Does the teaching of Leviticus 19:27 apply to us in these days? Is it right to remove that which God has given to man, evidently for protection, for the sake of personal appearance?
There can be no doubt but that whatever commandment God has once given applies equally at all times. Yet this is far from being the same as saying that a man should never shave, or have his hair cut. Although this may seem to be a trivial matter, and is so in one sense, I think it is worthwhile devoting a few moments to it, since some people are greatly troubled because of a misunderstanding of it, and some judge others harshly.
I once knew a man who disfellowshipped an entire church, refusing to take the communion with them, because there were some who shaved, and because all the men at least had their hair trimmed.
Now let us read some texts. The one referred to says: "You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27)
The verse following continues: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you; I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:28)
This indicates that it is some special mark of idolatry, that is forbidden.
In Leviticus 21:5 we read that the Lord's priests were forbidden to "make baldness upon their head." They were also forbidden to make "cuttings in their flesh." Compare this with 2 Kings 18:28, where we read that the priests of Baal cut themselves till the blood gushed out upon them, in their frantic attempts to make their god hear them, and it is evident that making baldness upon the head and cuttings in the flesh were customs peculiar to heathen priests. The custom of making baldness in the head is perpetuated still by the Romish priests, and is undoubtedly as wrong now as when God first forbade it. It is a sign of heathenism.
Nevertheless the priests of God were not forbidden to cut their hair. In Ezekiel 44:19-20 we read that the priests were to change their garments when they came forth from the sanctuary to sanctify the people: "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads." (Ezekiel 44:20)
We must certainly allow God to interpret himself. He would not tell the priests to cut their hair, if He had forbidden it.
The 6th chapter of Numbers contains the law of the Nazarites. All the days of their vow, no razor was to come upon their heads, but when the days of his separation were fulfilled, the order was: "The Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." (Numbers 6:18)
So we read that Paul sailed into Syria, "having shorn his head in Cenebrea; for he had a vow." (Acts 18:18)
And he wrote: "Does not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (1 Corinthians 11:14)
From all this, therefore, you may know that you are not transgressing a commandment, nor defiling the temple of God, if you cut your hair or your finger nails.
In a perfect state it would undoubtedly be unnecessary to do more for plants than to train them up in the way they should grow, but on account of the curse it is necessary for the gardener to use the pruning knife, and to cut off many things that God makes grow.
So in the new earth, with new bodies, there will be nothing superfluous about our bodies, that will need to be cut off, even as we shall not need to wear clothes; but while we have these mortal bodies we are under the necessity of constantly using the pruning knife and shears.--Present Truth, January 3, 1901.