Introduction to Leviticus
Leviticus is part of the first Five Books of the Bible that are usually known as the Pentateuch.
What is the Pentateuch?
Pentateuch is the collection of the first five books of the Bible that conservative Bible Scholars believe were written mostly by Moses. The Word Pentateuch comes from the Greek word, “Penta” means “FIVE” and teuchos which is translated as scroll
- The name Pentateuch can be traced at least as far back as AD 200 when Tertullian referred to the first five books of the Bible by that name.
- Also known as the Torah, which is the Hebrew word meaning “Law,”
- these five books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Leviticus is the THIRD BOOK and it comes right after the Book of Exodus.
Exodus contains the redemption story of how Israelites came out of Egypt and continued their journey towards their promised land. Now, as they continued their journey, God began to give them instructions, laws, and ordinances they needed to follow. These instruction and ordinances are compiled in the book that we know as, “Leviticus”
The Common Question is,
What is the Purpose of the Book of Leviticus?
The Purpose
The book of Leviticus was written to help people renew their understanding of who Yahweh is because the Israelites were captive in Egypt for 400+ years… their idea of God was corrupted by the Egyptians. The Jews believed in the existence of God who was sovereign whereas the Egyptians had gods and goddesses for everything; gods for harvest, gods for different weathers, gods for their grain, etc., Hence the purpose was to guide and correct their understanding of Yahweh.
The Purpose of the Book of Leviticus was to
- Give Instructions regarding Holy Living
- Give laws to guide Sinful, yet redeemed people in their relationship with a holy God.
Major Emphasis: God’s Holiness
A phrase that is emphasized in Leviticus is
“GOD’s HOLINESS”
i.e., The God whom we worship is a Holy God. People are reminded over and over again that they also have to prepare themselves, and be holy to worship that Holy God.
That is why,
One of the Purposes of this book is to guide sinful, yet redeemed in their relationship with a holy God.
Other Purposes
The other purpose is to establish a proper sacrificial system; diets and cleanliness; Feasts and Festivals; and personal ethics.
Date of Writing
The book of Leviticus was written around 1440-1400 BC
Authorship
Under the traditional view, Moses is regarded as the author of Leviticus.
Primary Theme: Holiness
The primary theme of Leviticus is Holiness. God demands holiness because He is Holy.
Secondary theme: Atonement
The secondary theme of Leviticus is Atonement. The sacrifices instituted formally in Leviticus demonstrate the price paid for Sin. Holiness and Atonement go hand in hand..anytime a person sins…they make atonement by sacrificing an animal for their sins.
This, in turn, helped them maintain holiness before God.
Sacrifices in Leviticus foreshadow Jesus
As you study, it will become obvious that Leviticus foreshadows the work of our Lord Jesus as a lamb of God who was slain for the world. The following verse reminds us of this.
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Hebrews 10:1 NIV
Two things to learn from this passage:
First
- The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
Which means,
The daily sacrifices offered by the priests for the sins of the people were an ultimate representation of Christ’s sacrifices on the Cross.
After the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Animal sacrifices are no longer required.
Because his one sacrifice has paid the prince for the sins of our Past, Present, and Future…
Second
- For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
The Holiness that came by the law was temporary but because of the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, we have now been made holy and righteous.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
Structure of Leviticus
- Leviticus 1:1-7:38: Regulations for the Israelites concerning sacrifices
- Leviticus 8:1–10:20: Validation and threat to the priesthood
- Leviticus 11:1–15:33: Religious polarities: clean and unclean/pure and impure
- Leviticus 16:1–34: Annual Sacrifices for Sins.
- Leviticus 17:1–26:46: The holiness code
- Leviticus 27:1–34: Redemption of votive gifts
