The Books of the Law, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Leviticus

Leviticus is the companion volume to Exodus. We left Exodus in the Tabernacle, but we did not know what to do with it. Leviticus is the Manual for the Priests of Israel. It tells us how to use the Tabernacle, and how a sinful people can approach God. It gives the laws of worship and life. This is how Israel is to live a holy life before God.

You could sum up the book of Leviticus with God’s repeated command: “Be holy, as I am holy.”

Important players in Leviticus

God: God always is the main player in scripture but in these books, he personally fills the biggest role. This whole book is about how the nation of Israel needs to live in order to survive living in the presence of such a powerful, holy being.

Moses: He led the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai. At this point in the story, Moses has already passed along many, many laws to the people of Israel on God’s behalf. In Leviticus, Moses continues to list the ways Israel can stay pure enough to live alongside their God.

Aaron: Moses’ older brother and the high priest of Israel, Aaron is a character to keep an eye on throughout the Pentateuch. Leviticus’s narrative elements have a lot to do with Aaron. In this book, Aaron is consecrated as the high priest, but this is also the book in which God kills Aaron’s sons.

Key themes in Leviticus

Moses summarizes the book of Leviticus for us in the 20^th chapter.

“Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.” (Le 20:26)

1. To understand Leviticus or to understand God we must first understand the awesome Holiness of God!

• “Holy” means “set apart”—but it’s a lot more involved than just being special.
• God is holy: absolutely perfect in love, goodness, power, and justice than humans.

Until this point in the Bible, God has (for mankind’s protection) kept himself at a distance. Although God has communicated with humans and in some cases even appeared to them privately (Abraham’s visitors in Genesis 18), he has yet to publicly make his presence known on earth since early Genesis.

But all this has changed. God has made Israel his people: a people that now represent him on earth. He has now established his presence in the tabernacle, a portable holy place where God can dwell in the midst of his new nation.

But if people are going to live in the presence of God, some things will need to change. Because God is so “other” from the world, the people associated with him must become “others” too. God is holy, and his people need to be holy as well.

2. Cleanliness and uncleanliness

One way that the ancients understood holiness was in terms of whether something was “clean” or “unclean.” This isn’t the same as “good” or “bad.” It’s a sense of purity.

• Is something aligned with the god we are approaching?
• Or is it unaligned?

This wasn’t specific to the people of Israel. People of most religions (past and present) have an understanding that there are ways that are appropriate and inappropriate when it comes to interacting with the divine.

This is a core theme to the book of Leviticus.

• When someone is operating in alignment with God’s purity laws, they are “clean.”
• When someone is out of bounds, they are “unclean.”

The book of Leviticus has a lot to say about how to stay clean and how to become clean again.

An important thing to note: throughout the Pentateuch, Moses assumes that everyone will deal with unclean things at some point. (Dt 23:12–14).

The point is to live in a manner that respects the presence of God.

Where does Leviticus fit in the Biblical context?

Leviticus is right in the middle of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. It has a reputation for being boring, harsh, and unpopular. (But it’s not the least-popular book of the Bible.)

• In Genesis, we saw Israel’s origin story. At the tower of Babel, God and the other divine beings scattered the families of the world into nations with their own languages. A few generations later, God chooses Abraham as the patriarch of his own special nation.
• In Exodus, Abraham’s descendants have multiplied, becoming a mighty people group cohabitating with the Egyptians. The Pharaoh enslaves the people for a few centuries until God rescues them. After a dramatic exit from Egypt, God makes a special agreement with Israel, making them his people and himself their only God. The people then build a tabernacle, and the Creator of the world begins dwelling among his people.
• That’s why Leviticus is so important. It’s a new normal: Yahweh is publicly living with humans. This hasn’t happened since the Garden of Eden, when God would visit with Adam and Eve. Last time God shared a place with humans, the humans (with help from an evil serpent) messed it up. How can they get it right this time?

Not a lot of story happens in Leviticus. The people stay camped at Mount Sinai throughout the book. It’s not until the book of Numbers that they resume their journey to the promised land—and that journey isn’t completed until the book of Joshua.

Leviticus’ Role in the Bible

Leviticus is about holiness (being set apart, separate)—both God’s holiness and the holiness He expects of His people.

