THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS

INTRODUCTION:

1.LEVITICUS: “Pertaining To Levites” (actually deals with only a segment of the Levites -- The priests, Aaron’s sons - 1:5).

2.IMPORTANCE: The Book of LEVITICUS is referred to MORE THAN 40 TIMES in the New Testament.

3.If we see this as dull reading we miss the value -- These are regulations, not just to be read, but to be studied.

4.Someone said: “There is not one of the major questions of civil law, management and labor, land-ownership and property rights, or marriage and divorce, on which the legislation of LEVITICUS does not shed a flood of light into which our modern law-makers would do well to come and walk.”

5.Whereas God had spoken distantly from The Mountain, He now speaks FROM THE TABERNACLE to those in fellowship with Him.

6.AUTHOR: MOSES. There is much internal and external evidence to support this.

7.DATE: May have been written during the month the Israelites were camped at Mt. Sinai, in about 1444 BC.

8.THEME: “Holiness.” The idea of HOLINESS appears 87 times in this Book (HOLY means “separated, set apart” -- FROM everything else UNTO God).

9.This Book is a CODE OF CONDUCT (the basis for civil and religious life) to guide the Chosen People into worship of God, Service for God, and obedience to God.

10.The Book is naturally divided into two major sections:

1.CHAPTERS 1-10: THE WAY TO GOD -- SACRIFICE.

A.Sacrifice is shown to be the BASIS, or GROUND, of FELLOWSHIP.

B.These regulations have to do with worship; They relate to the Tabernacle and its service.

C.These Chapters show God in fellowship with redeemed people, through sacrifice, and they give details of the Old Testament system of sacrifice.

D.The blood of an innocent victim was substituted for the life of the guilty offender - 17:11; cf Heb 9:22.

E.Chapters 1-7: Laws of Offerings.

1.Ch 1, Burnt Offering: Offering made by fire unto the Lord.

2.Ch 2, Cereal Offering: Flour, prepared and cooked with oil and
frankincense.

3.Ch 3, Peace Offering: An animal without blemish, the blood sprinkled on the altar.

4.Ch 4:1-5:13, Sin Offering: Intricate details for serious offenses.

5.Ch 5:14-6:7, Trespass Offering: This seems to be for social offenses in reference to neighbors.

6.Ch 6:8-7:38, Regulations about priests; Laws about various offerings.

F.Chapters 8-9: Special detailed instructions about priests.

1.Their function was to offer sacrifices, and teach the Law to the people.

2.Here are directions concerning their dress, their consecration, blood sacrifices for themselves and for the people.

3.So much here typifies the Lord Jesus and His saints. (An understanding of this makes the Book of HEBREWS so grand.)

4.All priests were of Levi, the tribe set apart in lieu of the firstborn of all Israel; More specifically, only the descendants of Aaron could be priests.

5.Ch 8, The anointing of Aaron and his sons to be priests, who were set apart for the service of God. Note vv22-24: “Ear - Thumb - Toe” suggests they were to HEAR God; to DO; and to GO at His bidding -- This is CONSECRATION.

6.Ch 9, The priests were taught to begin their work of serving -- This is MINISTRATION.

G.Chapter 10: Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire” (which God did not authorize) -- This is VIOLATION.

1.10:1-7, The glorious scene (9:23-24) quickly changed, because of the sin of presumption (it is still with us!) The offering “had no warrant in the revealed will of God. It was a vain intruding, a violating of priestly privilege, and was utterly repudiated. Israel’s priests must learn at once and forever to walk by the inflexible rule of undeviating adherence to the will and word of God.” -- J. Sidlow Baxter

2.10:8-11, Prohibition of alcohol to priests; An emphasis on vital
differences (Holy versus Unholy); Responsibility of priests to teach
the people.

3.10:12-20, Laws about what the priests were to eat.

2.CHAPTERS 11-27: THE WALK WITH GOD -- SANCTIFICATION.

A.Sanctification is the CONDITION, or OBLIGATION, of FELLOWSHIP with the Holy God.

B.Sanctification has to do with the people’s clean living.

C.It deals with moral and spiritual defilement, and punishment.

D.Part One (THE WAY TO GOD--SACRIFICE) teaches cleansing by the blood; Part Two (THE WALK WITH GOD--SANCTIFICATION) shows the cleansing is only for those who walk in light - cf 1Jn 1:7.

E.Chapters 11-15: Laws of purity of the people.

1.God’s people must be clean, inwardly and outwardly.

a.These Chapters insist on clean foods, clean bodies, clean clothes, clean houses, clean contacts, a clean nation.

b.It was necessary to remove all defilement from the people, so they could walk in fellowship with their Redeemer (They must be Separated).

