LEVITICUS
Theme: Worship
Author: Traditionally Moses
Time: 15th century BC
Leviticus - the things that are pertinent to the tribe of Israel
Matthew (greek) and Levi (Hebrew) mean the same thing
Key Scripture:
Leviticus 19:2 ESV
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
To be set apart - Holy as I am holy. It’s something other…
Structure:
Leviticus 1-17: offerings/ priesthood/ purification
The worship of God is through sacrifice
Leviticus 18-27: people/ priest/ feat/ land
The worship of God through sacrifice produces holiness
Purpose of the Book:
1. There are expectations that God puts on people on how he wants to be approached.
2. To show the priest how to make a sacrifice
Tabernacle first thing you see is the bronze altar. All the main sacrifices take place on the bronze altar
What kind of sacrifices, what kind of animals, what kind of parts of the animal, what kind of fire
3. To show the difference between holy and unholy things, activities
This is the essence of the book. Points towards separation and how he is separate from the rest of the world
Message of the Book:
1. Holiness is the first quality of God’s character
God is love… yes but His love is holy and different so it may be defined differently
2. There could be no compromise with God’s holiness
God doesn’t make a deal with people to downplay his holiness. It is perfect, never changes, is always the same. As a holy God he can not compromise who he is
3. God could only be approached by a priest and blood sacrifice
There always required a mediator to intercede on behalf of the people. To show there had to be payment/ cost in order for the relationship to take place.