INTRODUCTION
1. The nation of Israel has been lead out of Egypt, has camped at the base of Mt. Sinai, has received the law from Mt. Sinai, and now they will receive further instruction from God.
2. In Genesis we see man falling into sin; in Exodus we see man redeemed from sin; in Leviticus we see man worshiping God, the One who redeemed them from sin.
3. In Exodus we see God get His people out of Egypt, and in Leviticus we see God get Egypt out of His people.
4. Leviticus' theme: "Israel must be holy before God will accept their sacrifices (worship)" and to do so it emphasizes:
a. God demands obedience from His people (Lev. 10:1-2).
b. God wants His people to be holy (Lev. 19:2; et. al).
c. Israel was to be a holy nation to God and then serves as the great example of what the church is to be today (Gal. 6:16).
5. Leviticus is God's answer to the question: How can a sinful man approach a holy God?
6. The answer given by God uses words like:
a. Sin--the effect of the world on God's people; words describing sin are found 300 plus times in Leviticus.I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT LEVITICUS
b. Atonement--without which man has no hope; words speaking of atonement or reconciliation with God are found 170 plus times in Leviticus; if we expand that to include words that lead to atonement or reconciliation, the count becomes 500 plus times in Leviticus.
c. Holiness--the state of being in fellowship with, or separated for service unto, God; the word holy being used 94 times in and of itself should be an indication to us of God's desire for His people to remove the world from themselves.
d. Worship--the purpose of Leviticus; it provided God's pattern for acceptable worship.
e. Priests--as Christians are described within the New Testament as priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9), the types seen in Leviticus should be very personal to every Christian; it was the priests reasonable service then, and so now the Christian acting as priests to offer our sacrifice before God (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15), "Which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1).
A. TITLE--LEVITICUSII. AN OUTLINE OF LEVITICUS
1. Hebrew title is wayyiqra, "and he called."B. AUTHOR
2. Greek title, Leuitikon, is an adjective describing the book as dealing primarily with worship; specifically "things concerning the Levites."
3. Through Latin, the English follows the Greek title.
4. It must be noted that Leviticus did not deal only with what the priests do, but rather was about the whole of worship for the people of God.
1. Moses is the author of Leviticus.C. DATE AND SETTING
2. What does Leviticus say?
a. "(1) And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of youbring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock" (Lev. 1:1-2).
b. "(1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them" (Lev. 4:1-2).
c. "(8) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (9) Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it" (Lev. 6:8-9).
1. Most likely composed at the base of Mt. Sinai immediately following the erection of the tabernacle around 1,450 B.C.D. AUDIENCE
2. This setting would have been for a 30 day period.
a. The tabernacle was erected at Mt. Sinai exactly one year after the Exodus (Exo. 40:2, 17).
b. One month later the nation prepared to depart Sinai for the Promised Land (Num. 1:1).
c. It then seems that the book of Leviticus was revealed and recorded during that one month period--when the tabernacle worship would have needed to be defined.
1. Aaron and his sons as the priests are instructed in the proper way to worship God, standing between God and the people.E. PURPOSE
2. The entire nation of Israel though is addressed as there is for them one and only one proper way to approach that most high and holy God.
3. It serves as a type, joined with the book of Hebrews, that explains much that we should follow and do today--for just as there was one and only one proper way to worship God in the tabernacle, so there is onle and only one proper way to worship God in His one and only church today!
1. God's purpose in Leviticus:
a. To show that God is holy and that man is sinful and must continually return to God for cleansing and forgiveness.2. God does this through:
b. To show how a sinful people can approach a holy God.
c. To provide the law of approach to God in acceptable worship.
d. To keep Israel a holy nation.
a. Priests--who are reminded that God is holy and honored before all the people (Lev. 10:3).
b. Individuals--who must come before God in worship through cleanness, atonement, and holy living.
c. Nation--that is under covenant obligations which must be followed in order to obtain God's belssings (such as occupation of the Promised Land).
A. THE WAY TO GOD--SACRIFICES (1-7)III. THE ONE WORD THEME OF LEVITICUS: ORDINATION
1. The Burnt Offering (1:1-17)B. THE WORK OF GOD--PRIESTHOOD (8-10)
2. The Meal (Grain) Offering (2:1-16)
3. The Peace Offering (3:1-17)
4. The Sin Offering (4:1-35)
5. The Trespass Offering (5:1-19)
6. The Handling of the Offerings (6:1-7:38)
1. The Priestly Consecration--The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (8:1-36)C. THE WALK WITH GOD--PURIFICATION (11-22)
2. The Priestly Offerings--The Ordination of the Tabernacle Service (9:1-24)
3. The Priestly Transgression (10:1-20)
1. Prohibitions of Food--Clean and Unclean Animals (11:1-47)D. THE WORSHIP OF GOD--AUTHORITY (23-27)
2. Purification After Childbirth (12:1-8)
3. Purification After Leprosy (13:1-14:57)
4. Purification of Bodily Issues (15:1-33)
5. Purification of Sin--The Day of Atonement (16:1-34)
6. Purification of Food--The Handling and Meaning of Blood (17:1-16)
7. Purification in Marriage (18:1-30)
8. Purification in Social Affairs (19:1-20:27)
9. Purification of the Priests (21:1-24)
10. Privileges of the Priests (22:1-33)
1. Worship by Feast Days (23:1-44)
a. The Weekly Sabbath (23:1-3)2. Worship by the Holy Place (24:1-23)
1) Allow the people to rest from all their work.b. The Passover (23:4-8)
2) Celebrated on the 7th day; the last day of each week.