2.11:1-31, Food laws distinguished clean animals from unclean animals, for the people’s diet.

3.11:32-40, Also there were Laws to protect food and water from contamination.

4.11:41-43, Creeping things were forbidden as food.

5.11:44-47, These verses are a summary;

NOTE: The Essence Of The Book is vv44-45.

6.Ch 12, The ceremonial purification of mothers after childbirth.

7.Ch 13-14, Regulations about skin infections.

a.Ch 13, Intricate details about tests of leprosy.

b.Ch 14, Intricate details about cleansing of leprosy.

8.Ch 15, Details about personal uncleanness.

F.Chapter 16: Annual Day of Atonement, with its scapegoat; The one day of required fasting under the Law, and the one day on which the Most Holy Place was entered (by the high priest).

G.Chapter 17: Sacrifice in general; The significance of BLOOD in particular.

1.Five times in vv3-9 the language explicitly states the one Divinely ordained place of sacrifice (THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE). No other place could be used.

2.This typifies our one sacrifice, one Priest, and one altar.

NOTE: Gal 6:14; Ac 4:12; Jn 14:6; Eph 4:4-6.

3.The rest of this Chapter explains the sanctity of blood, and the meaning of blood sacrifice - cf vv11,14.

a.The value of life is the measure of the value of blood.

b.This helps us begin to recognize the inconceivable value of the blood of Christ (His LIFE) - Rom 3:24-25; Rev 1:5.

The life is in the blood,

And must for sin atone

One sacrifice and once for all,

The blood of Christ alone.

Oh, see the guilt of sin

Which needed such a price,

And see the marvel of that Love

Which made the sacrifice!

H.Chapter 18: Regulations concerning holy people.

1.Ch 18:1-5, A weighty charge introduces these regulations. God’s people must be holy because He is Holy; over 40 times in this part of the Book appear the words, “I AM JEHOVAH”.

2.Ch 18:6-20, Laws about forbidden degrees in the marriage of relatives. Regulations about uncovering nakedness.

3.Ch 18:21-30, The sin of sacrifice to Molech; The abomination of sex perversion (Homosexuality, Beastiality).

I.Chapters 19-20: Miscellaneous laws about social conduct.

1.Ch 19, General admonitions against idolatry, and admoni-tions to moral uprightness in all relationships in life.

a.Focal point of the Book is 19:2.

b.On 19:18, cf Mt 22:37-40.

2.Ch 20, All kinds of disobedience (human sacrifice to Molech, witchcraft, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, incest) is to be punished severely to safe-guard the morals of the whole community.

J.Chapters 21-22: Laws about holy priests and their sacrifices. Exalted Divine privileges called (and still call) for intense sanctity to be practiced by the privileged.

1.Ch 21:1-15, Prohibited practices; Concerning the priest’s social relationships. What the priest must not DO.

2.Ch 21:16-22:16, Prohibited persons; Concerning physical dis-qualifications from serving in the Tabernacle, or eating of the things of the Tabernacle. What the priest must not BE.

3.Ch 22:17-33, Prohibited sacrifices; Concerning defective animals which must not be offered upon the Lord’s altar. What the priest must not OFFER.

4.All this spells SEPARATION, and it highlights the required sanctity
of spiritual priests under the New Covenant, in the Gospel Age - 1Pet 1:15-16.

K.Chapter 23: Instructions about Holy Times (Holy Days, and Seven
Appointed Feasts).

1.Ch 23:1-3, Weekly Sabbath: Rest, refreshment, worship.

2.Ch 23:4-5, (1)Passover: A commemoration of the deliverance of the
Israelites from Egypt.

3.Ch 23:6-8, (2)Unleavened Bread: A week of feasting, beginning the day after the Passover.

4.Ch 23:9-14, (3)Firstfruits: God always deserves and requires the first and the best.

5.Ch 23:15-21, (4)Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks or Harvest): A thanksgiving festival observed fifty days after Passover.

6.Ch 23:22, The gleaning of the harvest to be left for the poor.

7.Ch 23:23-25, (5)Trumpets: This marked the start of the civil new year for Israel.

8.Ch 23:26-32, (6)Atonement: A day of national mourning and sacrifice for their sin; Details were given in Chapter 16.

9.Ch 23:33-44, (7)Tabernacles (or Feast of Ingathering): Thanksgiving for the harvest, and commemorating the wilderness wandering.

NOTE:

a.These feasts are filled with spiritual significance; A careful study
of them makes us appreciate such passages as 1Cor 5:7-8; 15:20; Jas 1:18; Ac 2:1; Heb 9:24-28.

b.Three of the feasts are emphasized repeatedly in the Old Testament (Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Tabernacles) - cf Ex 23:14-17; Deut 16:16.

