Interduction to Leviticus

Leviticus is the third book of Moses that stressed the function of Israel’s priests, those members of the tribe of Levi whom G-d chose for service at His sanctuary (Deut. 10:8). At 50 points in its 27 chapters, Leviticus claims itself to be the G-d directed words of Moses. Scripture describes Leviticus as granted to I Israel soon after their adoption as G-d’s covenant people (Ex. 19:5). They had been given the basic moral law, the Decalogue (Ex. 20), and G-d’s presence had come to dwell in the newly constructed Tabernacle. Leviticus is a guide to life and worship before Him. Its legislation and events span but a few weeks in actual time, from Moses’ erection of the Tabernacle to Israel’s departure from Mount Sinai less than two months later (Num. 10-11), in May of 144 B.C.
The sacrifices under the Law effected the temporal remission of punishment; they could not cleans the soul from the guilt of sin, nor purchase spiritual and eternal blessings. (Heb. 10:4; 9:12-16).
Levites were given cities as part of their support through tithes and offerings. Offerings were speaking to the people to help those who were disenfranchised: the poor and needy, the widows and orphans, the sick and infirm. For the children of Israel it was a costly enterprise. The pay the required tithe of their income (Lev. 27:30, 32) this cost them 10 %. Keep the shmitta year, every seventh year, requiring the cancellation of debts (Deut. 15:1) and allowing their fields to lay fallow. Leave the corners of their fields uncut for the poor to glean.
Keep the Sabbath day and not work seven days a week (Ex. 23:112)
Observe the year of Jubilee, every 50th year, leaving their fields fallow, letting their slaves go, and returning all land holdings and canceling debts.
Redeem the firstborn males of their animals, and redeem their firstborn son with an offering. Required to keep the feast of the L-rd that required three animals per year.
Leviticus covers 1 month of G-d giving Moses instruction. It was the 1st book children were to learn. And it was the way to G-d through sacrifices, walking with G-d through separation from the rest of the pagan world.
The oldest name for Leviticus is Law of the priest or the priest’s mantle. There were five things that the various sacrifices taught:
1. Repentance and restitution.
2. Burn Offerings - surrender to G-d.
3. Peace Offerings - gratitude to G-d.
4. Sin Offering - sorrow and recommitment.
5. Congregation Offering - dependence on each other.
The two fundamental differences between sacrifices of Israel and pagan sacrifices it G-d’s spoke of truth not deception and repented hearts. The basic principle in Leviticus is holiness. In ancient times, the Jewish child began the study of Scripture in this book because the Law and the child were pure. 247 times nearly ½ of the 613 Laws are found in this book. In the Tannaim commentary during the time of Y’Shua, the title of Leviticus was “the book”. Two additional feasts before the time of Messiah in the 400 silent years: First Maccabees rededication (Hanakka) and Purdum. And John 10:21-22 says Y’Shua celebrated them.
In certain feasts, the males (over 20 years old), only attended the feast representing the head of the family. In the spiritual sense, there is neither male nor female in Messiah, but in the natural sense, the woman’s responsibilities in society would not let her leave home long enough to attend. The free will offerings brought to the feast were distributed to six areas: Levites, strangers, widows, poor, fatherless and the needy.
There is no book, in the whole compass of that inspired Volume which the Holy Ghost has given us, that contains more of the very words of G-d than Leviticus. It is G-d that is the direct speaker in almost every page; his gracious words are recorded in the form wherein they were uttered.
G-d is like a very indulgent father but the kids He so indulges are His former raw recruits. Such are the wonders of adoption. He is able to be strict or lenient, hard or merciful, depending on what is best for His family. He knows the importance of mastering the basics and doing things by the book. Because He looks on the heart, G-d allows exceptions to His own rules (example in 2 Chron. 30:18-20). Woe to him who, like Saul, thinks that obedience is essential only at boot camp! Yet, as we see from the history of David, G-d can be very gracious to those who learn the basics and disappoint Him later. He trains us to avoid disaster. We must follow G-d’s instructions to the letter – or pay with our lives. When Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s oldest sons, perish before the L-rd soon after performing their first sacrifice in Lev. 10:1-3, the message could hardly be clearer.
Have you considered the fate of the millions who speak much about G-d but are lose and deceived by false teachers or personal pride, they trust in their own works like Nadab and Abihu and not in the sacrifice ordered by G-d. How greatly they underestimated perfection! An awful fate awaits the soul persisting in delusion. The boring parts of Leviticus, if only we understood them, are stonewalls built to keep G-d’s flock from straying into hell.
A mind steeped in the sacrifices is a mind prepared for salvation. Have we, who no longer are schooled by the Law, no need of disciplined minds? Have we noting to learn form Leviticus anymore? Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. 10:11-12, this passage warns us against idolatry as well as immorality.