Faithful ministers do not defile themselves with the dead of this world. 

Ezekiel 44:25

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“They shall not defile themselves by coming near a dead person. Only for father or mother, for son or daughter, for brother or unmarried sister may they defile themselves.” Ezekiel 44:25

While the priests of the Old Testament could not defile themselves by coming near a dead person, unless to attend the funeral of a family member, that is exactly what Jesus Christ and His Apostles did. Jesus and His Apostles came near dead people, touched them, and didn’t have any natural relationship to them. Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, Mark 5:21–43, Matthew 9:18 –26 and Luke 8:40–56. He also raised the son of the widow Nain from the dead, Luke 7:11-17. And He raised Lazarus from the dead, John 11:1-44. By the power of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles also raised people from the dead. The Apostle Peter raised Tabitha from the dead, Acts 9:36-42. The Apostle Paul raised Eutychus from the dead, Acts 20:7-12. And some disciples of Jesus Christ raised Paul from the dead, Acts 14:19-20.

Jesus Christ is the resurrection and life, as He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 The ministry of Jesus is to come near sinners, who are dead in their sin, and resurrect them to life, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:4-6

Before the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish people had strict rules about who could or could not be approached, in what manner, and in what circumstances. They made special provisions that the living family members of the deceased person could come near to the body of their loved one. When our Lord Jesus came 2000 years ago, He redefined who are considered to be family members, “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus Christ also redefined what is considered life and death. Life is being alive to God, through Him, and blossoming with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Death is being dead to God, rejection of His Son Jesus Christ, and not having any signs of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Christ Jesus said to let the dead bury their own dead, “Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11