But for us, the priesthood is not only jesus christ, our lord and high priest to whom we can freely come, but it is also each other. Behind the various offerings lies a deep conviction that god is the lord of all creation. Book of leviticus overview insight for living ministries. Now, we have both the perfect priest, and the perfect sacrifice, in the person of our blessed lord jesus christ. Our great high priest leviticus redeemers grace church. But within these highly detailed directives we discover the holinessthe. The book of leviticus was the first book studied by a jewish child. There is a lot of sickness in the world despite the advances in medical knowledge. When the high priest entered into the holy of holies and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy seat the sins of the entire nation for the previous year were forgiven by god. Leviticus is about jesus leviticus 1 leviticus 1 begins almost immediately talking about the requirements for a sacrifice to be acceptable to god. He must be flawless and he will make atonement for the people. As god daily by most singular benefits declared himself to be mindful of his church.
In the body of christ we are all made priests, one to. In the previous book the tent already figured with its altars and regulations about the worship to be given to yahweh. The hebrews called this book, like the others in the pentateuch, after its opening word, wayyiqra and he called. In the modern church it tends to be the last part of the bible that anyone looks at seriously. Numbers this is the book of wilderness wanderings, also known as the book of murmuring. In the book of leviticus, as in all of the bible, god is teaching us truth about ourselves. In light of our beginning the book of hebrews, one cannot properly understand hebrews 4. The household of the high priest was included because the office was inherited. And of course, the permanence of melchizedeks priestly order is pretty important to the author of hebrews, since jesus is the resurrected great high priest of the new covenant between god and man. The book of leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 b.
Our great high priest leviticus st andrew the great, cambridge. The name leviticus was given to the third book of the pentateuch by the ancient greek translators because a good part of this book deals with concerns of the priests, who are of the tribe of levi. The book in hebrew is named after the first word wayiqra, and he called as the lord called the israelites to be a holy nation. He, having offered himself without spot to god, passed into the heavens, as our great high priest, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us. Its hebrew title, wayyiqra, is the first word in the hebrew text of the book and means and he i. From then until christ, the old religious system of sacrifices, ritual laws and offerings were in place and the high priest stood as an intermediary between god and the people. Although leviticus does not deal only with the special duties of the levites, it is so. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, jesus the son of god, let us hold fast our profession. The purpose of leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed. Leviticus used to be the first book that jewish children studied in the synagogue.
Leviticuss narrative elements have a lot to do with aaron. In the second part of the lesson you will more closely study about the sacrifices and festivals god commanded through moses in the book of leviticus. Jul 26, 2016 and of course, the permanence of melchizedeks priestly order is pretty important to the author of hebrews, since jesus is the resurrected great high priest of the new covenant between god and man. Leviticus 27 leviticus 27 reminds us of all that has been written in the law so far. Like the sun, gods presence is good, but dangerous. Leviticus and the true sacrifice this article provides a good introduction to leviticus, showing how even the least interesting ceremonial books of the old testament foreshadow christ. The book of leviticus is the third of five books of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. The epistle to the hebrews expounds leviticus in this connection, and therefore merits. In chapter 10, however, aaron is installed as the high priest, and he very much comes into his own. Leviticus is about jesus in constant search for him. The day the priests dropped dead leviticus, hebrews, 1. The church recognizes it as an inspired book, part of the old. Even though aaron was the first high priest mentioned in the book of exodus, louis ginzberg in legends of the.
May 06, 2015 this book explores how the sacrificial rituals and purity practices cleared the way for morally corrupt israelites to become gods covenant partners. Jesus the great high priest therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, jesus the son of god, let us hold firmly to. First, as our great high priest jesus has offered the final sacrifice to atone. Even though it contains levis name, it was written concerning the priesthood in general, not only to the levites. The book opens with an overview of five types of sacrifices that had been going on in israel for years. It contains laws about worship in general and rules and customs on ceremonies in consecrations and sacrificial offerings. This book explores how the sacrificial rituals and purity practices cleared the way for morally corrupt israelites to become gods covenant partners. This book, breaking the historical narrative which is taken up again in numbers, focuses mainly on one of the tribes of israel, levi, and particularly on its priests and their duties in regard to divine worship. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heavens most holy place because of the blood of jesus. The high priest had to be whole physically without any physical defects and holy in his conduct leviticus 21. The old testament aaronic priesthood has been fulfilled and rendered obsolete by jesus christ, the great high priest.
The high priest and, obviously, his descendants were all sinners. His sacrifice is what provides cleansing for our sins. This is a beautiful picture of how our great high priest always holds in public purview his ultimate purpose in our lives. This applies entirely and completely to the sacrifice of jesus on the cross. Lesson 6 leviticus in the first part of this lesson you. In the new testament, jesus is identified as the great high priest hebrews 4. The book of leviticus is a satanic text one of the two law books along with deuteronomy of the old testament and apparently the most popular book of the entire bible. In the old testament this priesthood was the sons of levi.
As we have already learned from the book of leviticus the word holiness really means wholeness. Leviticus 7 nasb the priests part in the offerings bible. Israels high priest first offered a joint sinoffering for himself and for the other priests on the day of atonement leviticus 16. Leviticus 26 shares a great link with the book of revelation and both are all about jesus. Harrison, leviticus an introduction and commentary downers grove. In order to read leviticus well we must therefore remember these two things. May 03, 2010 those that walk against the lord will see the lord walk against them. Leviticus is a book about the rites of jewish liturgy. Once a year, the high priest is to enter the holy of holies and to offer sacrifices to make atonement for himself, his fellow priests, and the people of israel. We explore this often overlooked book of the bible to see how it helps us plumb the depths of jesuss great, final and perfect sacrifice. But the new testament describes how jesus, as the lamb of god that takes away the sin of the world. He is able to be our intercessor and allows us to enter into the presence of god. We have seen the type of the day of atonement fulfilled in the entering into heaven of our great high priest, but in the type.
