Leviticus

Picking up the Narrative

Another book of Moses

Exodus closes with the Hebrew nation massing at Sinai

Now begins the process of making them into a nation

Brief narratives in chapters 8-10 and 16

The story exists for the sake of the laws which it frames (David Damrosch)

Oddly, we need to look at the end to understand the rest

Leviticus 22:32–33 ESV

And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord.”

The concept of the holy and profane shows up in multiple places throughout the book

Carries the thought of making common; making morally or ritually impure; or dishonored

Much of chapter 26 is a discussion of results of keeping the commandments and not keeping the commandments—a cause and effect discussion

Blessings for obedience; punishment for disobedience

On a national scale, never a justification for “Why are you doing this to us, God?”

A Quick Breakdown

1-16 focus on ritual matters related to the tabernacle

17-27 on the moral holiness outside the tabernacle

A Simple Outline

Listed on other page

Holman Concise Bible Commentary Literary Forms

I. Need for Sacrifice (1:1–7:38)

II. Need for Mediators (8:1–10:20)

III. Need for Separation (11:1–15:33)

IV. Need Atonement (16:1–34)

V. Need for Holy Living (17:1–25:55)

VI. Blessing and Curse (26:1–46)

VII. Dedication Offerings (27:1–34)

All those Offerings/Sacrifices...

Some mandatory; some necessary

A Critical Chapter: 16

Yom Kippur; the Day of Atonement

When the Priest mediated with God for the sins of the nation

The need for atonement was continual until Christ

Hebrews 10:4 ESV

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

With Christ, the Lamb of God, the sins of the world were finally atoned for

Jesus, the better high priest, offered a better sacrifice

A Couple Takeaways

God is very particular about how He is worshipped

It’s about HIS holiness

He wanted His people to be set apart

The specific nature of the sacrificial system pointed the way toward Jesus