. But for a vow it was forbidden, as being strictly to Jehovah.
The footnote in The Peace Offering makes the practical contrast plain:
MagazinesAn animal with a limb too large or too small could be brought as a free-will offering (Lev. 22:23), but not for a vow.
A Provisional System Pointing Onward
Kelly closes the section by observing that the very strictness of these requirements exposed the weakness of the whole Levitical order — and prepared the heart for a better priest and a better sacrifice:
William KellyHow plain that in every way perfection was not in, nor by, the Levitical priesthood. It was given of God provisionally for an earthly people, a dying priesthood for a dying people… For there comes to pass a disannulling of foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (for the law made nothing perfect), and an inbringing of a better hope through which we draw near to God. Heb. 7.
Summary
- Wide audience. Verse 18 reaches Aaron, his sons, every Israelite, and the stranger — voluntary worship is invited from all, but on God's terms.
- Unblemished offering. Even free gifts must be without blemish, "as representing the Holy one of God," typifying the spotless Christ.
- Heart exposed. A defective offering "in effect denied His being the living God"; voluntary giving tests whether the worshipper truly honours Him.
- Vow vs freewill. A vow demanded full perfection; a freewill offering allowed slight relaxation (Lev. 22:23) — yet both required that nothing crippled or corrupt be set on God's altar.
- Pointing to Christ. The very strictness shows that "the law made nothing perfect" — the only flawless Priest and Victim is the Lord Jesus, who "offered himself without spot to God."