OVERVIEW OF LEVITICUS
OVERVIEW OF LEVITICUS
Author- God- Moses
This book, by its name identifies what the content is about. God has a law, and now He makes
certain that leaders are instructed as to what those laws are specifically. This law not only
regulates the people spiritually, but it is also a medical, political, geographical, penal, medical,
sanitary and regulatory law. He wanted His special set people (the Levites) to know it and to
make it their pursuit in life to see that it was abided by in every detail, by themselves and the
people to whom it was given (the Jews). As time went on the Lord wanted this law read to the
people to make sure they were informed of what it said. The enforcement of this law was given
to the Levites (especially in the offerings).
It is a continuation from where Exodus leaves off. The book is composed of several laws and
instructions for the Levitical priesthood. Moses is commanded by God 1:2 to give these laws to
the people of Israel. God called Moses to the tent of meeting for these instructions from Him to
be given to Moses who will give them to the people. He deals with in the first chapter: God-
approved worship- the excellences required in worship- Atonement- No Obstacles- Offering
Completely consumed- the Fragrance of the offering.
We do not know how to worship God on our own. He has to tell us and He does in this book.
Excellence required in worship- bull without blemish (1:3), all animals must be without blemish
(God does not want our leftovers).
Atonement- 1:3 tells us that the burnt offering needed to be accepted before the Lord. 1:4
describes it as making atonement for sin. This means it would cover them for the time. The
animal is dying on your behalf because of your sins. Every child would be taught this by parents
when explaining why this perfect unblemished prize is going to sacrificed. Blood must be shed
of something unblemished because of our sins. This would impact everyone for whom this
animal was sacrificed. The worshiper was directly involved in the slaying of the animal and the
separating of it. The blood was collected so that it could be thrown against the altar. Blood was
required for worship to be effective.
No Obstacle- God is teaching in the other animals that could be used, that no excuse was there
for anyone not to be able to worship God. He desired their worship and all of the rules were to
make suer they knew that wealth or lack of it was an obstacle to worshipping God. There is no
excuse acceptable to God when it comes from prohibiting anyone from worshipping Him.
Offering Completely Consumed- 1:9,13- tells us the burnt offering was to be completely
consumed. Nothing given to the priest or the worshiper. The whole life of the animal was
devoted to God. God demands whole lives to be given to Him. See what Moses says in
Deuteronomy 10:12-13). What does God ask of us? Everything we have, nothing held back,
complete surrender. Paul taught this in Romans 12:1).
Fragrant Offering- At the end of each of the descriptions of the burnt offerings, we learn that the
offering is a pleasing aroma to the Lord (1:9,13, 17). Interesting point because burnt flesh is not
aromatic. But God would accept this sacrifice as worship. It signified that obedience to God
results in Gods favor to the worshiper. Lev. 6:8-13- fire was to be kept burning on the altar and it
was to never go out. Burnt offerings were to be given morning and evening by the priests on
behalf of the congregation (Num. 28:1-4). Eph. 5:1-2- Paul uses the language concerning an
offering being a sweet aroma and applies it to the offering of Christ. We learn from this and other
applications of the OL in the NT were not silly rituals or just busy work for the people. They
showed what God required and how hard it is to stand pure and clean before a holy God. Christ
took all of this away at the cross, and access is open to all. Jew and Gentile. No more animal
sacrifice, ONE LAMB OFFERED FOR ALL PEOPLE FOR ALL TIME. God truly did love us
(John 3:16). See Hebrews 4:16; 7:19; 7:25; 10:1, 22; 11:6). See and read Heb. 4:14-16).
The Grain Offering- God is to be remembered in our grains also. It all belongs to Him. It
followed the Burnt offering. Every good and perfect comes from God even down to the grains
used to make bread and other things. In every aspect of daily life, the Israelite was to be
reminded who was responsible for what He was blessed with. Christ is our grain offering. We
remember and give service in every aspect of our lives to Him and all glory is given to God, not
self, for the totality of our life’s blessings. The grains were not to be made wit leaven or honey.
