LEVITICUS

The Five Sacrifices

The first section of Leviticus details five types of offerings the Israelites were to bring to the Tabernacle. These were not empty rituals; they were powerful, symbolic acts that taught foundational truths about sin, worship, and fellowship. The central principle was substitution: an animal died in the place of the worshipper, signifying that the penalty for sin is death.

• The Burnt Offering: A voluntary act of worship to atone for unintentional sin and express total devotion to God. The entire animal was consumed on the altar, symbolizing the worshipper's complete surrender.
• The Grain Offering: A voluntary offering of grain, flour, or bread to recognize God's goodness and provision.
• The Peace Offering: A voluntary sacrifice to express thanksgiving and fellowship with God. The worshipper would share a meal from the sacrificed animal with the priests and their family, symbolizing peace and communion with God.
• The Sin Offering: A mandatory sacrifice required for unintentional sins. It purified the sanctuary from the defilement of sin and restored the sinner to fellowship.
• The Guilt Offering: A mandatory offering for sins that required restitution, such as sins against a neighbor's property. It involved not only a sacrifice but also repaying the wronged party, plus a penalty.

The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons

A holy God could not be approached by just anyone. God established a priesthood, setting apart Aaron (Moses' brother) and his sons to serve as mediators. Leviticus details their elaborate, seven-day ordination ceremony. They were washed, anointed with oil, and sacrifices were made for them, signifying that even the priests themselves were sinners who needed to be cleansed and set apart before they could represent the people before God.

The Tragedy of Nadab and Abihu

The seriousness of approaching God correctly is immediately and terrifyingly demonstrated. Two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer "unauthorized fire" before the Lord, disregarding His specific commands. Fire flashes out from God's presence and consumes them. This shocking event teaches a permanent lesson: God is not to be trifled with. He is holy and must be approached on His terms, not our own.

Distinguishing the Holy from the Common

A large portion of Leviticus is dedicated to laws about being "clean" and "unclean." This had little to do with modern hygiene and everything to do with spiritual symbolism. Being "unclean" did not necessarily mean you had sinned, but that you were temporarily unfit to approach the sanctuary. These laws, covering everything from food (dietary laws), to skin diseases, to bodily discharges, served as constant, physical reminders to the Israelites that they were to be a "set apart" people. In a pagan world where no distinction was made between the sacred and the profane, these laws trained Israel to think and live differently, to be mindful of holiness in every aspect of life.

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

Leviticus 16 describes the single most important day on the Israelite calendar: the Day of Atonement. This was the one day of the year the High Priest was permitted to enter the innermost part of the Tabernacle, the Most Holy Place. Through a complex series of sacrifices, he would atone for his own sins and the sins of the entire nation for the past year. The climax of the ceremony involved two goats. The first was sacrificed as a sin offering. The High Priest would then lay his hands on the second goat—the "scapegoat"—confessing all the sins of Israel over its head. This goat was then led out into the wilderness to be lost, visually and powerfully demonstrating the removal of the people's sin.

"Be Holy, Because I am Holy"

The final section of the book (chapters 17-27) is often called the Holiness Code. It moves from ceremonial purity to practical, ethical holiness. The theme is repeated over and over: "Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). This section contains laws governing social justice, sexual morality, and business ethics. It famously includes the command that Jesus would later call the second greatest:

This section also lays out the calendar of sacred feasts, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, which were to structure the year around remembering God's redemptive acts and provision. It concludes with blessings for obedience to the covenant and curses for disobedience, making clear the serious consequences of Israel's choices.

The Fulfillment in Christ

For the modern reader, Leviticus can feel distant. But through the lens of the New Testament, it comes alive. Jesus is the fulfillment of everything Leviticus points to. He is the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sin. He is our great High Priest who entered the heavenly sanctuary not with the blood of goats, but with His own blood. He is our scapegoat, who carried our sins far away. The purity laws are fulfilled in Him, for in Christ, nothing can make us spiritually unclean. Leviticus shows us the depth of our sin and the massive gulf between us and a holy God; the New Testament shows us that Jesus Christ is the bridge across that gulf. He is the only way a sinful person can stand before a holy God, not just temporarily, but forever.