Be Holy As I Am Holy (Leviticus 18-20)

This year, we’re seeking to…

“Live The Cross-Shaped Life” – Cruciformity is learning to embody the self-sacrificial love of King Jesus, which God always deserves and honors.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

It’s a merciful miracle that we can worship God. Leviticus is all about “The Miracle of Worship,” how God makes it possible for an unworthy people to worship a worthy God, to live in His presence, to receive His blessing, and to follow His ways. He has to do a miracle to forgive our sin and change our hearts. That’s His mercy. While we may think of worship as a tedious obligation or not think of it at all, it is in reality a great gift! So our mindset transforms from “I have to” worship God to “I get to” worship God.

Leviticus follows the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus. In Genesis, God created a good world and a good humanity, but humanity rebelled against God, destroying our relationship with Him and others. Yet God graciously pursued humanity through Abraham, his family, the eventual nation of Israel. In Exodus, God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and made a special covenant relationship with them that, if they would be His faithful worshipers on earth, He would prosper them. The centerpiece of the covenant was the tabernacle, where God “dwelt” in a special way, but Exodus ends with a cliffhanger. No one could meet with God–not even Moses. That’s how holy God is and how unworthy His people were. So in Leviticus, God solves the impossibility of our worship and relationship with Him by giving Israel recipes for worship, His handbook for how He reconciled His Old Testament people Israel to Himself. Leviticus provides insights into how God reconciles His New Testament people–the church–to Himself in Christ.

In the first half of Leviticus, God began to teach the priests how to distinguish the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. There were a series of sacrifices and ceremonies that culminated in the annual holy day–the Day of Atonement, where Israel and its priests were symbolically cleansed of their sin before God. Having been cleansed of sin, Israel was able to participate in God’s holiness.

Holiness asks the question, “Who do you belong to?” If we belong to ourselves, we are our own boss. If we belong to the world, we must do whatever it says. But if we belong to God, He gets to tell us how to live. That’s holiness in a nutshell: set apart by God for God. Israel belonged to God, was holy to the Lord. So Israel was to strive to be holy as the Lord was holy. In Leviticus 18-20, we’ll see three features of holiness, and as we go, we’ll see how those features apply to Christians.

#1 Holiness requires distinction from the world. (18)

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God. 3 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. 5 Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.” (18:1-5)

Holiness means being different from the people of this world who do not love God. For Israel that meant being different from the Egyptians and being different from the Canaanites. Israel was not to live as those nations did. Instead, Israel’s way of life was to be rooted in God’s law. Quick note: “I am the LORD” becomes the shorthand for this whole concept. That phrase occurs 47 times from Leviticus 18-27. It’s a quick yet powerful reminder of who Israel belongs to.

Jesus also talked about how His followers were to be different from the world. Jesus opened His famous Sermon on the Mount with what are commonly known the Beatitudes, which describe the kind of heart each of His followers have (e.g. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”) After this description of His disciples, Jesus taught on the importance of remaining distinct from the world.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Jesus’ church must remain distinct from the world for the sake of the world! We must be salt so that we can also be light. The holiness we strive for is not so that we might feel better than the world but so that we might show the world the glorious ways of God.

The specific focus in Leviticus 18 is sexuality. The Egyptians and Canaanites practiced all sorts of sexual sin, while God created sex solely for a husband and wife. The LORD opens these prohibitions with…

6 “No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.”

God then goes on to list prohibited sexual partners for Israel: your mother or stepmother, your sister or half-sister, your granddaughter, your aunt, your daughter-in-law, your sister-in-law, your daughter or stepdaughter, a woman during menstruation, another man’s wife, those of the same sex, and animals. The Egyptians and Canaanites all had sexual relations with partners like these.

Now we might be tempted to think, “I don’t have sexual partners like those! I’m in the clear!” But, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarifies that God’s laws are higher, deeper, and holier than might first appear…

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30)

God’s law against sexual sin goes all the way to the heart, forbidding lust itself, which includes emotional affairs, fantasizing, pornography, erotic literature, sexting, etc. Our world worships sexuality, but Jesus’ disciples live differently. No matter what you’ve done, if you believe in Jesus, you’ve been forgiven and cleansed and can be holy as He is holy. I know from my own experience!

