Perfect תָּמִים

We are in chapter twenty-two of Leviticus with our word for today. תָּמִים complete, sound, unscathed, intact, blameless, without defect or blemish, perfect. It is used 91 times in the Old Testament. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of unblemished, free from physical or moral defects. Almost all the uses in this sense refer to the sacrifices as part of the tabernacle and temple worship. Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be תָמִ֛ים without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Our word is also used in the sense of blameless, free of guilt, not subject to blame. Good examples of this are Noah and David who as we know were not perfect because they were sinners like us but that their life was more characterized by godliness than wickedness. Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, תָּמִ֥ים blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 2 Samuel 22:23-24 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. I was תָמִ֖ים blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. Our word is also used in the sense of perfect, being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish. Good examples of this are God’s work and his word. Deuteronomy 32:4 The Rock, his work is תָּמִ֣ים perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is תְּ֭מִימָה perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 22:20-22 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be תָּמִ֤ים perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the Lord or give them to the Lord as a food offering on the altar. This of course reminds us of Jesus the only perfect sacrifice that could take the place for our sins that separated us from God. I’ll close with these great passages. Revelation 5:2-5, 8-9 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” … And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1 Peter 1:17-19 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.