Whereas Exodus displays God’s holiness on a cosmic scale (sending plagues on Egypt, parting the Red Sea, etc.), Leviticus shows us the holiness of God in fine detail. God spells out His expectations for His priests and people so that the congregation can appropriately worship and dwell with Him.

The call to holiness in Leviticus resounds throughout Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments. Parts of the Levitical law are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, such as distinctions between clean and unclean foods (Mark 7:18–19), but the call to holiness still stands—Peter even cites Leviticus when he encourages us to be holy in all our behavior (1 Peter 1:15–16).

Quick outline of Leviticus

1. The Holy Priests
   1. How to give offerings (Leviticus 1–7)
   2. Aaron and sons ordained (Leviticus 8–10)
   3. Cleanliness laws for the congregation (Leviticus 11–15)
2. The Holy Place (Leviticus 16)
3. The Holy People (Leviticus 17–27)

NUMBERS:

Numbers follows Moses and Israel’s journey from the foot of Mount Sinai (which is where Leviticus ends) to the edge of the promised land of Canaan. If this were a regular road trip at the time, the journey would only take about two weeks.

So why does it take 40 years? When the people get about halfway there, Moses sends a few spies into the land to scout it out for the upcoming invasion. (The current inhabitants probably aren’t going to welcome them with open arms.) Most of the spies come back in a panic, claiming that the Canaanites are far too powerful for Israel to overcome. This leads to a revolt, with the people refusing to take the land. God gives them their wish, decreeing that the whole generation will die in the wilderness, and the land will be taken by their children.

It’s a vital part of the Torah, Israel’s five-part origin story and the foundation of the Bible.

Important Characters in Numbers

1. God (Yahweh)—the creator of heaven and earth, who chose Israel as his special nation and dwells in their midst.
2. Moses—the prophet and human leader of the nation of Israel. He’s the chief spokesperson for God to his people, and vice versa.
3. Aaron—Moses’ brother, and the high priest of Israel.
4. Eleazar—Aaron’s son, who takes his place when Aaron dies.
5. Balaam—A diviner for hire from far away. He is hired by Israel’s enemies to curse God’s people.
6. Joshua—Moses’ aide who spies on the people of Canaan. God selects him to be Moses’ successor.

Key themes: what is Numbers about?

There are a lot of weird happenings along the Israelites’ journey—including that episode with the talking donkey. But the main focus of the book is Israel’s repeated rebellion and God’s repeated mercy and discipline on his people. If we had to choose just one verse to sum up the key themes in this book, it would be Numbers 14:11:

“The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?”

Human rebellion

The Israelites rebel against God and Moses several times in the book of Numbers. They complain about food. They complain about water. They complain that they’ll be crushed by their enemies. They complain about Moses (and even make a few death threats).

Divine punishment

When the people complain, God hears them—and it doesn’t go well. The book of Numbers has stories of God killing rebellious Israelites with fire, plague, and snakes. Sometimes Moses calls to God for help when the people turn on him—sometimes God punishes them directly.

Divine provision

But even though the people prove to be rebellious, God extends mercy to them. Rather than killing off the whole nation in the wilderness, he waits for the rebellious generation to die and preserves the younger people. He continues to provide manna, that mysterious bread from heaven. He even prevents Balaam, the pagan prophet, from cursing the people.

More laws

This is still the Torah, after all. The book of Numbers is a string of episodes from Israel’s journey. And the author punctuates many of these episodes with a new set of laws given to the people.  Numbers doesn’t have the big, bulky sets of laws we see in the latter half of Exodus, Leviticus, and almost the whole of Deuteronomy—but there’s still plenty of rules in here.

Moses’ leadership

Moses deals with the pressures of leading a new nation, at one point asking God why he has to bear the burden of leading them to Canaan. He feels like an unappreciated nanny forced to carry more than 600,000 squalling brats across the wilderness. Moses tells God early in the book, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me” (Nu 11:14–15).

Time and time again, God makes it clear to the people that Moses is his chosen prophet, and Aaron is his chosen priest. However, due to an episode of Moses’ disobedience, he is not permitted to enter Canaan, either.

