The book of Leviticus is one of the most fascinating yet challenging books in the Bible. As the third book of the Pentateuch, it picks up right where Exodus left off with the Israelites at Mount Sinai receiving laws and instructions from God through Moses. Leviticus provides laws and regulations for the spiritual life of Israel, focusing heavily on issues of purity, holiness, and right worship.
Yet for modern readers, Leviticus can feel distant and irrelevant. With all its detailed laws about sacrifice, ritual purity, diseases, and civil ethics, it’s easy to get lost. Many struggle to understand how a book centered on the duties of ancient Israelite priests applies to followers of Jesus today.
Below are some common questions people have about the puzzling yet profound book of Leviticus:
What is the structure and overall message of Leviticus?
Leviticus divides neatly into two main parts. Chapters 1-16 detail the intricacies of Old Testament ritual worship – sacrifices, offerings, annual feasts, and purification laws. Chapters 17-27 contain a mixture of ethical and practical instructions for daily living in the promised land of Israel. This includes laws about food, sexuality, justice, and covenant faithfulness.
At the heart of Leviticus is the theme of God’s holiness. The Hebrew word translated “holy” means to be “set apart” or distinct from what is common. A holy God requires a holy people set apart to Him. Leviticus shows the lengths to which God’s people must go to live distinguishable lives of purity within a sinful world.
Why do we need to know about the Old Testament sacrifices and festivals?
While we don’t have to follow the Levitical system of sacrifice today, it helps us understand Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. Every animal offering was required to be flawless, anticipating Christ’s sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). The institution of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12 foreshadowed Jesus as the ultimate Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Day of Atonement ritual (Leviticus 16) highlights the seriousness of sin and previewed Jesus’ atoning work to purify God’s people (Hebrews 9:11-14). Studying the meaning behind each sacrifice and festival reveals a beautiful picture of how God graciously provides redemption through the shedding of innocent blood.
Why all the strict laws about cleanliness and purification?
God issued many precise stipulations about handling dead bodies, skin diseases, childbirth, bodily discharges, and contaminated dwellings. This teaches that our holy God cannot dwell in the presence of sin and impurity. These laws impressed upon Israel the dangerous contagion of sin and their constant need for cleansing.
They point ahead to Jesus’ removal of our moral and spiritual impurities so we can draw near to God (Hebrews 9:13-14). Although following purification rituals can’t cleanse our consciences (Hebrews 9:9), they symbolize the inward washing we have through Christ’s sacrifice.
What purpose did food laws and other civil codes serve?
Besides abstaining from unclean animals, Leviticus prohibits blending fabrics, crossbreeding livestock, and getting tattoos. These laws distinguished Israel from pagan nations and provided daily reminders to live holy lives (Leviticus 20:7-8). Some also protected health, while others taught spiritual truths. For example, the law forbidding consuming blood respected its sacredness as the seat of life (Leviticus 17:11).
While these civil and ceremonial stipulations fulfilled their purpose in ancient Israel, the New Testament affirms they are not binding obligations for Christians today (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15). However, they remain profitable for teaching godly principles (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
How should we interpret laws about slavery and severe punishments?
Commands regulating slavery and harsh penalties like the death sentence can be unsettling. However, we must understand these in light of Ancient Near East culture. While negative aspects clearly exist, God permitted practices like indentured servanthood and corporal punishment due to the hardness of human hearts (Matthew 19:8).
Where Israel’s laws seem deficient to us, they actually sought to regulate, restrain, and reform common customs of the time. For example, Exodus 21 shows Israel’s laws held masters accountable for how they treated slaves. Leviticus taught principles of justice and made allowances for unintentional sins.
What does Leviticus teach about human sexuality?
Leviticus prohibits adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality (Leviticus 18:1-23). God designed boundaries around sexuality for human flourishing. Like every area of life, God cares about our motivations and wants sexuality to reflect His self-giving love and lifelong faithfulness between a husband and wife.
The New Testament affirms sex inside this God-ordained marriage covenant as holy, while immorality in any form is sinful and harmful (Hebrews 13:4). God orders the sexual realm for our good, so we can experience intimacy and purity as He designed it.
How should Christians apply laws we are no longer obligated to keep?
While we are not under the Old Covenant law, Leviticus contains timeless moral principles. The two greatest commands are to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). We obey God by faith in the work of Christ, through the motivation of grace, resulting in love (Galatians 5:6).
The book reveals the seriousness of sin, the costliness of forgiveness, and the privilege of holiness as God’s people. Leviticus reminds us that only through Christ’s fulfillment of the law can we draw near to God. It points to our greater High Priest and perfect sacrifice that the blood of bulls and goats never could.
Why is atonement such a big theme in Leviticus?
Atonement means to make amends, to reconcile, to pay for wrongdoing. The sacrifices and rituals God instituted after the tabernacle was built all centered around atoning for the sins of the priests and the people, making purification before entering God’s presence.
This foreshadowed Christ’s complete, final atonement accomplishing what the blood of animals never could. Jesus lived a perfect life that we could not, died an atoning death in our place, and rose again victorious over sin. He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
How does Leviticus point toward Christ?
Jesus said the Old Testament Scriptures speak about Him (John 5:39). As the once-for-all sacrifice for sins, Jesus fulfilled what the Levitical system could only temporarily cover over (Hebrews 10:1-18). He is our perfect High Priest who intercedes for us (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Through His blood, Jesus provides both atonement for sins and cleansing from impurity, so we can approach God’s presence. Fulfilling the law’s demands, Jesus also clothes us in His righteousness (Matthew 5:17-20). By studying Leviticus, we see our desperate need for Christ and His redemption.
What is the overall message of Leviticus?
Leviticus highlights God’s complete otherness from sinful humanity. Yet through sacrifices and purity laws, God graciously made provision for unholy people to dwell in His holy presence. These symbols pointed to humanity’s need for cleansing and redemption.
In Christ, God definitively restored the broken relationship between Himself and His people. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice enables forgiveness and sanctification by faith, not works. Leviticus reminds us that only through Christ can we experience restored relationship with our holy, loving God.
Despite its challenges, Leviticus offers profound insight into God’s nature, the problem of sin, and God’s gracious solution in Christ. Though we no longer observe its laws, they reveal timeless spiritual truths. This ancient book leaves us awed by the God who desires to dwell with His redeemed, cleansed people.