I want to point you to an excellent resource: Dr. Tim Hepworth’s book on holy sexuality. Dr. Hepworth gives a thorough explanation of…

**“God’s purposes for our sexuality: uniting a man and woman in marriage, reproduction, expressing love, pleasure, stewardship, mission” (Men & Women: A Study in Holy Sexuality, by Timothy Hepworth, MD)**

He unpacks Scripture to explain each of these holy purposes. He describes corruptions of God’s good gift of sex, from sexual abuse to pornography. He casts a biblical vision for sexual purity for Christians, even for singles who have no way to enjoy God’s good gift of sex. Dr. Hepworth’s book is being translated into other languages because Tim and Nancy have seen a great need for this biblical vision in their travels and interactions throughout the world. Do you see that need in your own life? I’d highly recommend getting this book.

#2 Holiness requires God as its source. (19)

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’” (19:1-2)

God is the definition of holiness. He is the fountain and standard of holiness. Whatever He does and says is, by definition, holy. Therefore, if Israel is to be holy, it is only through Him. You’ll see how, every couple of verses in this chapter, the LORD reminds the Israelites who they belong to as they strive to be holy with that phrase: “I am the LORD.”

The bulk of the instructions in this chapter will be about holy relationships with others, but the first few deal specifically with holy worship:

3 “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. 4 Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.” (19:3-4)

Moms and dads teach their children about the holiness of God. The Sabbath is the holy day, set apart for gathering to learn about the holiness of God. The object of worship is not some hand-made idol but the holy God.

Then, the Lord turns to a focus on relationships, relating to things like poverty, justice, and conflict.

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.” (19:9-10)

God’s holiness meant caring for the poor. In ancient Israel, one way to do this was to leave margin in the fields for people in need. God wanted Israel to care more about people than profit. They shouldn’t maximize their harvest when there were others in need.

11 “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. 12 Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” (19:11-12)

God’s holiness impacted everyday dealings with one another. Dishonesty must go, and using God’s name dishonestly must certainly go.

13 “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight. 14 Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” (19:13-14)

God’s holiness impacted business dealings with others, including your employees. And it also impacts how you protect those with disabilities.

15 “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.” (19:15-16)

These commands brought God’s holiness into the courtroom. Ancient Israel wandering in the wilderness did not have a court system that looks like ours. Their disputes would be settled by the leaders of families, clans, tribes, and ultimately Moses. So God gives them guidelines that they are to make decisions based not only favorites and favors but on God’s holiness.

17 “Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (19:17-18)

God’s holiness invades every aspect of every relationship: from the economic, personal, and legal, to the very attitudes of our heart toward others. This culminates in what Jesus chose as the second greatest commandment in all of the Law of Moses: “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mark 12:29-31) In fact, in a few sentences, the Lord will extend this command not just to Israelite neighbors but also to foreign ones…

33 “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” (19:33-34)

“Love [the foreigner] as yourself!” That’s the point of Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan who self-sacrificially cares for his cultural enemy, a Jew, who had been left for dead.

Going back to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He corrects a horrible misconception about this command. Just as Jesus made the command against adultery even more meaningful, He does the same here for the command to love your neighbor.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-47)

Love your neighbor as yourself also means to love even your enemy. In fact, that’s what God is like! God loves His enemies! God loves US! What a hateful world we live in? Do we get caught up in it? What is the attitude of our heart toward individuals or groups we might consider enemies? Is there anyone or group that we dislike? Will we do good to them when we get the chance? God does! Jesus closes with a statement similar to the holiness command of Leviticus 19: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” God is the source of the very holiness He calls us to pursue.

#3 Holiness requires constant transformation as God’s own. (20)

In this chapter, the Lord gives Moses various punishments for various sins He had, for the most part, previously listed in Leviticus. Let’s just look at the first one to get the picture.