God’s covenant with Abraham

Back in Genesis, God made a pact with Abraham, saying that one day, his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, and through those people all the nations of the world would be blessed. Furthermore, God promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse Abraham. The name “Abraham” only shows up once in the book of Numbers, but if you look closely, you’ll see that God is at work fulfilling his promises to Abraham throughout the book of Numbers.

As you read and study Numbers, you need to keep an eye on what the book says about the land of Canaan, what happens when someone tries to curse the people God chooses, and any hints of a king coming from Israel.

Where does Numbers fit in the Biblical context?

Numbers isn’t a standalone book. Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch—Israel’s five-movement origin story. Reading Numbers without at least familiarizing yourself with the previous three books (Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus) is kind of like tuning in to the fourth season of a TV series—you’re not going to know what’s going on if you didn’t see what happened beforehand.

• In Genesis, God makes promises to Abraham, the patriarch of Israel. God specifically promises that his descendants will be given the land of Canaan, that the nations would be blessed through him, and that God will bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse Abraham. Abraham’s family grows, and the book ends with about 70 of his descendants as refugees in Egypt.
• In Exodus, the nation of Israel has grown—but they’ve been enslaved by their Egyptian overlords. God sends his people a prophet, Moses, who speaks on God’s behalf to both Israel and Pharaoh. God frees Israel, and leads them to a mountain in the wilderness (Mount Sinai), where he makes a special agreement with them. They promise to follow his commands, and he promises to dwell among them, giving them his blessing and protection.
• In Leviticus focuses on how a nation of mortals can cohabitate with the God of heaven.
• Numbers picks up the story right as the Israelites have been at Sinai for a year.

Outline of the Numbers’ story and structure.

Act 1: Preparing to leave Sinai

(Nu 1:1–10:10)

The book opens with Moses taking a census of the people in Israel. (That’s why we call the book “Numbers.”) Israel has been camping in the wilderness for a year now, and it’s time for them to be on the move. Moses gives the nation orders for how the twelve tribes should position themselves as they camp and as they move through the wilderness—with the tabernacle of God being at the center of the camp. A good deal of new laws, rituals, and sacrifices that take place here.

Interlude: From Sinai to Paran

(Nu 10:11–12:16)

This is a tough road trip. The people complain against God and Moses—and God sends fire and a plague. Moses’ brother Aaron and sister Miriam speak out against him, and Miriam is temporarily afflicted with leprosy.

Act 2: Israel Rejects the Land

(Nu 13–19)

When the Israelites get about halfway to Canaan, Moses sends twelve spies into the land to scope it out. Two of them, Joshua and Caleb, tell the people that the land is good, and God will give it to them. The other 10, however, have no confidence that they can take the land—they believe the forces protecting Canaan outmatch Israel.

The nation isn’t very happy to hear this, so they turn on Moses. They refuse to take the land, and so God says, “OK. You will die in the wilderness and I’ll give it to your children.”

Interlude: from Paran to Moab

(Nu 20–21)

Things get a little worse before they get better on this trip. Moses disobeys God in front of the people, and he too is prohibited from entering the promised land. Aaron dies, and his son takes his place. Israel defeats several enemies along the way. They end up just across the Jordan river from Canaan, in the plains of Moab.

Act 3: Israel settles across from Canaan

(Nu 22–36)

Israel makes camp just across the Jordan river from Jericho (yes, that Jericho). They’re a force to be reckoned with—they’ve defeated some armies and a few of the tribes begin settling the east side of the Jordan permanently.

As you can imagine, the surrounding nations are freaked out. They hire a jerk named Balaam to curse Israel, which doesn’t work out. (Remember God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis?) Then Balaam gets a different nation to send in their daughters to seduce the Israelites and get them to worship other gods. That doesn’t end well for Israel at first (yet another plague). But it’s an even worse deal for the other nation—five of their rulers and Balaam are killed.

There’s yet another census. Joshua is named Moses’ successor. And generally speaking, the whole nation is made ready for the next chapter: entering the promised land.

But not just yet. Moses has a very important message for them—but that’s covered next in Deuteronomy.

Numbers’ role in the Bible

Numbers shows us how a holy God dwells with His people.