2:11. Honey was prone to ferment and corruption and it was also used in pagan worship. Leaven
carried with it the idea of corruption (1 Cor. 5:8). This prohibition symbolizes the need for
purity and lack of corruption. The grain offering was to be seasoned with salt. Not for flavor
(2:13- GIVES A COMMAND ABOUT THE SALT). The salt is symbolic of the salt of the
sealing of a covenant between nations in ancient time. See Matthew 5:13 and Lk. 14:34-We are
compared in these passages to being the salt. We have sealed our covenant with Christ through
His blood and our agreement to abide in His ways and access His salvation. But if we (as salt)
lose our savor? We break our salvation covenant with God and are good for nothing but to be
cast out, unless we renew our covenant with Him and again become salt. We cannot continue in
sin, that grace might abound (Rom. 6). Christ is our grain offering- pure, unpolluted- perfect.
The word for grain is “minha” also translated tribute. He is our gift from a heart of thanksgiving.
He is our memorial portion. (see 2 Cor. 8:9). Understanding the atonement we have received
through Christ, leads us to offer a portion of what we have back to God (Monetarily and in every
other way), recognizing that God owns it all anyway. Read Numbers 18:19 for further
information on the salt covenant, also, 2 Chron. 13:5). The salt of the covenant was that God
would never forsake the true worshiper. It is also a perpetual duty to keep covenant that we have
entered into with God (the law of Moses, and today the new law of Christ). See Heb. 13:5-8.
Also consider 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Chapter three Gives us a glimpse into the details of the Peace offering. We see first the high cost
of Peace and fellowship with God. The Focus on the Fat and the significance of it; then the
communal meal. The peace offering must always be made after the burnt offering. The burnt
offering made atonement for the worshiper (1:4). There cannot be peace with God until
atonement is made. There cannot be fellowship between God and the worshiper until atonement
had been accomplished. A cost must be paid before fellowship can be enjoyed (see Eph. 2:14-
17; Rom. 5: - 11. The fat of an animal was considered the choicest part. The giving of the fat of
animal represented giving God the very best.
The Peace offering was one in which everyone shares the meal. The fat was offered to God (the
food offering to the Lord; 3:3,5,11,14,16). The breast and right thigh were given to the priest to
eat (7:31). The rest was given to the worshiper to eat along with his family and any invited
guests. The Lord- The Priest and the worshiper share in the peace offering showing God is in
fellowship with them and they with God. This offering is called a sweet aroma to God. See the
parallel in the NT with the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:14-18). Those who surrender their heart to
God and come to Him on His basis of the shed blood of His Son, celebrate being at peace with
God. Only through atonement can there be peace and only through Christ can there be
fellowship. (Col. 1:19-20).
Sin Offering- Chapter 4- This chapter deals with atonement for when the priest sins; when the
whole congregation sins; when the leader sins; and atonement when a common Israelite sins.
Confession and the carrying of the body outside the camp are also dealt with. There are
numerous New Testament parallels in this offering. Note such passages as Heb. 7:26-28; 10:4;
Psalm 32:5; and Hebrews 13:10-16; 2 Cor. 5:21).
Guilt Offering, Trespass Offering- Chapter 5- This chapter deals with an offering that has to do
with the degree of damage done in the trespass. Restitution is demanded for the wrong
committed against fellow men. Repentance was not complete until restitution, if possible was
made. This offering settles that true godly sorrow for loss and offense to others is not handled
with a simple I’m sorry (though that is a good place to start). There is follow through in desiring
to right the wrong in any way we can. See Luke 19:8 and the example of Zaccheus).