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. 3 I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. 4 If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, 5 I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.’” (20:1-5)

This is awful, isn’t it? It might be hard to believe that this ever even happened, but archeologists have discovered the charred bones of children in ancient Canaanite temples (Gordon Wenham). It was a very real practice to sacrifice children to false gods to seek their “favor and blessing.” I can’t help but wonder how much the spirit of these sacrifices continues today in the practice of abortion. There can be forgiveness and newness in Christ for anyone who participates in such sin, but this is an awful thing in the eyes of the holy God.

The sin of child-sacrifice resulted in a double punishment. The first was the death penalty by public stoning. Israel was a theocratic nation. God was creating a government just as much as He was creating a holy people, which meant He would need to include a system of capital punishment. Public stoning would be carried out by the whole community to show that they agree with the Lord’s decision. The second punishment given is being “cut off” by God. This is a bit more difficult for us to understand, but it seems that the idea is that the Lord would take it on Himself to remove the sinner from among His people.

Whether by the death penalty or being cut off by God, the Lord was shaping and transforming the community. The threat of punishment deterred people from sinning, and the punishments themselves kept Israel in pursuit of holiness by ridding the community of those committing egregious and persistent sin. The Lord was protecting the transformation and witness of His people.

This is probably shocking to us today, but we need to see how seriously God is about His holiness. We each need to put to death the sin in our lives and hold one another to account. The New Testament also commands churches to confront and even discipline members who sin continuously without repentance (Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5)! No, not the death penalty, but it is a serious matter. That’s how seriously God takes His holiness in His people.

Now, if you’re not a Jesus-follower, maybe this is one of the first times you’re hearing about God’s holiness and the holiness He expects from us, you might be overwhelmed, even turned off. But, I’m telling you, this is what our Creator and Savior deserves from us as our King.

7 “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. 8 Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy… 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” (20:7-8, 26)

God set Israel free from Egypt, not so they could just do their own thing, but so that they could become His own, His servant to the nations. Jesus did a similar thing for the church:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

When Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sin, He also paid the price to own us. Have you ever thought about it like that, brothers and sisters? He owns us because of His blood. We owe Him everything. And what does He want? We are to be the holy place where God lives on earth. What unholiness must we get rid of: the worship of sex, the idolatry of stuff, the love of self, the hatred of “the other.”

If this all seems overwhelming or exhausting, just take the next step. There’s a lot to consider. But don’t be paralyzed by this. Ask God, “Father, please show me where I need to become more like you today.” Take that next step today. Whatever it is. Confess a sin to God. Apologize to whoever you need to. Learn from Jesus every day through engaging Scripture and prayer. Reach out for help to someone who is wise that you trust.

Questions for Reflection and/or Discussion

In what ways do Christians tend to imitate the ways of the world rather than God? In what ways do churches tend to imitate the ways of the world rather than God? In what ways do you tend to imitate the ways of the world rather than God?
What would it look like for Christians, churches, and yourself to turn to God for holiness? How would things change?
Do you really believe that God deserves for us to strive for holiness? Why/why not? How does the Gospel motivate you to be holy?

The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16-17)

Sometimes sorry’s not enough. Little brother leaves big sister’s bedroom door open and the dog sneaks in and eats all of her candy. Little brother can apologize all he wants, but he can’t make that candy reappear. Sometimes sorry’s not enough; the best he can do is buy her some new candy with the few dollars he has saved up.

Dad was busy with his work and his hobbies as his kids grew up, and now, as he watches them crash and burn in adulthood, he doesn’t have enough of a relationship with them to give guidance and help. Dad can apologize all he wants, but he can’t turn back time. Sometimes sorry’s not enough; the best he can do is to slowly and sacrificially reconnect with his adult children.

A friend shared some idle gossip about one of her best friends. It seemed harmless at the time, but it’s created so much harm and hurt that the friendship has grown so cold. She can apologize all she wants, but she cannot undo what she did. Sometimes sorry’s not enough; the best she can do is humble herself and strive to regain her friend’s trust.