• Israel rebels against God, and even Moses disobeys Him, but God is faithful to bring this nation to the promised land. God keeps His promises: the promises He made to Abraham in Genesis along with His promises to bless and punish Israel.
• Although few of us are in the nation of Israel’s position today, the stories in Numbers still serve as good examples to us.
• Paul uses the story of Numbers as a teaching tool for the Gentile Church in Corinth. In the first third of I Corinthians 10 Paul summarizes these events and reminds Christians that their experience is to be our example. Once again reinforcing the biblical Idea that we serve the same HOLY God.

Deuteronomy

The title Deuteronomy, derived from Greek, thus means a “copy,” or a “repetition,” of the law rather than “second law,” as the word’s etymology seems to suggest. … Although Deuteronomy is presented as an address by Moses, some scholars believe it may date from a later period.

Deuteronomy presents a Choice, Moses asked the people to choose, to choose either death of life. That same choice still exists to this day! Finally: Israel is just across the Jordan River from the promised land of Canaan. Moses has led the young nation out of Egypt and on a 40-year journey through the wilderness, and they have just defeated several enemies before setting up camp here. Three of the 12 tribes are already settling the land east of the Jordan, and the whole nation is almost ready to enter the land God promised to their ancestor Abraham (back in the book of Genesis).

Almost ready.

Forty years earlier, God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In the wilderness, the people agreed to form a special agreement (a covenant) with their God: he would give them the land of Canaan and protect them as their God, and in return, they would keep his laws. However, the people of Israel violated God’s laws almost as soon as he gave them. That generation forfeited the promised land (which you can read about in Numbers), and now a new generation is about to make the journey into the land instead.

Before they do, Moses rallies the people to remind them of God’s law—and why they should obey Him. This is how the book of Deuteronomy gets its name: it’s the “second giving” of God’s law.

Theme verses of Deuteronomy

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.

So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.

(Dt 30:19–20)

Deuteronomy’s Role in the Bible

Deuteronomy reviews the Torah and foreshadows the rest of the Old Testament‘s story. In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of God’s actions in the past:

• His promises to Abraham in Genesis
• His faithfulness in rescuing Israel in Exodus
• His holiness in Leviticus
• His punishment on the disobedient in Numbers

Moses also gives directions, blessings, and warnings, for the children of Israel in the future:

• The appointment of Joshua as the new leader
• God’s expectations of kings—which take effect when Saul becomes king in 1 Samuel
• Prosperity for obeying God—which happens during David‘s and Solomon‘s reigns (1 Kgs 8:56; 10:14–29)
• Exile for disobedience—which happens when the tribes are conquered by Assyria and Babylon (2 Kgs 17:6–23; 25:1–26)
• God’s promise to restore Israel—which happens when Cyrus allows the Jews to return from Babylon in Ezra.

Deuteronomy is primarily the retelling of Mosaic law, but its text is still important today.

• When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus cites
• Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mk 12:30).
• Jesus quotes Deuteronomy three times when the devil tempts Him in the wilderness (Mt 4:1–11).

Deuteronomy focuses on loving God and keeping His commandments (Dt 11:1), which is exactly what Christ expects of us (Jn 14:15).

Quick outline of Deuteronomy

1. Recap of Israel’s journey from Egypt (Dt 1–3)
2. Recap of Israel’s relationship with God (Dt 4–10)
3. How to love God and keep His commandments (Dt 11–26)
4. Blessings, curses, and restoration (Dt 27–30)
5. The death of Moses (Dt 31–34)

Levitical Sacrifices and Feasts

The Old Testament is filled with many offerings and sacrifices. However regardless of who offers the sacrifices, the priest, the nation, a ruler, or the common person, they are always one of the five referred to in Leviticus chapters one through five. It does not matter if it is a bullock, a sheep, a goat, a turtle–dove, or a pigeon, it is always one of these five.

The holy God must have a holy people and this holiness must embrace the whole life of man. Why the need for these sacrifices and a sacrificial system?

• The sacrifices remind us that man is a sinner and that his sin must be dealt with (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Hebrews 9:22).

• The only cure is Christ.