Restoration was made before the offering was pursued (Note Matthew 5:23-26 for an example of
this). We cannot be whole with God until we have made every effort to make things right with
others. Exodus 22:1-3 tells us about the principle of restitution and resolution. If you could not
pay the debt- you could be enslaved until it is paid. Our poverty does not mean the debt is
forgiven. Jesus’ life and death was an offering that made restitution for our sins. Jesus not only
died as our sin offering, but He is also our guilt offering. The death of Jesus accomplished our
forgiveness and made restitution for that which we cannot pay. We therefore are slaves to Him
for the rest of out lives for the magnificent grace He bestowed on us when we come to Him in
true obedience and submission.
The writer of Hebrews says we must strive for holiness because without it we will not see God.
How can I be holy? What book do I go to? Perhaps one of the most neglected ones (Leviticus)!
This book is not just about the Levites duties, it is not a book about only priests, if you look at
the first 2 verses the Lord calls Moses to the tent of meeting and gives him instruction to give to
the people, not just to the priests. If you turn to the last sentence of Leviticus, you will see that
these are the commandments given to the people of Israel on Mt. Sinai.
Another name that could be given to the Book is “holiness.” The word holy appears 92 times in
it. Another word that keeps resurfacing is Atonement (found 51 times). Exodus deals with God
desiring to dwell with His people. God has come down and shows His presence to His people.
But how can a Holy Creator be with His sinful people? How they can be holy is revealed in
Leviticus. This book shows us Hope-Holiness-the Need for atonement and the shadows for how
to be holy today. Note in the book GOD IS HOLY (10:3; 11:44-45; 19:2) Next, BECAUSE
GOD IS HOLY – YOU MUST BE HOLY (11:11-45). Think of the difficulty of this? Left to
ourselves with out any guidance we would be doomed. No day went by where the people did not
defile God’s holiness by their actions or lifestyle. THIRD- GOD MAKES YOU HOLY (20:8;
21:8; 22:9, 16,32) and it comes through obedience to His directions and the provisions He has
made for you to become holy. We are holy because God pronounces us holy. When does He do
this? When we love Him and keep His commandments. We love His commands- we read them-
we apply them- we cherish them and we serve Him all the days of our lives humbly thankful to
Him for His grace in allowing us to be made holy so we can dwell with Him forever, if we are
faithful. (Observe 17:11 and Hebrews 10:1-4 and Heb.10:12-24 along with 1 Cor. 6:11).
THE NEED FOR A PRIEST. Chapters 6-8. The first 2 chapters deal with the necessity for
sacrifices in able to remain in fellowship with God. Sacrifices are necessary to deal with our
sins. Since God is holy, we need someone to go to God on our behalf to offer sacrifice for our
sins (Lev. 6:8)
Notice in chapter 6:8-13 the readiness of a perpetual fire to be used for sacrifice. The people
were able to see atonement was always available. The importance of the priest was something
that was settled in the minds of the Israelites early in their history. The priests re continually
working. Why was this so important? No one was to come to the sanctuary and find the fire out
or the priest unavailable. They were ever ready to sacrifice so God could be approached
anytime. You can always come to God you can always receive atonement. There was no safe
hour when sacrifices were unnecessary. Refer to Hebrews 10:11-14 and Hebrews 5:5-10. Jesus
is our High Priest now. His priesthood is superior to all others. His work is done for He was the
perfect sacrifice himself to atone for the sins of the people. Through Obedience we can access
His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Notice the attention to the priest the Hebrew writer
gives in Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:14-5:10.
Leviticus 9-10- DOES HOW WE WORSHIP MATTER? In Leviticus 9 Worship begins in
Leviticus 10:1-3- Worship rejected in chapter 10:4-15- there is a waiting for the holiness of God
and in chapter 10:16-20 there is an understanding of our sinfulness. Nadab and Abihu have
offered strange fire to God and God is irate (10:2). Notice also God’s statement in Leviticus
10:3. Notice Hebrews 10:26-31 in your study of this section. God is angered when someone
presume to know how to worship Him better than He knows how to instruct. God Is teaching all
of the Levites that He will be worshipped properly. They are not to even mourn over Nadab and
Abihu. Lev. 10:10-11. We dare not take any liberties in how we worship God has spoken and
He will not be mocked.