Only the high priest could enter and, before doing so, he was required to make a sacrifice for himself. Aug 01, 2002 it may come as a surprise to discover that there are a number of biblical experts who regard the book of leviticus as the most important book of the bible. Learn what the bible teaches in the book of leviticus. This book introduces us to the term nazerite a ritual. In this way, the sanctuary and the people are cleansed from sin so that the lord might continue to dwell in their midst. An eminent nineteenthcentury writer once described leviticus quite correctly as the seedbed of new testament theology, for in this book is to be found the basis of christian faith and doctrine.
Leviticus 7 new american standard bible nasb the priests part in the offerings. In this way the high priest was cleansed and could then go on to offer the cleansing sacrifices for the people leviticus 16. Moses takes a census, organizes tribes, reinforces the laws of purity and leads the people as the face hostility from local tribes. Note, there may be a deep sense of affliction even where there is a sincere resignation to the will of god in the affliction. Exodus and leviticus describe in great detail the construction of a tabernacle later, the temple and the sacrifices required to atone for sin. High priest was the title of the chief religious official of judaism from the early postexilic times. Aug 02, 2008 he was a high priest taken from among men, and could not put off natural affection when he put on the holy garments. Leviticus deals with religious issues like priests, sacrifices and worship but also with social and economic issues such as skin disease, farm animals and money. Only aaron could make atonement in the holy of holies, because he represented christ our great high priest who alone could and would put away sin by the. This broadcast discusses the work of jesus as our great high priest. In this book, aaron is consecrated as the high priest, but this is also the book in which god kills aarons sons.
The first five books of the bible are called the pentateuch, or the law, and are generally accepted as being written by moses. For all generations to come it is his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the lord. Now moses develops these forms of worship in much more detail. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy.
Moses provisional priestly role seems to come to an end here. The book of leviticus was written to elevate gods holiness and impress us with the great value and fantastic provision of entering his presence. Because leviticus is largely concerned with subjects that seem incomprehensible and irrelevant today rituals for sacrifice and regulations concerning uncleanness it appears to have nothing to say to twenty. The high priest, upon whose head the anointing off was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, symbolizing in his person the holy one in a more special manner than the other priests, has to aim so much the more at symbolical holiness. Aaron is the picture of that great high priest, jesus christ our lord.
He was a high priest taken from among men, and could not put off natural affection when he put on the holy garments. Leviticus receives its name from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and means relating to the levites. Specifically, aaron, as the high priest of israel, foreshadowed the lord jesus christ, our great high priest before god. The book of leviticus opens with god calling moses from the tabernacle. The high priest could only enter the most holy place once a year on the day of atonement to offer sacrifices for all the people, including himself hebrews 9. He was divinely chosen, equipped, anointed, approved and accepted. With that our lesson opens, stating, seeing then that we have a great high priest. Azazel or the scapegoat is mentioned in leviticus 16 as part of gods instructions to the israelites regarding the day of atonement. Our sinless great high priest did not have to first offer a sacrifice for himself hebrews 7.
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins, we are reminded in hebrews 9. Chip dean is student pastor at capshaw baptist church, harvest, alabama. The bible will take you through the history of the. Gods purpose among men is to make us into whole people again.
The animals body was consumed entirely in the fire b. Lesson 6 leviticus in the first part of this lesson you will briefly survey the contents of the 27 chapters of the book of leviticus. And then in leviticus we find that some of these specific laws or regulations are for priests. During the class you will also read key portions of.
Because leviticus is largely concerned with subjects that seem incomprehensible and irrelevant today rituals for sacrifice and regulations concerning uncleanness. In fact, leviticus has exactly zero plot and is 100% exposition of the law. Aaron, though he is but rarely called the great priest, being generally simply designated as hakohen the. Yet the great climax of this book can be clearly seen in leviticus 16 where god gives the instructions for making atonement for sin on the great day of atonement yom kippur. Yes and no yes, in the sense that as i will later cover in leviticus 10, the ordination of these high priests is akin to the ordination of ministers and pastors. They are given a highly responsible role of stewarding the sheep in the shepherds stead, though of course, aligning to the shepherds teachings. In the body of christ we are all made priests, one to another.
The tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrifices exodus 20. Because the israelites had been held captive in egypt for 400 years, the concept of god had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan egyptians. Aaronmoses older brother and the high priest of israel, aaron is a character to keep an eye on throughout the pentateuch. Leviticus 7 nasb the priests part in the offerings. Leviticus means concerning the levites and as the work of the ancient levites is explained so the prophesied work of the great and divine high priest is being explained. The leviticus account begins with the second year of the exodus, when the hebrews are already in the middle of the wilderness. He is the great prophet, like unto whom the messiah will be deut. The rituals for the day of atonement are detailed in leviticus 16. Because the high priest held the leadership position, one of his roles was overseeing the responsibilities of all the subordinate priests 2 chronicles 19. Summary of the book of leviticus the story of the bible. On this day, the high priest would first offer a sacrifice for his sins and those of his household.
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