Leviticus18 Feb
Whatever else the professing Christian church may be known for today—great crowds, expensive buildings, big budgets, political clout—it’s not distinguished for its holiness. Bible-believing evangelical Christians make up a sizable minority in the United States, but our presence isn’t making much of an impact on society. The salt seems to have lost its saltiness, and the light is so well hidden that the marketplace is quite dark.
Eight times in Scripture, God said to His people, “Be holy, for I am holy!” This is one of the major themes of Leviticus, a book that teaches us how to avoid sin and how to grow in holiness. My prayer is that the study and application of the spiritual principles in Leviticus will make us all more like Jesus Christ and better able to impact this present evil world. -Warren W. Wiersbe
A Suggested Outline of the Book of Leviticus
Theme: The holiness of God—“Be holy, for I am holy”
Theme verses: Leviticus 11:44–45
I. Holy Offerings—1–7
1. Laws for the worshipers—1:1–6:7
2. Laws for the priests—6:8–7:38
II. A Holy Priesthood—8–10, 21–22
1. Consecration—8–9
2. Admonition—10
3. Qualification—21–22
III. A Holy Nation—11–17
1. Clean and unclean food—11
2. Childbirth—12
3. Diseases and defilement—13–15
4. The Day of Atonement—16–17
IV. A Holy Land—18–20, 23–27
1. Immorality—18
2. Idolatry—19
3. Capital offenses—20
4. Annual feasts—23
5. Blasphemy—24
6. Sabbatical Year—25
7. Blessings and cursings—26–27
According to Wiersbe, the Book of Leviticus explains five basic themes that relate to the life of holiness: a holy God; a holy priesthood; a holy people; a holy land; and a holy Savior.
1. A holy God
What is “holiness”? Contrary to what you may hear today in some sermons and popular religious songs, the emphasis in the Bible is on the holiness of God and not on the love of God. “Love is central in God,” wrote American theologian Augustus H. Strong, “but holiness is central in love.”2 God’s love is a holy love, for the Bible states that “God is light” (1 John 1:5) as well as “God is love” (4:8, 16). Love without holiness would be a monstrous thing that could destroy God’s perfect law, while holiness without love would leave no hope for the lost sinner. Both are perfectly balanced in the divine nature and works of God.
2. A holy priesthood
The Jewish priesthood belonged only to the tribe of Levi. Levi, the founder of the tribe, was the third son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:34; 35:23) and the father of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari (46:11). Since Kohath’s son Amram was the father of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Num. 26:58–59), Aaron, Moses, and Miriam belonged to the tribe of Levi.
3. A holy people
God’s purpose for Israel was that the nation be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6, NKJV). Everything in the life of the Old Testament Jew was either “holy” (set apart for God’s exclusive use) or “common,” and the “common” things were either “clean” (the people could use them) or “unclean” (it was forbidden to use them). The Jews had to be careful to avoid what was unclean; otherwise, they would find themselves “cut off from the people” until they had gone through the proper ceremony to be made clean again.
4. A holy land
The people belonged to the Lord, because He had redeemed them from Egypt to be His very own; and the land belonged to the Lord, and He gave it to Israel with the stipulation that they do nothing to defile it. A holy God wants His holy people to live in a holy land.
In Leviticus 18–27, the word “land” is used sixty-eight times. In these chapters, Moses named the sins that defile the land and invite divine judgment: immorality (chap. 18); idolatry (chap. 19); capital crimes (chap. 20); blasphemy (chap. 23); and refusing to give the land its rest (chap. 25). Unfortunately, the Jewish people committed all these sins and more; and God had to chasten them by allowing Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and take the people captive (2 Chron. 36:14–21).
5. A holy Savior
To study the Bible and not see Jesus Christ is to miss the major theme of the book (Luke 24:47). The law was “a shadow of good things to come” (Heb. 10:1). Especially in the levitical sacrifices and the priestly ministry do we see the person and work of Jesus Christ vividly portrayed.
No amount of good works or religious efforts can make a sinner holy. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7), and only the risen glorified Savior can intercede for us at the throne of God as our Advocate (2:1) and high priest (Heb. 8:1; Rom. 8:34). What the Old Testament Jews saw only in shadows, believers today see in the bright light of Jesus Christ.
18 Responses to “Leviticus”
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While reading Leviticus so far, I can’t help imagining the constant activity that must have been going on at the altar. Were there only certain times that sacrifices were made or was it whenever anyone recognized their sin that they would bring the appropriate sacrifice? Convictions for sin and the fear of sinning against a Holy God would have kept people constantly bringing sacrifices, right? I wonder how weary the priests must have become with the jobs they had. I guess from the NT I was under the impression that most sacrifices had become meaningless activities at the time of Jesus…people just going through motions without true repentance. I was surprised to see in Lev, that God instructed that the people recognize their sinfulness prior to bringing a sacrifice. Did God want the people to say, there’s no way would could make up for our sinfulness or sacrifice enough to be holy as You are HOly? I loved the psalm a few days ago, when David says, you require no sacrifice from me. He seemed to get that God wanted all of him. God’s requirements demanded discipline and a heart conditioned to worship and adore Him. In living out my faith, do I glaze over the sacrifice made on my behalf, treating it as a common thing? Sometimes.
Vanessa,
those are some awesome thoughts, thanks for sharing them. I think you are dead on about the sacrifices leading us to understand God’s holiness and “otherness.” And our utter need for Him.