1) Remembrance of the tenth plague.c. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:4-8)
2) Celebrated the 14th day of the 1st month.
1) To remember the quick withdraw from Egypt.d. The Feast of the First Fruits (23:9-14)
2) Celebrated for 7 days; the 15th-21st days of the 1st month.
1) A reminder that the first and best belong to God.e. The Feast of Weeks--Pentecost (23:15-22)
2) The time varied based upon the harvest.
1) It was a celebration of the wheat harvest.f. The Feast of Trumpets (23:23-25)
2) It was the 50th day after the Passover; always on the first day of the week.
1) A memorial of blowing trumpets; marks the beginning of the civil year.g. The Day of Atonement (23:26-32)
2) Celebrated the 1st day of the 7th month.
1) The High Priest was to atone for the sins of the nation.h. The Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (23:33-36)
2) Celebrated the 10th day of the 7th month.
1) Anniversary of the beginnings of the wilderness wanderings.
2) Celebrated beginning the 15th day of the 7th month and lasting for 7 days.
3. Worship by Redemption (25:1-55)
4. Worship by Obedience (26:1-46)
5. Worship by Vows and Tithes (27:1-34)
A. ORDINATION OF THE PRIESTSIV. THE PICTURE OF CHRIST IN LEVITICUS: HE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST
1. The Levitical or Aaronic priesthood is defined and consecrated.B. ORDINATION OF SACRIFICES AND WORSHIP OF GOD
2. Priests could come from only one tribe, and even further from only one family (Aaron) within that tribe.
1. God specified the PLACE of sacrifice and worship.
2. God specified the OBJECT of sacrifice and worship.
3. God specified the METHOD of sacrifice and worship.
4. God specified the MANNER of sacrifice and worship.
5. God specified the WHEN of sacrifice and worship.
6. God specified the WHO of sacrifice and worship.
A. THE CHRIST AS SEEN IN AARON--THE HIGH PRIESTCONCLUSION
1. The high priest had to be free from bodily infirmities and defects and was to avoid touching any dead body (Lev. 21:10-23)--Christ, our High Priest, was holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners; He had not one defect of character (Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22).B. THE CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE MERCY SEAT (LEV. 16:14, 33-34)
2. The high priest did not engage in temporal affairs--Christ was engaged in doing the will ofGod (John 6:38).
3. The high priest was consecrated to the office (washed with water), anointed with oil, and offered sacrifices to God (Exo. 29:4, 7, 10-14; Lev. 16)--Christ was baptized, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and offered Himself as the Sacrifice (Mat. 3:13-17; Heb. 9:26).
4. The high priest made an annual atonement for the people (Lev. 16:3-16; Heb. 9:7-14)--Christ made an eternal (one) atonement for the world (Heb. 9:7-14; 10:9-10).
5. The high priest made intercession for the people (Lev. 16:3-16)--Christ makes intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-3).
6. The high priest blessed the people in the name of the Lord--Christ blessed us in the forgiveness of sin (Acts 3:26; 2:38).
7. The high priest had charge over the tabernacle (Heb. 9:6-7)--Christ is over (has charge over) the church (Heb. 10:21).
8. The high priest gave judgment and decisions in matters of controversy (John 18:13)--Christ has all power and authority (Mat. 28:18).
9. The high priest had a successor by reason of death (Heb. 7:23)--Christ has no successor, for He lives (Heb. 7:24, 28).
1. The mercy seat covered the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tables of the Law (Heb. 9:4)--Christ fulfilled that Law and blotted it out (Mat. 5:17-18; Col. 2:14-16; Gal. 3:23-25).C. THE CHRISTIAN AS SEEN IN THE PRIESTHOOD
2. The mercy seat was made of pure gold (Exo. 25:11)--Christ was pure, without sin (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22).
3. The mercy seat was over shadowed by cherubims of glory (Heb. 9:5)--angels were interested in the redemptive work of Christ:
a. They announced His birth (Luke 2:8-14).4. God communed with Moses for Israel at the mercy seat (Exo. 25:17-22)--We approach God and are reconciled to God through Christ (Col. 3:17; 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
b. They were at His command (Mat. 26:53).
c. They rolled away the stone from the tomb (Mat. 28:2).
d. They announced His second coming (Acts 1:10-11).
e. They bear the souls of the righteous to paradise (Luke 16:19-31).
f. They will come with Christ (Mat. 16:27; 24:30-31; 2 The. 1:6-9).