Leviticus tells us about the sacrifices and offerings as types. They point to the perfect sacrifice for sin, which would to be made at Calvary. Leviticus is God’s picture–book for the children of Israel because it pictures the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. All the sacrifices in this book point to “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is good to keep in mind that every Old Testament sacrifice anticipated the true and perfect sacrifice which Christ would offer at Calvary. They were shadows and types of the coming perfect sacrifice for sin. Christ is the end of all the sacrifices. These sacrifices were witnesses to the people that they were sinners and could be saved only by a substitutionary death, offered on their behalf. The sacrifices testified that the worshiper lived only by virtue of the slain victim in his stead. The continual repetition of the sacrifices testified that blood of animals cannot take away sin. The sacrifices were a promise, a prophecy, and a pledge that one day God would provide the perfect offering for our sins.

All Old Testament sacrifices were mere shadows of the sacrifice of Christ and looked forward to it. The Old Testament sacrifices were worthless in their own right, but were accepted for the time as tokens of the future sacrifice of the Lamb of God (Hebrews 10:10–14). Once that sacrifice was offered, all other sacrifices lost their meaning, for the infinite value of the Savior’s death was enough to pay the penalty for sin of all men for all times (Hebrews 10:18).

The offerings are broken down into two groups. The “sweet savor” offerings typify Christ in His meritorious perfections. The first three in Leviticus are sweet savor offerings and are voluntary. The last two are non-sweet savor offerings and are compulsory. The “non–sweet savor” offerings typify Christ bearing the whole penalty of the sinner. Leviticus shows the redeemed people of Israel that the way to God is by sacrifice and the walk with God is by separation.

THE SWEET SAVOR OFFERINGS

Burnt Offerings, Corban (Leviticus 1)

The Burnt offerings were offered daily as an offering of dedication. It is the most common sacrifice in the Tabernacle and pictures the idea of consecration and self-surrender of the whole man to the Lord. Because of sin it was necessary for the offerer to die spiritually. A whole victim was consumed on the altar by fire. We sing the song “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” That is a burnt offering.

It typifies Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father’s will even in death. There was no reservation. Christ completely yielded Himself to God on our behalf. (John 6:38; 4:34; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:14; 10:7ff). It is the “Surrender” of Christ.

This sacrifice also finds application in the consecration of the believer to God (Romans 12:1; I Corinthians 6:2e).

Meal Offering (Leviticus 2)

The meal offering is the sacrifice of daily devotion, and is called “meat” in the KJV.

It typifies the perfect manhood of Christ. He is perfect in thought, in word and in action. Let us feed on the perfect meal offering. He is the Bread of Life. We must first come to Him with our whole burnt offering, and then we keep coming with our continual meal offering. It is our very best; it is our gift of life. (cf. I Peter 2:22) Christ is the grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies (John 12:24; 4:34; 6:27).

The meal offering is also a beautiful picture of the sanctification of the believer, i. e. the one who has appropriated the burnt offering of Christ by faith. Do not reverse the order. Justification must come first (Romans 12:1-2). It’s spiritual application is the service offered by the believer and the spiritual nourishment received. Service is a privilege, not remuneration. Acts 10:4; Philippians 4:18

Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)

The Peace Offering represents fellowship and communion with God. It is an offering of thanksgiving. The sacrifice conveys the blessings and powers by which salvation is established and secured. Man justified spontaneously engages in praise and exercises fellowship. It is always preceded by the daily burnt-offering. Thanksgiving to JHVH for salvation. The peace offering comes last in the order in which they were observed. “Peace” means prosperity, welfare, joy, happiness. It is a joyous feast including the priest, people and God.

It typifies Christ, our Peace (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1; II Cor. 5:19; I Jn. 1:3, 7). Christ is our mediator of peace.

NON-SWEET SAVOR OFFERINGS

Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)

The sin offering acknowledges sin (vv. 2, 3). It is for expiation for sin. In this offering man is a convicted sinner. God holds us accountable for sin. We are like criminals who have been found guilty and sentenced to death. ‘The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). It did not deal with sins in general, but particular sins. This sacrifice dealt with the knowledge of sin of which the people were not aware of before.

It typifies Christ as Sin bearer. Christ is “made sin for us.” (Cf. II Corinthians 5:21). He deals with out particular sins. His death covers every sin (I Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:6; I John 1:9). Every sin must be covered––sins of open rebellion as well as unintentional and weak flesh. God is holy and no sin is left uncovered (I John 2:1, 2; Romans 8:3; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 13:10–13).

Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5)

The trespass offering cleanses the conscience and sends the sinner back to make restitution (v. 5). It was for special sins by which a person had contracted guilt.

