30 A.D.

2000 A.D.

1400 B.C..

MosesCreation of

world

Books 3 – LEVITICUS

NAME: “concerning the Levites”

AUTHOR: Moses

DATE: 1446 – 1406

THEME: Worship and Holiness

What does it mean to LIVE as God’s Holy People?

2000 B.C.

Abraham

SETTING: Leviticus takes place within the two years that Israel spent camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Leviticus continues the story of Israel receiving God’s instructions at Sinai.

IMPORTANT TOPICS:

Sacrifice and God’s Grace; Role of the Priests; Purity; The Day of Atonement; and Holy Living.

ATONEMENT William Tyndale the sixteenth-

century English Bible Translator, invented this word to express what

Jesus accomplished on the cross: the cancellation of sins and reconciliation of God with humanity. The word has two parts: ”at” and “onement”. Atonement is God’s way to bring reconciliation and restoration to the

world over sin!

SACRIFICAL SYSTEM• Sin is what separates us from GOD • God commanded His people to make offerings

and sacrifices to atone for their sins. • Each sacrifice had specific purposes and

actions depending on the particular person and need.

• There are 5 major sacrifices outlined within the book of Leviticus and One Major Day

Leviticus 1 – 7

Burnt Offering Grain Offering

Fellowship Offering Sin Offering

Guilt Offering Priestly Instructions

Burnt Offering

• A burnt offering from the herd, the flock, or birds• Without blemish; the animal had to

be perfect (sinless by Jesus) • Brought to the Tent of Meeting • Given to the priests to be burnt on

the altar

Burnt Offering - The Fat (v. 8)The “fat” see verse 8; Many pagan religions

believed that an animal’s power and strength were found in the fat and blood once the animal was sacrificed to their deities. To

overturn this God reserved the fat for himself and the blood for Atonement. An Israelite could not eat the fat or drink the blood or

they would be cut off from the community!

Pleasing Aroma to YAHWEH(v. 9, 13, 17)

This signified God’s acceptance of the offering and, therefore, acceptance of the one making

the offering. Unlike pagan deities, God offers forgiveness.

Grain Offering

• A grain offering shall be an offering to the LORD of fine flour bread• Pour oil on it and put frankincense on

it • Brought to Aaron’s sons the priests • They would burn a portion and keep a

portion

Grain Offering • Leavening agents were associated with

sin, decay, corruption, sickness, and even death. • All baked items offered to God as a

grain offering were unleavened.• The bread of the Passover meal was

also unleavened.

Salt of the Covenant (v. 13)

• Salt was produced by drying seawater from mineral deposits • Salt preserves, so it reminded the

Israelites that God would preserve His covenant with Abraham, including the messianic promise the through Abraham all the families of the earth

Peace Offerings • To be offered to the LORD an animal from the

herd, flock, or a goat• Without blemish • It is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the

LORD • Given on high holy days and special occasions • God provides meat for a sacrificial banquet, which

a family could share with invited guests • Peace offerings acknowledge God’s grace to his

people

Sin Offerings • Unintentional Sin by an Anointed Priest

(4:1) • Unintentional Sin by the Whole

Congregation (4:13)• Unintentional Sin by a Leader (4:22) • Unintentional Sin by Common People

(4:27)

Sin Offerings • Anointed Priest – A bull from the herd • Whole Congregation – A bull from the

herd• Leader – A male goat without blemish • Common People – a goat, a female

without blemish, a female lamb without blemish

And the priest shall burn it on the altar for a

pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make

atonement for him, and he shall

be forgiven. (4:28)

Graded Sin Offerings • Failure to respond to a public

oath to testify (5:1) • Touching an unclean thing (5:2)• Touching human uncleanness

(5:3)• Uttering a careless oath (5:4)

Guilt Offerings • Sacrifices and compensations of the guilt

offering for mending relationships with God and with neighbor. • Breach of faith regarding the holy things

(5:14) • Doing things that by the Lord’s

commandments ought not to be done (5:17)

Guilt Offerings • Breach of faith against the LORD by

deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he oppressed by his neighbor or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin (6:1 - 5)

Guilt Offerings • Restore what has been took and add a

fifth to it• He shall bring to the priest as his

compensation to the LORD a ram without blemish• The priest shall make atonement for him

before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things have been done.

Therefore since we have a great High Priest (Jesus

the Son of God) who has gone through the

heavens, let us hold firmly to the faith we

profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to understand us.

Why? Because he has been tempted in every

way but has no sin. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put

fire in it and laid incense on it, and offered

unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from the Lord and consumed

them, and they died before the Lord.

(Numbers 10:1 – 2)

2x in chapter 11 we are reminded to “be holy, for I am holy.”

v. 44 – For I am the LORD your Godv. 45 – For I brought you out of Egypt.

For I am the LORD your God…

This covenant phrase appears 45 times from here to the end of Leviticus.

It serves as a reminder to the Israelites that YAHWEH had distinguished Israel

from other nations (20:24), that He might sanctify the chosen people

(20:8; 21:8) and be their God.