5. God revealed His mind and will to Moses from above the mercy seat (Exo. 25:22)--God now reveals His mind to us through Christ (Heb. 1:1-2; Mat. 17:1-5).
6. Prayers and offerings were presented to God at the mercy seat--now it is through Christ that we have access to God (John 14:6; 16:23; Col. 3:17).
7. Blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat once a year to atone for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:11-16; Heb. 9:7)--Christ made one atonement for the sins of the world (Heb. 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-23; 1 John 2:1-2; Eph. 1:7).
1. Just as all Old Testament priests were from a specific line, that is the lineage of Aaron; All Christians are part of the family of Christ (Rom. 8:17).D. THE CHRIST AS SEEN IN SACRIFICES (HEB. 10:1-14)
2. All Christians today are priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).
3. And therefore, Christians are a part of the everlasting Priesthood of Jesus (Heb. 7:24-28).
4. The priests were required to be sound in body and free from deformity (Lev. 21:16-24)--Christians are to keep themselves unspotted from the world (Jam. 1:27).
5. The priests denied unholy things (Lev. 21:1-8)--the Christian must be one of repentance; denying unholy things (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31).
6. Priests served God in the holy place (Heb. 9:6)--Christians serve God in the Holy Place, the church (1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 10:19-20; 1 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 3:10-11, 21).
7. The shew bread was set in order weekly on the Sabbath day and eaten by the priest (Lev. 24:5-9)--Christians eat the Lord's Supper weekly, on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 11:17-33).
1. The Burnt Offering--Christ's Complete Dedication (Lev. 1).E. THE CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (LEV. 16)
2. The Meal Offering--Christ's Perfection (Lev. 2).
3. The Peace Offering--Christ is our Peace (Lev. 3).
4. The Sin Offering--Christ was made sin for us (Lev. 4).
5. The Trespass Offering--Christ paid sin's debt (Lev. 5-6).
1. Christ as the High Priest
a. Both had to be alone; the tabernacle was empty when the high priest entered (Lev. 16:17)--Christ made atonement with His blood before the church was established (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4).2. Christ as the two goats--the substitutionary sacrifice
b. Both laid aside the glorious garments.
c. Both were washed.
d. Both offered a sin offering--the high priest for himself; Christ offered Himself for all (see Heb. 7:23-28).
e. Both entered the holy of holies--the high priest the physical place of the tabernacle; Christ the throne room of heaven.
a. The goat that was to be sacrificed was chosen by lot and thus was considered the choice of God (Lev. 16:7-10)--Christ was the choice of God as the sacrifice for sin (John 3:16; Rom. 6:23; Acts 2:23).
b. The blood of the goat was sprinkled on the mercy seat for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:15-16)--Christ made atonement with His own blood before the throne of God (1 Pet. 1:18-19; Heb. 9:12; Rom. 5:9-11; Mat. 26:28).
c. The high priest sprinkled the blood with his finger seven times (representing completeness) for the cleansing of Israel (Lev. 16:19)--Christ made the perfect, complete atonement for all men (Heb. 10:9-10).
d. The high priest confessed the sins of the people over the head of the live goat (Lev. 16:20-22)--Christ bore our sins and confessed them over Himself (Isa. 53:4-6; Mat. 27:46; Luke 23:34; 2 Cor. 5:21).
e. The sacrifice was made once a year (Lev. 16:34; Heb. 10:1-4)--Christ made the sacrifice once for eternity (Heb. 10:10).
f. The two goats were Israel's substitute--Christ is the Christian's substitute (John 10:17; Rom. 6:23; Gal. 2:20).
1. Leviticus 19:18 is still as applicable today as it was when it was written, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, bu thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."
2. Many see that verse as the only nugget of worth from Leviticus and in fact one has said, "Leviticus to the casual reader is the epitome of Old Testament irrelevance."
3. This book, Leviticus, is one of the least read and studied books of the Bible; why?
a. Some think that it will be impossible for them to master all the ritual and symbols in the book so as to gain much spiritual benefit.4. Yet, as we can see the book of Leviticus should be meaningful to the Christian; it is referenced more than 40 times in the New Testament.
b. Others regard the material here as obsolete, with no living application to the present day.
c. Others point to laws here so severe or trivial they seem to be at variance with what is known of God from the rest of Scripture.
5. What appears on the surface to be a barren wasteland proves to be a gold mine to those with the patience to plumb its depths.
6. It has been well said concerning Leviticus, "As ceremonial requirements, these laws are no longer valid. Their underlying principles are as valid today as during the old dispensation."
7. Are you operating as His priest--a member of the lineage of the High Priest--today?
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