It typifies Christ making restitution for the injury caused by our wrongdoing. We bring our sin; Christ brings the offering and the atonement for sin. (Cf. I Corinthians 15:3). Christ is our guilt offering, the satisfaction, on our behalf to God. The idea of restitution, or restoration, of the rights of those who had been violated, or disturbed is in the foreground here (Cf. Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8; Isaiah 53:8; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13, 14).

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (LEVITICUS 16; 23:26-32)

The High Priest alone did all the work on this special day. No one accompanied or assisted him (16:17).

• He had to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering (16:3).
• He had to lay his robes of beauty and of glory aside, bathe himself, and put on linen garments. (16:4).
• He had to make an atonement for himself and for his house (16:6).
• He had to bring two goats for the people, and to cast lots to select one for JHVH and the other to be a scapegoat (16:7-8). The reason for using two goats is that it was physically impossible to combine all the features that had to be set forth in the sin offering in one animal (Hebrews 10:4, 12–14; 9:28; I Peter 2:24; Jn. 1:29). He cleanses us of all (every) sin (I John 1:6-7; Hebrews 9:14; 7:25).

After the choice had been made by lot, Aaron was to kill the sin offering for himself and his house (16:11).

After this, he was to take burning coals of fire from off the altar, and with his hands full of incense enter within the veil, into the holiest of all. The cloud of incense covered the mercy seat (16:12, 13).

He then sprinkled the blood with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward seven times (16:14).

Then the goat for a sin offering for the people was killed, and the blood sprinkled in the same manner (16:15-19). The slain goat is a type of Christ’s death as being expiatory, by which the holiness and righteousness of God as expressed in the law has been honored and vindicated (Romans 3:24-26). The slain goat vindicates the holiness and justice of God (II Corinthians 5:21). Our sin bearer died in our place (Isaiah 53:4; Galatians 3:13).

After having made atonement by the blood of the sin offering, Aaron brought the live goat before JHVH (16:10, 20). The sins of the congregation were then symbolically transferred to this goat by the laying on of Aaron’s hands (16:21, 22). The goat, laden with the sins of the people, was then led away by the hand of a qualified man into the wilderness. The scapegoat is a type of Christ’s death as putting away our sins before God, and as risen from the dead and living as our High Priest, enabling God to declare righteousness the sinner who believes in Christ (Hebrews 9:26; Romans 4:25; 5:1; 8:33-34). Christ lifts up and carries our sins away never to return again. Just like this goat Christ suffered what the sinner without Christ would suffer (Isaiah 53:6, 12; I Peter 2:24). By faith we laid our sins on Jesus and He bore them in His own body in His death on the Cross. The scapegoat was a visible representation that their sins were utterly removed and carried away (Psalm 103:12). He remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12). Our sinless Great High Priest did not have to first offer a sacrifice for Himself (Hebrews 7:26-28); 9:11-15, 22).

THE FEAST OF JHVH (LEVITICUS 23)

PASSOVER (Lev. 23:5) is a memorial feast that speaks of redemption by blood. It is based upon the exodus out of Egypt (Ex. 12). Christ is our Passover is slain for us (I Corinthians 5:7).

UNLEAVENED BREAD (Lev. 23:6-8) speaks of communion with Christ and a holy walk. Christ cleanses the old, unregenerate life of the believer.

FIRST FRUITS of the barley harvest (Lev. 23:9-14) is typical of resurrection, first of Christ and then of “them that are Christ’s at His Coming” (I Corinthians 15:22-23). God claims first fruits of everything. The sheaf represented all of the harvest. God has first claim on life. Jesus is now in the presence of the Father as the representative of the whole church still in the field. He will remain there until the Second Coming, and then the whole harvest will be gathered (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27). The believer is thus consecrated to God in Christ (I Corinthians 6:19, 20). We have the first fruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23). We are the first fruits of His creation (Romans 5:9; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4ff; Matthew 27:52, 53).

PENTECOST IS THE INGATHERING OF THE FIRST FRUITS of the wheat harvest (Lev. 23:15-22). It was considered the birthday of Judaism, and it typifies the descent of the Holy Spirit to form the Church (Acts 2:1-4). The Church came into existence fifty days (Pentecost) after Christ’s resurrection (Leviticus 23:16).