Every human being, at many times and in many ways, has wronged the holy God. Our pride, selfishness, even just a lukewarm love for Him and His ways fall far short of what He deserves. And sorry’s not enough; even our best can never make it right. A sacrifice is needed. How can a sinner ever make things right with the holy God? What could we possibly sacrifice to be free from God’s wrath and reconcile with Him? Nothing. There is nothing we can offer. That is the lesson of the Day of Atonement: even though we are helpless to reconcile ourselves to our Creator, He is able and eager to reconcile us to Himself.

Quick review: This year, we’re seeking to…

“Live The Cross-Shaped Life” – Cruciformity is learning to embody the self-sacrificial love of King Jesus, which God always deserves and honors.

The bright and shining center of cruciformity is the fact that the God of the universe would shock us and love us by becoming human and suffer and ultimately die on a cross. All to glorify God and to save sinners. Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for all who believe. And following His example is our top priority. The crucified Christ compels we who believe to offer our whole selves, including our time, talent, treasure, and testimony, to glorify Him through obedience and love. The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

It’s a miracle of God’s mercy that we can worship Him. Leviticus is all about “The Miracle of Worship,” how God makes it possible for an unworthy people to worship a worthy God, to live in His presence, to receive His blessing, and to follow His ways. He has to do a miracle to forgive our sin and change our hearts. That’s His mercy. While we may think of worship as a tedious obligation or not think of it at all, it is in reality a great gift! So, our mindset transforms from “I have to” worship God to “I get to” worship God.

Leviticus follows the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus. In Genesis, God created a good world and a good humanity, but humanity rebelled against God and suffered the consequences. Yet God graciously pursued humanity through Abraham, his family, the eventual nation of Israel. In Exodus, God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and made a special covenant that, if they would be His faithful worshipers on earth, He would prosper them. The centerpiece of the covenant was the tabernacle, where God “dwelt” in a special way, but Exodus ends with a cliffhanger. No one could enter God’s house to worship and learn from Him–not even Moses. That’s how holy God is and how unworthy His people were. So in Leviticus, God solves the impossibility of our worship and relationship with Him by giving Israel recipes for worship, His handbook for how He reconciled His Old Testament people Israel to Himself. Leviticus provides insights into how God reconciles His New Testament people–the church–to Himself in Christ.

In Leviticus, God first gave Israel different types of sacrifices. Then, Aaron and the priests were dedicated to serve God and lead Israel in worship. Everything was going great–God got the worship He deserved and Israel enjoyed their God–until two priests led worship in a disobedient way, so God consumed them with His fire. After God’s judgment against the disobedient priests, God reminded Aaron of his calling as a priest to distinguish the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean and lead Israel in it. Now in chapter 16, God brings all these themes together in an annual, day-long ceremony called the Day of Atonement.

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. 2 The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” (16:1-2)

One day per year, one man–the high priest–would enter the Most Holy Place to meet with God and cleanse their sin from God’s presence. The Most Holy Place was the inner room of the tabernacle and contained the ark of the covenant, which had the atonement cover. The outer room was known as the Holy Place and contained three pieces of furniture: the table for holy bread, the golden lampstand, and the altar of incense. The open outer courtyard area contained the bronze altar for sacrifices and the wash basin. All Israel could enter the courtyard, but only the priests could enter the Holy Place. And only once per year, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place during the Day of Atonement ritual.

The priest would have to do this in order to meet with God, so that God would continue living among the people. A sinner can no more survive an encounter with the holy God than a mosquito could a bonfire, so Aaron had to follow these rules so that he–a sinner like all of us–might not die in the presence of God.

3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.” (16:3-5)

These instructions set the stage and give an overview of the ceremony. There are four main steps…

Step #1: Aaron’s Sin Offering Makes Atonement (16:11-14)

11 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.” (16:11-14)

Aaron also offered a sin offering like this for himself when he was first appointed as high priest. So he would repeat this every year as a reminder to himself and his people that he was a sinner too. Aaron served and met with God not because Aaron was worthy but because God was merciful.

