Graphics of Leviticus
| Joseph dies | Slavery in Egypt | Exodus from Egypt | Ten
Commandments
given | Israel
camps at Mount Sinai | Moses
dies, Canaan entered | Judges begin to rule
| United Kingdom
under Saul | 1805 B.C
(1640 B.C) | | 1446
(1280) | 1446
(1279) | 1444
(1278) | 1406
(1240) | 1375
(1220) | 1050
(1045) |
Vital statistics
| Purpose: | A handbook for the priests and Levites outlining their duties in worship, and a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews | | Author: | Moses | | Original audience: | The people of Israel | | Date written: | 1450-1410 B.C | | Where written: | In the wilderness during Israel's wanderings, somewhere in the Sinai peninsula. | | Setting: | At the foot of Mount Sinai. God is teaching the Israelites how to live as holy people. | | Key verse: | "You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy" (19:2) | | Key people: | Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar. Ithamar. | | Key place: | Mount Sinai | | Special feature: | Holiness is mentioned more times (152) than in any other book of the Bible. |
Laws and Modern Applications |
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The Law |
What Might This Say About. . . |
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Prohibited theft and robbery (19:11, 13). |
• Pilfering of supplies and equipment?
• “Time theft” through extended lunch breaks, loafing, and “sick” days? |
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Prohibited fraud (dealing “falsely, ” 19:11). |
• False advertising?
• Deceptive trade practices? |
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Prohibited deception (19:11). |
• Lying to a customer or vendor? |
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Prohibited false oaths (19:12). |
• Lying on a résumé?
• Writing a “hot check”? |
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Prohibited “profaning” the name of the Lord (19:12) |
• Swearing and cursing?
• Causing unbelievers to sneer at Christ because of hypocrisy? |
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Prohibited cheating one’s neighbor (19:13). |
• Shoddy workmanship?
• Overcharging? |
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Demanded timely payment of wages (19:13). |
• Payments that are overdue?
• Using bureaucratic procedure as a stall tactic? |
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Prohibited spreading rumors and lies (19:16). |
• “Blacklisting”?
• Incorrect credit reports? |
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Demanded accurate measurements and honest scales (19:35–36). |
• Dishonest accounting procedures?
• Inaccurate test scores and the unfair use of results? |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Lv 19.35). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Kinds of Sacrifices |
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Offering |
Purpose |
Sacrifice Required |
Action Taken |
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BURNT (Lev. 1:1–17; 6:8–13) |
Dedication to God |
Bulls, sheep, goats, turtledoves, pigeons |
Kill and burn all except the skin. |
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GRAIN (Lev. 2:1–16; 6:14–23) |
Thanksgiving |
Breads, cereals, and other grain products |
Burn part; priests eat the remainder. |
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PEACE (Lev. 3:1–17; 7:11–18) |
Gratitude to God, public celebration, and completion of vows |
Any clean, affordable animal |
Burn part; priests and worshiper eat the remainder. |
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SIN (Lev. 4:1–35; 6:24–30) |
Purification from unintended sin or defilement |
Bulls, goats, lambs, rams |
Kill the animal, burn fatty portions, sprinkle blood on the altar, burn the remainder outside the camp (when the offering was for the high priest or congregation). |
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GUILT or TRESPASS (Lev. 5:1–6:7; 7:1–10) |
Remove guilt related to community life and worship |
Lambs, turtledoves, pigeons, fine flour, rams; restitution to injured parties |
Kill the animal, burn the fat; priests eat the remainder. |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Gn 1.1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
APRIL (NISAN) | 14–21—PASSOVER: remembrance of deliverance from Egypt; beginning of religious year | | | | 6—PENTECOST: feast of harvest and firstfruits | | | JULY (TAMMUZ) AUG. (AB) SEPT. (ELUL) OCT. (TISHRI) | 1–2—FEAST OF TRUMPETS ROSH HASHANAH: beginning of civil year 10—DAY OF ATONEMENT 15–21—FEAST OF TABERNACLES: remembrance of the years in tents on the way to Palestine | | | NOV. (MARCHESVAN) DEC. (KISLEV) | 25—HANUKKAH: feast of lights added in days of Maccabees | | | JAN. (TEBETH) FEB. (SHEBAT) MARCH (ADAR) | 14—PURIM: added later to remember deliverance under Queen Esther |
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (120). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
The Jewish Calendar Babylonian names (B) for the months are still used today for the Jewish calendar. Canaanite names (C) were used prior to the Babylonian captivity in 586 B.C. Four are mentioned in the Old Testament. Adar-Sheni is an intercalary month used every two o three years or seven times in 19 years. | | 1st month | 2nd month | 3rd month | 4th month | Nisan (B) Abid (C) March-April | Lyyar (B) Ziv (C) April-May | Sivan (B) May-June | Tammuz (B) June-July | | 7th month | 8th month | 9th month | 10th month | | 5thmonth | 6th month | 7th month | 8th month | | Ab (B) July-August | Elul (B) August-September | Tishri (B) Ethanim (C) September-October | Marcheshvab (B) Bul (C) October-November | | 11th month | 12th month | 1st month | 2nd month | | 9th month | 10th month | 11th month | 12th month | | Chislev (B) November-December | Tebeth (B) December-January | Shebat (B) January-February | Adar (B) February-March | | 3rd month | 4th month | 5th month | 6th month | Sacred calendar appears in black / Civil calendar appears in gray
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The Offerings
Listed here are the five key offerings the Israelites made to God. They made these offerings in order to have their sins forgiven and to restore their fellowship with God. The death of Jesus Christ made these sacrifices unnecessary. Because of his death, our sins were completely forgiven, and fellowship with God has been restored.
