The Code of Holiness - Leviticus

Leviticus is A book of instructions regulating how the priests carry out their duties at the tabernacle. The instructions cover sacrificial procedures as well as other moral and legal issues related to holiness.

The basic idea of holiness is separation usually in this book in regard to behaviors or attire

The adjective unclean is used twenty-five times in Leviticus, and it can refer to either an ethical or a religious impurity.

The key verse is Lev 11:45

Leviticus 11:45 KJV 1900

45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Basic Outline of Leviticus

I. How to Approach a Holy God 1-16

A. Laws of the five sacrifices 1-7

Notice that the sacrifices alone did not provide atonement - but if correctly administered were accepted as atonement from God.

Lev. 1:4 “4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”

The burnt offering (Lev. 1; 6:8-13)

voluntary - free will offering

When accepted, it functioned as an atonement for the offerer (back to Lev. 1:4)

Had to be without blemish

Could be a male ox, sheep, goat, dove or pigeon depending on financial status of offerer.

The Grain offering (Lev 2; 6:14-23)

A cereal or grain offering - composed of fine flour (as baked loaved, wafers, or morsels) olive oil, frankincense, and salt (No honey or leaven were permitted)

Not offered alone accompanied the peace offering and burnt offering

Only a small portion was offered to God the rest went to the priests for food.

often a memorial type offering - perhaps to “bring to God’s remembrance the offerers and the covenant in which they stood” (Kidner, 132)

The Peace Offering (Lev 3; 7:11-34)

Voluntary - free will

Three Types

Thank offering - for blessings received but not requested (often the same as peace offering)

meal had to be eaten same day it was offered

Vow offering - paid for something received that was prayed for

the flesh had to be eaten by the end of the day after the sacrifice or be burned.

The free-will offering - no other occasion than thankfulness for all the blessings

Its flesh also had to be eaten or burned by the end of the second day.

Both the vow offering and the free-will offerings could be burnt offerings as well as peace offerings.

was to be a male or female from the flock or herd

God recieved a portion (liver and fat)

Priest recieved a portion (breast and shoulders)

The sacrifant and family had a communal meal with the rest - a symbol of the fellowship of the believer with God as a consequence of the atonement.

The Sin offering (Lev 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30)

Was for sins done in ignorance

The offerer killed the animal himself

recieved no part of the sacrifice

Priests were to eat a portion of sin offerings made by the people

Something to note - a recurring theme with both sin and guilt offerings is “the priest shall make an atonement for him…and it shall be forgiven him” (Lev 4:20, 26, 31, 35, 5:10, 13, 16, 18, 6:7)This teaches that atonement for sin must precede forgiveness of sins. God does not forgive sins for which no atonement has been made.

The Guilt Offering (Lev. 5:14-6:7;7:1-10)

distinguished from the sin offering by the specified animal, the handling of the blood, and the nature of the sin.

sacrificial animal normally a ram

Blood of the sin offering was placed on the horns of the altar and then poured out at its base (Lev 4:35)

The blood of the guilt offering was to be sprinkled on the the altar (Lev 7:2)

The Guilt offering dealt with sins that involved other people and the need for restitution

B. Laws of Priesthood 8-10

C. Laws of clean and unclean 11-15

D. Day of Atonement 16

II. How to Abide in Fellowship with a Holy God 17-27

Lev. 19:30 passage connects the Sabbath with “church attendance”? (Lev. 19:30 “30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 11:45 KJV 1900

45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.