Pastor, help! Woe unto me. I am undone! A man of unclean lips. Leviticus terrifies me to the core of my being. I cannot change what I am. All I can do is run to My Lord and petition Him for His grace and mercy. I am broken before Him. Lord be merciful to me a sinner!
Terrified is right…but then today we have Luke 15!
Wow — Nadab and Abihu. My first thought was, why exactly was God soo angry with what they did. Was the root issue their disobedience? Pride? Was it because they were not taking the holiness of God seriously enough? How can I apply this cautionary tale towards my own life? Could “unauthorized sacrifices” in today’s world be getting caught up in the “don’ts” instead of focusing on our relationship with God? Or are they instead the calling card of “dead” religion? Or am I missing the mark on this one?
Hi Elaina! Good questions. I’m going to throw my thoughts in here, as I struggle to get through Leviticus, and also would like to know if I’m missing the mark…so, here goes… Earlier in Lev it says that they did all the things that the Lord had commanded. But then they started to show indifference to what He commanded, as you say, not taking the holiness of God seriously enough. They had direct instructions from God as to how they were to conduct worship and they showed complete disrepect to Him by not following His commands. The fact that they were leaders made it worse, as they could have led others astray as a result. From their lives we see the deadly consequences of sin. As for applicability today, I think it tells us that we need to stay faithful to God and follow His instructions, to choose right over wrong in all situations.
Excellent answer Marie. If you haven’t guessed by now in Leviticus, details are important…and these brothers had a blatent disregard for the detailed commands of the Lord. I think we need to be faithful in the little things!
Thanks! Usually I’m way into details…but Leviticus is tough!
These are some thoughts based on a study I did for Moms in Touch related to this passage. I’m hoping it blesses you!
Praise you Lord you are our SCAPEGOAT
Scripture(s) Leviticus 16: 6-10, 20-21, Isaiah 53:6, Hebrews 9:28, I Peter 2:24
Thoughts SCAPEGOAT – emissary goat, Hebrew azeal- goat of removal or goat that leaves. A goat, over the head of which the high priest confessed the sins of the people on the day of atonement; A person, group or thing upon whom the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others is thrust.
Praise you. You are the blame-taker. You are our garbage truck. You removed all our sin and guilt. It was put on your head, confessed over you, laid on you and you carried our sin and took it away. You went to a solitary place – only you could go to the cross – alone, no one else has ever experienced the weight of our sin.
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Hebrews 9:28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
“Mosaic Law … to instill awareness of God’s holiness and the reality of sin as barrier to fellowship with God. But once defilement of the heart is thoroughly removed and fellowship with God becomes a reality – ceremonial laws have fulfilled its purpose and are no longer required.” ( ESV study bible pg. 1907)
Grace, I’m glad you told me that the other day and put it up here. It’s a good reminder. Jesus paid it all. We’re no longer under the law, but under grace, Grace
.
Here’s another song that keeps running through my head. “I’m forever grateful to you, I’m forever grateful for the cross….”
How can we not feel this way especially in reading through this tedious book? Thank you Jesus for what you did so that we don’t have to keep sacrificing every day!!! All we have to offer is a simple prayer of contrition and hopefully a heart willing to change. Brings tears to my eyes. Jesus you are so generous to us. Thank you!
I’m with ya Fay!
Leviticus 18 Realized that this chapter is directed at male readers. Look at verses 22 and 23, for example and how differently they are proffered. How much of the Bible was written to men? I suppose that most women were not literate or even considered worthy of being educated. Why did God create men with the tendency away from monogamy? 99% of all women would never, ever need the directives presented here.
In the past when I tried to read through the Bible in a year, Leviticus used to bog me down because I tend to read very carefully, trying to get every detail. But this time I am listening to it and it is helping me to see (or hear?) larger themes so I am not being bogged down with the details. Of course, the detail in Leviticus IS one of the larger themes I’ve noticed – how exacting God is in His instructions. Another theme that recently popped out at me is the realization that following God’s laws would have made Israel a healthier nation – as in good hygiene, proper sexual relations, better diet, etc. Maybe we don’t need to follow His dietary laws anymore, but certainly knowing and obeying God should lead us to “healthier” living, too!
That is so true. Back then, there was no knowledge of microbial germ and a lot of other medical information that we a so blessed to have acquired these days. The Isrealites had to follow these law by faith, trusting that God had the best intentions. It is truly amazing how the knowledge we are aquiring these day confirm the truth of God’s laws. All that God tells us to do and not to do is for our best. “When God says ‘don’t', He’s saying don’t hurt yourself” quoting Dr. James McDonald.
I wouldn’t be so quick to throw away the dietary laws. Remember Peter’s response of “Not so Lord”. I totally doubt that Jesus himself ever sat down to a ham sandwich. God does allow us many things – divorce, a whiskey and a pack of Camels,if we feel like it, but that doesn’t mean its necessarily good for us. (Not personally directed at you, Laura – just keeping in line with the comment) And just for the record, I do not stand in judgment over BLT eaters!! Grace, I agree with you. I love it when science confirms what God “knew” all along. We are children of an awesome creator.
It was good to check off the last chapter of Leviticus on my bookmark today! Tedious as it was, it made the sense of accomplishment even greater! What I took away from this is that it is important to obey God’s commands, that He takes vows seriously, He wants us to be cheerful givers, and God hasn’t changed and His principles are for all times.