Leviticus

OT Law and the Sacrificial System

Ritual Cleansing vs Moral Cleansing

An important and key distinction in Leviticus is that the sacrifices that God provided did not cleanse people from moral uncleanliness, but only for ritual uncleanliness.

Ritual Uncleanliness

Unavoidable at times (childbirth, menstruation, sexual intercourse, burying a loved one)

Not a heart issue

Taught people that they needed to be a certain way when entering sacred space.

To enter God's present flippantly is dangerous. He is so different from us that we need to be careful how we enter.

In the New Covenant, we don't enter a sacred space, we become the sacred place. However, there is something sacred when the saints come together as Paul talks about in Ephesians 2. Now we enter God's presence with boldness not fear.

Sin and guilt offering were designed to cleanse a worshipper of their uncleanliness.

Moral Uncleanliness

Perfectly avoidable (don't steal, murder, commit adultery, rebel against parents)

A heart issue

There is no sacrifice to deal with moral sins. Its either the death penalty or excommunication.

The only slight exception to this is stealing. Restitution is made through repaying the affected party, with extra added.

This is why Hebrews 8-10 talks about the weaknesses of the Old Covenant system, and how the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. It is true! There were no sacrifices for moral sin, that's why there was a need for a better sacrifice; Jesus Christ Himself.