| Offering | Purpose | Significance | Christ, the Perfect Offering | Burnt Offering
(Lev. 1- voluntary) | To make payment for sins in general | Showed a person's devotion to God | Christ's death was the perfect offering | Grain Offering
(Lev. 2- voluntary) | To show honor and respect to God in worship | Acknowledged that all we have belongs to God | Christ's was the perfect man, who gave all of himself to God and others | Peace Offering
(Lev. 3- voluntary) | To express gratitude to God | Symbolized peace and fellowship with God | Christ is the only way to fellowship with God | Sin Offering
(Lev. 4- requited) | To make payment for unintentional sins of uncleanness, neglect, or thoughtlessness | Restored the sinner to fellowship with God; showed seriousness of sin | Christ's death restores our fellowship with God | Guilt Offering
(Lev. 5- required) | To make payment for sins against God and others. A sacrifice was made to God, and the injured person was repaid or compensated | Provided compensation for injured parties | Christ's death takes away the deadly consequences of sin |
The Blueprint
WORSHIPING A HOLY GOD (1:1-17:16)
Instruction for the offerings Instruction for the priest Instructions for the people Instruction for the altar
| God provided specific directions for the kind of worship that would be pleasing to him. These instructions teach us about the nature of God and can help us develop a right attitude toward worship. Through the offerings we learn of the seriousness of sin and the importance of bringing our sins to God for forgiveness. | LIVING A HOLY LIFE (18:1-27:34)
Standards for the people Rules for priests Seasons and festivals Receiving God’s blessing
| God gave clear standards to the Israelites for living a holy life . They were to be separate and distinct from the pagan nations around them. In the same way, all believers should be separated from sin and dedicated to God. God still wants to remove sin from the lives of his people. |
Leviticus Overview
Christ in the Levitical Offerings
| Offering | Christ's Provision | Christ's Character | Reference | | 1. Burnt Offering | Atonement | Christ's sinless nature | Lev 1:3-17; 6:8-13 | | 2. Grain Offering | Dedication/consecration | Christ was wholly devoted to the Father's purpose | Lev 2:1-16; 6:14-23 | | 3. Fellowship Offering | Reconciliation/fellowship | Christ was at peace with God | Lev 3:1-17; 7:11-36 | | 4. Sin Offering | Propitiation | Christ's substitutionary death | Lev 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30 | | 5. Guilt Offering | Repentance | Christ paid it all for redemption | Lev 5:14-6:7; 7:1-10 |
Christ Fulfills Israel's Festivals
| The Festivals (Lev 23) | Christ's Fulfilment | | Passover (Marc.April) | Death of Christ (1Co 5:7) | | Unleavened Bread (March/April)) | Sinlessness of Christ (1Co 5:8) | | Firstfruits (March/April) | Resurrection of Christ (1Co 15:23) | | Weeks (May/June) | Outpouring of Spirit of Christ (Ac 1:5; 2:4) | | Trumpets (Sep./Oct.) | Israel's Regathering by Christ (Mt 24:31) | | Atonement (Sep./Oct.) | Substitutionary Sacrifice by Christ (Ro 11:26) | | Tabernacles (Sep./Oct.) | Rest and Reunion with Christ (Zec 14:16-19 |
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