LEVITICUS

TITLE: The title is derived from the LXX and means "pertaining to the Levites."

Author: The book itself states approximately 56 time that Moses is the author (4:1; 6:1; 8:1; 11:1; 12:1)

Date: According to the book its provisions were given to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai (25:1,2; 26:46; 27:34).

Purpose: Geisler lists three purposes for the writing of Leviticus. The historical, to show the redeemed people how to live holy lives; the doctrinal, which shows that God is a holy God and that he must be approached is a prescribed way, and the Christological in which it teaches about Christ in types. In the New Testament Christ is shown as the fulfillment of both the sacrificial system of worship and the mediation of the priest.

Theme: The theme of the book of Leviticus is that of sanctification, or being set apart for God's purpose (holiness). The key thought of the book is in 17:11 and it compares to Heb. 9:22.

I. ACCESS TO GOD 1:1-10:20

A. Through the Sacrifical System 1-8

1. The Burnt Offering 1 (6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24)

a. The young bull vv. 1-9

b. The sheep or goat vv. 10-13

c. The turtle dove or pigeon vv. 14-17

2. The Grain Offering 2 (6:14-23)

a. A reminder of God's provision

b. baked vv. 4-11

c. First fruits vv. 12-16

3. The Peace Offering 3 (7:11-34)

a. This is the only offering in which the

person making the offering shared in the eating

b. The offering from the herd vv. 1-5

c. The offering from the flock vv. 6-17

4. The Sin Offering 4:1-5:13 ( 6:24-30; 8:14-17;

16:3-22)

a. This is an offering for unintentional sin

4:2 (see also 5:15 and Heb. 9:7)

b. The offering for the high priest vv. 3-12

c. The offering for the whole community

vv. 13-21

d. The offering for a leader vv. 22-26

e. The offering for an individual vv. 27-35

f. The offering for special offenses 5:1-13

5. The Trespass Offering 5:14-6:7 (7:1-6)

a. This is an offering for harm caused

b. For a trespass against the Lord 5:14-19

c. For a trespass against man 6:1-7

The first three offerings were voluntary, the last two were mandetory.

There are three primary aspects of the sacrifice:

1. The reason for the offering - Man is sinful

2. The rule of the offering - it is substitutional

for man's sin.

3. The ritual of the offering - it was a ceremonial

illustration of how God is to be approached

through Christ.

When more than one type of offering was offered at the same time the procedure was as follows: [1] the sin ro guilt offering, [2] the burnt offering, [3] fellowship or grain offering. This shows part of the spiritual significance of the sacrificial system. First sin had to be dealt with, secondly the worshiper comitted himself completely to God, and thirdly fellowship was established. Simply put redemption, consecration, and communion.

B. Additional Instructions concerning Offerings 6:8-7:38

1. Burnt 6:8-13

2. Grain 6:14-23

3. Sin 6:24-30

4. Trespass 7:1-10

5. Peace 7:11-38

a. The Wave Offering vv. 30,31

C. The Priesthood 8:1-10:20

1. The Concecration of the Priest 8

a. Washing v. 6 (see Ex. 29:1-4)

b. Clothing vv. 7-9 (see Ex. 28:1-43)

c. Annointing vv. 10-13 (see Ex. 29:5-25)

d. The consecration offering vv. 14-30

e. The sacrificial feast vv. 31-36

2. The inauguration of the Priesthood 9-10

a. Aaron and his sons begin their ministry

vv. 1-22

b. The Lord's glory manifested vv. 23,24 c. The sin of Nadab and Abihu 10:1-11

d. New instructions given vv. 12-15

e. Forgiveness granted vv. 16-20

II. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 11-27

A. The Law concerning purity 11-15:33

1. Food 11

2. Childbirth 12

3. Leporsy 13-14

a. Clasifications 13

b. Cleansing 14

4. The body 15

a. Men vv. 1-18

b. Women vv. 19-33

B. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) 16

1. Preparation vv. 1-4

2. Offering vv. 5-28

3. Instructions vv. 29ff

C. Instruction for Making Sacrifice 17

D. Sexual Relations 18

a. Holiness demanded vv. 1-5

b. Unholiness specifies vv. 6-23

c. Judgement threatened vv. 24-30

E. Social regulations 19

a. Honoring parents vv. 1-8

b. Care of the poor vv. 9,10

c. Falsehood and theft vv. 11,12

d. Oppression vv. 13,14

e. Unjust judgement vv. 15,16

f. love of neighbor vv. 17,18

g. other regulations vv. 19-37

F. Special Sins 20

a. Worship of Molech vv. 1-5

b. Demonism vv. 6-8

c. Cursing of parents v. 9

d. Improper marital and sexual relationships

vv. 10-21

e. Other instructions vv. 22-26

f. Mediums and spiritists v. 27

(see also Deut. 18:10,11)

G. Standards for the Priesthood 21-22:16

a. Priestly holiness 21:1-16

b. Physical restrictions 21:17-24

c. Personal purity 22:1-16

d. Proper sacrifices 22:17-33

I. Festivals 23

1. The Sabbath vv. 1-3

a. On the Seventh day

2. Passover vv. 4-5

a. signifying redemption

3. Unleavened Bread vv. 6-8

a. redemption is followed by consecration

3. First Fruits vv. 9-14

4. Pentecost cc. 15-22

a. Seven weeks after Passover

5. Trumpets vv. 23-25

a. During the Seventh month

b. A feast of reunion

6. Atonement vv. 26-32

a. This is the Spiritual peak of the Jewish

year

7. Tabernacles vv 33-44

a. Commemorative of the exodus

J. Oil, Bread, and Blasphemy 24

K. The Sabbatical Year 25:1-7

1. Every Seven years

2. This is a sabbath of years

L. The Year of Jubilee 25:8-55

1. The seventh seven of years

2. This portrays the entrance of Israel into the

messianic reign, with the Lord dwelling in their

presence.

M. Blessings in the Land 26

1. Blessings for obedience vv. 1-13

2. The curse for disobedience vv. 14-39

3. The promise of restoration vv. 40-46

N. Vows and Tithes 27

1. Persons and things dedicated vv.1-25

a. These were voluntary obligations

2. Things which inherently belong to the Lord

vv. 26-34