L.Chapter 24: Provision was to be made for continual light in the Tabernacle; Penalties for blasphemy.

1.Ch 24:1-9, Pure oil for the continual light; The showbread.

2.Ch 24:10-23, The penalty of blasphemy (Note vv14-16); The Law concerning punishment in kind.

M.Chapters 25-27: Regulations Concerning The Land Of Canaan.

1.NOTE: Over and over these Chapters refer to THE LAND.

a.These chapters deal with God’s ownership of the Land, and the terms of Israel’s occupation of the Land.

b.They teach proper care of the land, and proper rest for the land, and for the people.

c.They restrain greed, and develop dependence upon God.

2.Ch 25, Provisions of the Sabbatic Year for the land, and the Year of Jubilee for the people.

a.SABBATIC: Every seventh year the land was to lie fallow.

b.JUBILEE: Every fiftieth year the land was to lie fallow, debts were to be cancelled, the slaves freed, and lands which had been sold were to return to the former owners.

3.Ch 26, Exhortation to faithfulness in the covenant with God; Blessings of obedience; Consequences of disobedience.

a.Israel’s later history corresponds to this Chapter; It can be explained only in the light of the foreknowledge of God and inspiration of His Word.

b.This has been called one of the most solemn and important Chapters in the Bible; Note its conclusion - v46.

4.Ch 27, Exhortation about keeping holy vows, and tithing.

**CONCLUSION:

1.This Book shows that worshippers of the true God had (have) a special obligation of purity before Him - cf 1Pet 1:15-16.

2.Central theme: Fellowship through sanctification.

3.Central lesson: - 19:2 - (The word “HOLY” appears OVER 80 TIMES in the Book).

SACRIFICE | SANCTIFICATION

1-10 | 11-27

|

WORSHIP | PRACTICE

|

Access To A | Fellowship With

Holy God | A Holy God

By Blood | By Holiness

|

“I Am Holy” | “You Be Holy”

**LEVITICUS IN ONE WORD: HOLINESS.

**LEVITICUS IN SIX WORDS: I AM HOLY; YOU BE HOLY.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS TO THE BIBLE:

A.Harsh laws and severe penalties show God’s absolute holiness, and His intolerance of sin.

B.For the casual reader the Book appears dull; There is no action or plot except for Nadab and Abihu; It is heavy with rules, regulations, and repetition; Very difficult.

C.HOWEVER, The Book is rich in spiritual truth. It develops themes centering on the matters of pardon for guilt, and fellowship with God.

D.Ch 17:11 is a key verse about the significance of blood sacrifice -- LIFE is involved.

E.Rites, sacrifices and bloody details may not attract us, but this is the very thing which makes the Book so important to the understanding of the death of The Lord Jesus for sinners.

F.A human being can walk with the Holy God ONLY on the basis of sanctification and obedience; God’s chosen people must approach Him in a HOLY manner - 11:45; 19:2.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS:

A.Some have suggested this typology, with reference to the offerings:

1.BURNT OFFERING: Christ’s total offering in submission to His Father’s will.

2.MEAL OFFERING: Christ’s sinless service.

3.PEACE OFFERING: The fellowship we have with God through the Cross of Calvary.

4.SIN OFFERING: Christ as our guilt-bearer.

5.TRESPASS OFFERING: Christ’s payment for the damage of sin.

B.And that the seven feasts thus speak:

1.PASSOVER: Of the sacrificial death of the Lamb of God.

2.UNLEAVENED BREAD: Of the believer’s holiness - 1Cor 5:6-8.

3.FIRST FRUITS: Of Christ’s resurrection as the first fruits of the resurrection of all believers - 1Cor 15:20-23.

4.PENTECOST: Of the coming of the Holy Spirit after Christ’s resurrection and ascension.

5.TRUMPETS {These three events (No. 5,6,7)

6.THE DAY OF ATONEMENT {are associated in various ways

7.TABERNACLES {with the Coming of the Messiah.

**THE PRIESTHOOD:

A number of types and portraits of the coming Messiah were to be fulfilled in the New Testament, particularly in HEBREWS:

LEVITICUS HEBREWS

Aaron’s High-Priesthood Christ’s High-Priesthood (7:23-28)

Law of Moses Law Of Christ (7:12)

Blood of animals Blood Of Christ (9:11-14)

Atonement (Remembrance) Atonement (Actual, 9:25)

Levitical Priesthood Priesthood of all believers

(10:19-25; 13:10-16)

DO YOU BENEFIT FROM CHRIST’S SACRIFICE AND PRIESTHOOD? - Heb 7:25.