Step #2: Israel’s Sin Offering Makes Atonement (16:15-17)

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.” (16:15-17)

The priest would then slaighter one of the goats as a sin offering for the people of Israel. This goat dies symbolically in the place of all Israel, because of their repeated sin and uncleanness. The theological idea here is called propitiation. That’s not a word we use very often, so here’s a small illustration. Let’s say a teen gets upset at Mom and Dad’s rules and speaks an unkind word to them and, in their rage, knocks over a picture frame that shatters all over the ground. They begin to feel guilty about it, and instead of just saying sorry, they do some chores that would not normally be their responsibility. Mom and dad’s anger begins to subside. That’s propitiation.

Propitiation is appeasing someone to regain their favor–in this case, God’s.

In the Day of Atonement ritual, the slaughtered goat symbolically takes the wrath of a holy God for an unholy people, which enables God to receive His people in peace. Atonement is made.

Step #3: The Scapegoat Removes Israel’s Sin (16:20-22)

20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.” (16:20-22)

The second goat is the scapegoat. The theological idea here is called expiation. Think back to the earlier illustration of the angry teen. He may have appeased his parent’s anger, but there is still shattered glass all over the floor. So he grabs a broom and a dustpan and cleans it up. Now the sin has been, in a sense, washed away.

Expiation is wiping away guilt and shame–in this case, ours.

Why is expiation important? Guilt and shame needs to be removed before a relationship can truly be restored. The sin and all of its guilt and shame need to be carried away, washed away.

Step #4: Aaron and Israel’s Burnt Offerings Make Atonement (16:23-25)

23 “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. 24 He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.” (16:23-25)

Burnt offerings complete the ceremony and basically every ceremony in ancient Israel. These sacrifices were the most common because they were the best. The entire animal was sacrificed to God as a demonstration of what He deserves from us. All humans are created to worship God with everything that we are; the sin offerings and scapegoats were the means to that end.

10 “I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (17:10-11)

What’s stunning to me is that the lifeblood of animals was God’s gift to Israel to make atonement. The sacrificial system of Leviticus was not something Moses and Aaron came up with in an attempt to atone for their sin. It is a gift, a miracle of worship from the generous heart of the holy God.

Atonement is doing whatever it takes to reconcile a broken relationship, to make things right, to cleanse sin’s stain, to pay sin’s debt. But when there’s literally nothing that the party in the wrong can do, it’s up to the party in the right to make atonement. That’s what God does.

The Lesson: Sorry’s not enough. But Jesus is.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith… (Romans 3:23-25a)

Jesus is our Perfect High Priest. He does not need to offer a sacrifice for Himself. He’s good enough! More than that, God offered Him. He offered Himself. As the atoning sacrifice.

Jesus is our Slaughtered Goat who propitiated God’s wrath. Do we understand how holy God is and how unholy we are? We are so wicked that the innocent Son of God had to suffer and die for us. And we are so loved that He was glad to do it. If the Spirit convicts you of sin, and you realize you’ve done something wrong to God and perhaps to people too, confess it and trust Jesus that has already forgiven you at the cross.

Jesus is our Scapegoat who expiated our sin. Have you ever wronged a friend or family member and, while they said they forgave you, they constantly brought it up over and over again? The scapegoat is God’s promise that He, thanks to the crucified Jesus, He won’t bring your sin up anymore. The prophet Isaiah promised of Jesus, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) No more guilt. No more shame. We are set free and washed clean to follow Him. If old sins keep weighing you down, crippling you, shaming you, sins that you know Jesus forgave at the cross, look to Jesus.

I hope and pray that the Spirit of God helps you to understand right now more than ever, perhaps for the very first time, just what Christ did for you. Whenever I really stop to consider the cross of Christ, I have this incredible mix of emotion…sad tears for my sin and happy tears for my salvation.

“It is well, when we hear the name of Calvary, always to shed a tear, for there is nothing that ought to make a sinner weep like the mention of the death of Jesus.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

The cross of Christ is mind blowing and heart-rending, but it’s also dangerous. Some will abuse God’s grace and go on sinning, saying, “Jesus is enough.” These folks might be caught up in emotions, but they don’t really know Jesus.