WORSHIP IS SERIOUS.
Leviticus 11-15- BE HOLY. As we have already said this book was written to communicate the
holiness of God. The purpose was not to scare the people about holiness but to recognize that
God desires to dwell with His people but we are unholy. The Lord is high and lifted up He is
immense in His holiness. The first 8 chapters of Leviticus taught the people that they needed
sacrifices and priests in order for God to be in fellowship with them. In chapter 10 we see the
story of Nadab and Abihu, 2 people who did not honor God’s holiness and brought sin into the
camp. 11-15 is a section we usually overlook or skip. These are laws to dictate what is clean
and what is unclean the people need to know how to be clean and that eating certain animals can
make them unclean. We must remember that God’s law was not just mean to regulate their
spirituality. The law served as medical law, sanitary law, Political and judicial law. Dietary law
is also dealt with. The priests had to know about the human body and what to do with disease to
prevent an epidemic. These people would be travelling and germs and infections were as
common then as now, if not more. The dietary laws were meant to keep down disease and to
keep the people healthy in their choices of meats etc. For instance, bottom feeders in the water
would bring more possibility of bacteria and staff infections. Mold in a house was a killer and
the house had to be destroyed if things could not be effectively remediated. Things were clean
because God said they were and unclean because He said they were. Lev. 11:44-45 says that the
people were to consecrate themselves and be holy for God is holy. You shall not defile yourself
with anything that swarms and crawls along the ground. Because I am God. Be holy for I am.
Childbirth in Chapter 12 is handled. Bearing a child made a woman unclean. Depending on the
gender of the child the length of days she Was unclean varied. There is no reason given as to
why having a girl called for a longer length of uncleanness. God is holy and we are to be holy ad
He is.
Captor 13 and 14 give regulations for skin diseases. Again, all of these things mentioned are not
sinful but they require purification of the flesh, in order to prohibit contagiousness and
epidemics. Bodily discharges are dealt with in 15:1-33. Being like the world is not the holiness
of God. Even though a person was not in sin by being sick, he was impure in his flesh and that
made him unclean before God. For instance, digging a grave to bury someone and touching the
dead body was necessary but it rendered one unclean. Note 1 Peter 1:3, 14-21 and I Peter 1:22-
2:3).
Chapter 16 brings us back again to chapter 10 and ATONEMENT. Notice the subjects dealt with
in this chapter. Vs 3-5- preparations to enter the Most Holy Place. Vs 6-28 The description of
Atonement; vs 29-30- The necessity of humility.
Application – Jesus the Sacrifice oof Atonement.
Romans 3:22-25; Hebrews 9:6-28; 1 Peter 2:24; Isa. 53:5-6; John 1:29and Psalm 103:12 all need
to be considered in this section of your study.
Chapter 17-20- Holy Living. The holy life that must be lived because our sins have been atoned
for. Notice chapter 17- the Holy Blood In 18- HOLY Bodies 19- Holy relationships and chapter
20 Holy punishment. Do not eat blood 17:11- the life is in the blood. Consider what Jesus said in
John 6:53-56 and see why many left Him. They were not thinking of any application but the old
law Prohibition of the actual drinking of physical blood. They missed the pint. 18:5- walks in
His ways and keep His rules you will live. If you do not you will die. Chapter 18 no incest,
polygamy, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality or anything like these, they made a
person unclean and these things are described as an abomination to God. These sins are also
condemned in the NT.
Punishment for those who decide to abandon God’s laws because God is holy. There are many
death penalty crimes. Most of the sexual sins resulted in the death penalty. Compare with
Romans 1:18-32. Also compare: 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 Peter 1:5; 2:9; 2 timothy 1:9; 2:21; Eph. 1:4; and
1 Cor. 6:19.
CHAPTERS 21-24- Holy Priests (21:1-22:16) ---Holy Sacrifices (22:17-33) ----Holy Days
(23:1-24:9) ----Holy Justice (24:10-23). See Hebrews 7:26-28; Rom. 12:1; Hebrews 12:28-29; 1
Peter 2:4-5).
