The Book of Leviticus

• Title: Leviticus — derived from the tribe of Levi, the priests of Israel. Text is known as the Third Book of Moses
  
  
• Historical Setting: Leviticus comprises 30 days following the establishment of the Tabernacle at Mount Sinai
  
  
• Themes:
  • Laws concerning sacrifice and public worship (chs. 1-10)
  • Laws of holiness (chs. 11-15)
  • Cleansing of the sanctuary / related regulations (chs. 16, 17)
  • Civil and behavioral laws (chs. 18-20)
  • Laws pertaining to feast days, festivals, and other sanctuary regulations (chs. 21-27)

• Civil Laws: Regulate activities pertaining to the operation of the nation of Israel (e.g., health, sanitation, court procedures). Not binding today, but many basic principles still apply in societies-at-large
  
  
• Ceremonial Laws: Sanctuary laws governing religious services; purposes pointed forward to the coming Messiah
  
  
• Moral Laws: The Ten Commandments, recorded by the finger of God, in Ex.20:1-17

• To have Man understand the result of sin and what’s needed to atone for it
  
  
• To point Man to the coming Savior who would be the perfect Sacrifice
  
  
• To reconcile Man (through faith in the atonement) to God
  
  

• Passover (Erev Pesach) [Lev.23:5]: Passing over of the Angel of Death in Egypt / pointing to Christ as the "Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world" (John 1:29); Christ as "our passover" that is "sacrificed for us" (I Cor.5:7)
  
  
• Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag Hamatzot) [Lev.23:6] : Celebration of being released from the bondage of Egypt / Christ releasing us from the bondage of sin. Jesus is the sinless "Bread of Life" (John 6:32, 48-51)
  
  
• The Day of the First Fruits (no translation) [Lev.23:10-11]: Presenting the first fruits of the barley harvest / Jesus Christ as "the first fruits; a fterward they that are Christ’s at his coming" (I Cor.15:23)
  
  
• 7th and Last Day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Yom Tov) [Lev.23:8]: Celebrates the crossing of the Red Sea (per outside sources) / "putting away" of sin by God’s people
  
  
• Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) [Lev.23:17, 20]: Presenting the first fruits of the wheat harvest 50 days after the Day of the First Fruits / symbolizes the Pentecost in the NT: first outpouring of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Christ’s resurrection
  
  
• Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) [Lev.23:24]: Announcement to Israel of impending judgment / global proclamation of Jesus Christ’s second coming
  
  
• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) [Lev.23:27]: Signifies a cleansing of sins and reconciliation with God (i.e., Judgment Day) / reflects the work of Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 8, 9)
  
  
• Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) [Lev.23:33-36]: Commemorates the wandering in the wilderness; joyous celebration of in-gathering of the harvest / symbolizes final gathering of God’s people; celebration in heaven

• Sanctuary and related feast days were central to worship in Israel; Leviticus contains core instruction
  
  
• Unlocks "mysteries" in NT that imply sacrifices (e.g., "Lamb of God," "sin offering")
  
  
• Directs believers in Christ to understand His work
  
  

Since the time of my presentation, I have done some additional research into the issue of The Law and its significance to the believer in Christ. For further information, or to discuss this topic, please feel free to email me. The commentary on this page as well as any correspondence, reflect my personal opinions based upon an individual study of The Word, and are not necessarily endorsed by the Washington Bible Fellowship or its affiliates.