The book of Leviticus is a difficult book for modern Christians to read and understand. It seems so bizarre and irrelevant. It has very little contact with modern life as we live it. The book is about ancient religious practices thousands of years old. What possible message could the book of Leviticus have for people today? But if one is willing to scratch beneath the surface of Leviticus, he/she will find some amazing truths that surprisingly speak to the needs and questions people have in every day.
The book of Leviticus is the central book in the Torah. The Torah is comprised of the five books of Moses, which are the first five books in the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Leviticus has a universal appeal because it reveals important truths about how unholy people can be in a relationship with a holy God. In this way, Leviticus paves the way and is a picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is the one true way to a relationship with God.
This article is the first of three on the book. We are taking bite-sized steps in our investigation of this very important biblical book. The book of Leviticus has a breadth and depth we need to see so we can appreciate its message and how it connects with the rest of the Bible. This first installment is a brief introduction to the book. In the next article, we will dive deep into the book, and in the final article, we will consider its message.
Leviticus is part of the Exodus story found in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. The Exodus story is about the Lord redeeming His people from Egyptian slavery and leading them to the Promised Land. After leaving Egypt under the leadership of Moses, the children of Israel are camped at Mt. Sinai from Exodus 19:2 through Numbers 10:10. They are at Mt. Sinai for a full year. There, on the mountain, the Lord revealed His Law to Moses, which is the covenant relationship He established with the children of Israel. Leviticus is the core of this divine revelation to Moses. It spells out how they enter the relationship with the Lord and how they maintain the relationship.
The focus of Leviticus is on the sacrifices that atone for the sins of the people and thus allow them into the holy presence of the Lord. The heart of the sacrificial system is the priesthood. The book is almost entirely the instructions given by the Lord to Moses. In the very first verse of the book, the Lord calls Moses and speaks to him from the tent of meeting. He then directs Moses to speak to the people concerning how they worship Him. The book of Leviticus is composed of seven sections: (1) Sacrificial Offerings (1-7), (2) The Priesthood (8-10), (3) Laws of Clean & Unclean (11-15), (4) The Day of Atonement (16), (5) Laws for Practical Holiness (17-20), (6) The Priesthood: Holiness for the Priests (21-22) (7) Holy Feasts, Blessing & Cursing, Vows (23-27).
Leviticus is a book of law and grace. It defines and sets boundaries for the God-human relationship. Grace creates and maintains the relationship and thus points to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the perfect sacrifice and priest who makes atonement on the cross for the people of God. The book of Leviticus speaks of the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the magnitude of grace, which atones for the sin that separates people from God. While the book of Leviticus is for the worship of God’s people throughout the Old Covenant, it points to the person and work of Jesus Christ. It finds its fullest meaning in Him. As you read the book of Leviticus, keep your eyes on Jesus. The book is all about Jesus.