April 19, 2025
Last week we concluded Exodus. The broken covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel was restored and the Tabernacle has been built and dedicated.
Today we begin Leviticus. Leviticus is located at the center of the Pentateuch – Genesis and Exodus on one side Numbers and Deuteronomy on the other. This is not an accident. It is an intentional literary device known as a Chiastic Structure. In this type of structure, the most important concept is placed in the middle. By placing Leviticus in the middle, we are getting a clue that of all the books of the Pentateuch, it is the most important and we should pay special attention to it.
The book of Leviticus is saturated with the concepts of holiness and atonement.
Why devote an entire book to just 2 concepts?
God is holy – there is no one like him – he is unique. When people enter into a covenant relationship with him, there is an expectation that they will come to reflect his image – they will be holy as God is holy. Sinful humans, however, have no ability to cleanse themselves from sin or produce holiness, therefore we are in constant need of divine grace, to be cleansed, forgiven and transformed.
Israel has repeatedly demonstrated that they did not understand their role in God’s Master Plan (blessing the world).
They did not understand that holiness “set apart-ness” was necessary for them to be successful.
Leviticus was designed to show Israel what holiness looks like and how to live as God’s holy people within the covenant relationship.
Leviticus 11:45 - I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
The Sanctuary Services were established by God to provide a way for sinful humans, who are not holy by nature, to relate to him. Even in this he extends us grace.
Romans 6:23a - For the wages of sin is death….
We stand condemned…….
The only way to be cleansed, forgiven and declared righteous and “set apart” is through the death of a substitute – an innocent creature.
Blood is mentioned 90 times in the first 15 chapters of Leviticus, demonstrating to us that substitutionary sacrifice is a central theme in the first ½ of the book.
In Genesis 9:3-6, God prohibited the eating or drinking of animal blood. In Leviticus 17:11 we are told why: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” ---- the blood of the sacrificial animal had a purpose – atonement.
However, this sacrificial system was not an end in and of itself. It pointed to a grander and more far-reaching truth – the voluntary substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus.
John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Romans 6:23b - but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Ellen White (RH, December 17, 1872 par. 4) – The divine Son of God was the only sacrifice of sufficient value to fully satisfy the claims of God's perfect law…. He had power to lay down his life, and to take it again. No obligation was laid upon him to undertake the work of atonement. It was a voluntary sacrifice that he made.
Since one kind of sacrifice could not adequately represent all aspects of Christ’s substitutionary work of Atonement, it was represented by the unique features of 5 sacrifices – 3 Voluntary and 2 Required:
• Burnt Offering – Leviticus 1:2-17 and 6:8-13
Humans are not holy by nature. When they approach God, even in gratitude and praise, they still need forgiveness.
Entire sacrifice was given to the Lord, indicating a willingness to surrender everything to God as an act of worship.
Sacrifice took place between the entrance to the courtyard and the Altar – the people could go no further than the Altar.
1 Peter 1:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; Hebrews 4:16; 7:27; Ephesians 5:2.
• Grain Offering - Leviticus 2:1-16 and 6:14-23
Was given as an act of adoration and gratitude that God was the Lord of his people and the He abundantly provided for them.
Always accompanied the Burnt and Peace/Fellowship Offerings
John 6:35, 47-51
• Peace/Fellowship Offering - Leviticus 3:1-16 and 7:11-21
The primary purpose of this sacrifice was not to atone for sin, but could be brought as a gratitude or free-will offering and included the idea of communion and covenant relationship.
The blood tossed on the Altar suggests that whenever a person approached God cleansing and forgiveness was needed.
Matthew 26:26; John 6:53-56; Romans 5:1, 6-11; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:19-20.
The Required Offerings assumed that God’s people wanted to preserve the covenant relationship with Him even though they violated it. The dilemma between those 2 realities was resolved through the substitutionary sacrifices.
• Sin/Purification Offering - Leviticus 4:1-5:13 and 6:24-30
Was required for intentional & unintentional sins – when they became known – applied to community or individual.
Contrasted with open rebellion, for which there was no atonement available (Numbers 15:30-31)
This offering removed sin & guilt from the sinner and transferred responsibility for it to the Sanctuary
Romans 3:23-26; 8:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:29; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:23; Hebrews 2:14-17
• Guilt/Trespass offering - Leviticus 5:14-6:7 and 7:1-10
To make restitution for sin
Isaiah 53:10; Ephesians 1:7
• Ellen White (GC 418.1) - … The broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor. The blood, representing the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed. By this ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary. In some cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to be eaten by the priest, as Moses directed the sons of Aaron… Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the penitent to the sanctuary. Such was the work that went on, day by day, throughout the year. The sins of Israel were thus transferred to the sanctuary, and a special work became necessary for their removal.
For the Children of Israel, the animal sacrifices of the Sanctuary Services were a daily visual reminder that an innocent life was taken for what they were guilty of.
Likewise, Christ’s sacrifice is the only way of dealing with the sin problem because it is the only way God can extend us mercy, cleansing and forgiveness without compromising justice.
The assurance of our standing before God is based totally on the blood and ministry of Christ.
We have never had the experience of sacrificing a living thing to atone for something we have done and many look on the ancient practice as downright offensive. Many reject Christianity because they can’t fathom a good God sacrificing his own son.
From a human standpoint that argument makes sense because none of us would do such a thing. However, the underlying truth is that we just don’t want to believe that we are that bad or that God is that holy.
The value of Scripture is that it paints a very clear picture of our sinfulness and God’s holiness and the place they intersect is the cross.
Until Next Time…………..
