3,998. How Is That Even Possible?

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 4:3

You may wonder how a kohein can perform the service without delaying so that he is subject to a divine death penalty rather than kareis (excision). One way is if he was rendered unclean in the courtyard and exited via the shortest route but, on his way out, he had a utensil in his hand that he used turn over a sacrificial limb on the altar fire, speeding up its consumption. Contributing to the service in any way is tantamount to performing that service.

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 4:4

The same is true if someone immersed by day and performed service before nightfall: his service is profaned and he is subject to a divine death penalty, as per Leviticus 21:6: “They shall not profane the name of their God.” Our oral tradition teaches that this is a warning to a person who immersed and performs the service that same day, before he has been purified. Leviticus 22:7 teaches: “The sun sets and he will be pure,” from which we see that one is not pure before that. If someone who needs to bring a sacrifice to complete his purification performs the Temple service, he is exempt even though he has profaned and his service is disqualified.