TRUMPETS (Lev. 23:23-25) was the New Year’s Day of the children of Israel and took place in the fall at about our October. The blowing of the ram’s horn called the people to repentance and reminded them the LORD was in a covenant relationship with Israel. The ram’s horn called to memory Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. The trumpet will herald the coming of the Messiah! Trumpets were used later in Israel. The shophars were used to call Israel to worship, walk, and war. It is prophetic of the future regathering of long dispersed people of Israel (Zechariah 14; Matthew 24:29-31).

TABERNACLES (Lev. 23:33-44) commemorated the time when the children of Israel lived in tents during their wilderness journey. It was celebrated in the fall and lasted an entire week. The people lived in booths out of doors and heard the reading of the Law. It reminded them of their absolute dependence upon God. It is prophetic of Israel’s millennial rest (Amos 9:13-15; Zechariah 14:16-21). The Feast of the Tabernacles is a memorial of their redemption out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:43). Compare Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 14, 37; 8:12). There is to be a greater ingathering when Christ returns for His people (Revelation 7:9, 10).

THE SABBATICAL YEAR (Leviticus 25) was the year of meditation and devotion. It was a yearlong Sabbath. The purpose and character of the Sabbath was magnified. It occurred every seven years, and it let the land rest for a full year.

THE JUBILEE YEAR (25:8-24) was celebrated every fifty years, and was inaugurated on the Day of Atonement with the blowing of the trumpets. All Hebrew slaves were set free, obligations of debts were terminated, and land was restored to the original owner. It looks to the coming rest the Messiah will give when He comes and reigns in glory.

OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER (LEVITICUS 25:25)

The “Kinsman,” or Goel, had the right of redemption. He kinsman could free the debtor by paying the ransom price. The kinsman must be nearest of kin, must be able to redeem, must be willing, and must be free of calamity or need of redemption himself. Redemption was complete when the price was paid in full. This right to buy back, belonged only to the nearest kinsman. Cf. Ruth 2:1; 3:12, 13; 4:4, 14

Christ is our nearest of kin through the incarnation (Hebrews 2:10-18; Job 19:25; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:7, 11, 14; I Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:24; 8:3; Philippians 2:7). He met all the conditions of a kinsman. Jesus you are my kinsman redeemer. You have the right to redeem me, all that I have lost you can purchase. He has the power to redeem. He has the means to do it. He is ready and willing to redeem us.

OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST

The duty of the priest was to make atonement for the sin of the people by sacrifices. He represented the people before God and God before the people. He blessed the people in the name of the LORD (9:22). The priest taught the people the Law and the will of God (10:11; Deuteronomy 31:9-13). However, the priest of Israel could only point to a greater priest (Hebrews 10:1-3) who would be both the Great High Priest and the perfect Sacrifice that He would offer up to God.

Our High priest did not have to offer up a sacrifice first for Himself and then for the people (Hebrews 7:26-28). As our High Priest He entered into heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24; 10:13, 19-22), and offered up Himself as the sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7-8).

The animal sacrifices are no longer necessary because all the sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ. Therefore only one priest is really necessary. Christ is the Great High Priest and He is at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15-16). He is the only Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5; I Peter 2:5; Hebrews 10:12; 7:25; John 14:6).

BLOOD OF ATONEMENT (LEVITICUS 17:11)

Blood cleanses from sin (I John 1:7). It is the basis of the covenant (Hebrews 9; 13:20). It obtains remission (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Hebrews 9:22b; Isaiah 53; Hebrews 13:12). The blood of Jesus obtains our sanctification (I Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 2:10-11; 9:13-15). His blood obtains our redemption (Ephesians 1:7; John 1:29; Colossians 1:14; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9; Acts 20:28). It is God’s propitiation (Romans 3:25). It is our peace through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:20). It brings reconciliation with God (Colossians 1:20-22; Romans 5:l0ff). It obtains our victory (Revelation 12:11); Justification (Romans 5:9). Through His blood we enter into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:19-20). The Jewish Talmud says, “There is no atonement except with blood.”

Sacrificial System (The 5 Sacrifices in Leviticus)

The Six Types of Blood Sacrifice (Note: the Peace Offering is divided into 3 sacrifices, therefore not counted)