Chapter 25-27- HOPE IN JUBILEE. 25:1-7- Sabbath year blessings; 25:8-55- Blessing of
Jubilee (see 20-22); 26:1-46- The blessings of Obedience (vs 11-12; 44-46); JUBILEE IN
CHRIST- The Jubilee was a time of gracious provision. God would set them free from debts,
turn to Isaiah 6:1-11 and compare this in context with Leviticus 20-22. Notice in this study also
Luke 4:16-22 and see Jesus in JUBILEE to the world.
Leviticus is much more than just a list of rules. Behind those rules in HOLINESS. God has
made a way for you to be holy Through the blood of His Son. Will you benefit from this gift and
finally be holy through Jesus? Obey His word and live faithfully and maintain your holiness to
God. Take the remedy for sin every time sin enters your life. RESIST THE DEVIL AND his
devices and EVERY TIME.
This book has 27 chapters 859 verses and 24,546 words (in the KJV)
Ch. 1- Burnt Offerings
Ch. 2- Grain offerings
Ch. 3- Peace offerings
Ch. 4- Sin Offerings
Ch. 5- Guilt Offerings
Ch. 6 -Guilt Offerings
Ch. 6:8-7- The Priestly part in all offerings
Ch. 8- the consecration of Aaron and his sons
Ch. 9- Aaron offers sacrifices.
Ch. 10-sin of Nadab and Abihu
Ch. 11- laws about Animals and blood
Ch. 13- The test for leprosy
Ch. 14- laws for cleansing a leper
Ch. 15- Health Laws and cleansing
Ch. 16 - Law of Atonement
Ch. 17 – Blood for Atonement
Ch. 18 - Laws regarding Immorality
Ch. 19 – Law regarding the sinfulness of idolatry along with other laws
Ch. 20- Laws about Human Sacrifice and immorality
Chs. 21 and 22- Regulations for priests and flawless sacrifices
Ch. 23 - Laws of religious festivals
Ch. 12 -laws of Motherhood
Ch. 24 – an eye for an eye and instructions for light and bread of the sanctuary
Ch. 25 -Sabbath Year and Jubilee also how to care for the poor
Ch. 26- The blessings of Obedience and penalties for disobedience.
Ch. 27 – Rules for reckoning of values for properties and goods.
A further outline more general in nature is as follows:
1-7:3-8- offerings and instructions
8:1- 10:20-The establishment of the priesthood (holiness is essential for God’s priests) In order
for them to minister for the people and their sins, they must first purify themselves. Major point
to stress in Leviticus SIN COSTS- BLOOD MUST BE SHED TO ATONE FOR SIN- SIN AND
UNCLEANNESS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY GOD IN ANY WAY.
Ch. 11:1- 15:33- Laws for purification
Ch. 16:1-24- The day of atonement
Ch. 17: 1-18:30- Heathen practices are forbidden (this would show itself to be the ultimate
downfall of Israel and Judah). Spiritual unfaithfulness to our Jealous God will not be tolerated.
He is forgiving and full of mercy but continued violation of His will with no remorse, will be an
abomination to Him and will blaspheme His Holy Name.
Chs. 19-25- Laws of holiness and feast and seasons
Ch. 26:1- 27:34- Conditions of God’s blessings (obedience to His laws are mandatory to please
him. If you bring unrepentant sin into the congregation, you can make the entire group involved
in your sins. It does make a difference to others how we behave ourselves. Sin in the camp will
bring death.
These laws and this book was not a new one. These things were given to MOSES at Mt. Sinai.
The Impression if left often that all Moses got from God on Sinai was the Ten Commandments-
this is not true.
When you study Leviticus, you will be impressed with how important it is to God that his
servants are holy. Also remember that we as Christians are: a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation that we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His
wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).