Those that really know Jesus will be changed to the core of who they are by the love of Christ. God presented an atoning sacrifice. Now, it’s our turn–not to offer an atoning sacrifice. We can’t. But we can and must offer a living sacrifice:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Now that God has atoned for our sin in Christ, we can become holy Christians and holy church. The rest of the book of Leviticus will focus on God’s call to Israel to “Be holy as I am holy.” And we can learn a lot about the kind of holiness God expects from us–His disciples and churches. That will be our focus for the next 7 weeks until Easter Sunday.

Questions for Reflection and/or Discussion

Why is reconciliation in general so difficult? Why is reconciliation with God impossible without His grace?
Visualize how the people watching would be responding at each point throughout the Day of Atonement ceremony (Lev 16). How would they respond mentally and emotionally after each step?
How are the different sacrifices (Aaron’s sin offering, Israel’s sin offering, scapegoat, burnt offerings) each awesome reminders of Jesus and His work for us?
How will you personally respond to Jesus’ work on the cross for you? How will it change your relationship with God? How will it change your relationship with others?

Clean and Unclean (Leviticus 11-15)

This year, we’re seeking to…

“Live The Cross-Shaped Life” – Cruciformity is learning to embody the self-sacrificial love of King Jesus, which God always deserves and honors.

Embody Christ. Every human being is created in God’s image, which not only endows each of us with value but also makes us responsible to reflect God to the people and world around them. Who we are, every desire and decision, relationship and resource. All of our time, talent, treasure, testimony. It all becomes a place to display one thing: a Christlike, self-sacrificial love for God and for other people.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

It’s a merciful miracle that we can worship God. Leviticus is all about “The Miracle of Worship,” how God makes it possible for an unworthy people to worship a worthy God, to live in His presence, to receive His blessing, and to follow His ways. In order for us sinners to worship God, He has to do a miracle to forgive our sin and change our hearts. While we may think of worship as a tedious obligation or not think of it at all, it is in reality a great gift! Because of God’s mercy, our worship mindset moves from a “have-to” to “get-to.”

Leviticus follows the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus. In Genesis, God created a good world and a good humanity, but humanity rebelled against Him and destroyed our relationship with Him and others. Yet God graciously promised to call humanity back to Himself through Abraham, his family, the eventual nation of Israel. In Exodus, God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and made a special covenant relationship with them that, if they would be His faithful worshipers on earth, He would prosper them. The centerpiece of the covenant was the tabernacle, where God “dwelt” in a special way, but Exodus ends with a cliffhanger. No one could enter God’s house to worship and learn from Him–not even Moses. That’s how holy God is and how unworthy His people were. So in Leviticus, God solves the impossibility of our worship and relationship with Him by giving Israel recipes for worship, His handbook for how He reconciled His Old Testament people Israel to Himself. Leviticus provides insights into how God reconciles His New Testament people–the church–to Himself in Christ.

In Leviticus, God first gave Israel different types of sacrifices. Then, Aaron and his sons were fully dedicated to the service of God and began to lead Israel in worship in all the ways God commanded. On that first day, everything was going great–God got the worship He deserved and Israel enjoyed their God–until two of Aaron’s sons approached God in a disobedient way, and God consumed them with His fire. After God’s judgment against disobedient Nadab and Abihu, God reminded Aaron of his calling as a priest:

8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.” (10:8-11)

This command sets the agenda for Leviticus 11-15. In these chapters, God hits pause on the story to tell the priests how to tell what is clean and unclean. Israel’s priests were to guard the holiness of God and teach people how to honor Him by leading the way in distinguishing between what is holy–what belongs to God–and what is common. Common things are divided into two categories: the clean is that which is able to enter God’s presence. The unclean is that which may not enter God’s presence. Unclean things may be ceremonially cleansed/purified to become clean. Clean things may be sanctified to become holy. Holy things may be profaned by sin or death to become common, which may further be polluted or defiled to become unclean. So much of Leviticus details this very system, describing what things are holy, clean, and unclean, and how they might move from one condition to another.

In Leviticus 11-15, God will explain how the priests may discern…

Unclean animals
Unclean bodily discharges
Unclean skin diseases and molds

What’s confusing to us is that none of these things are sinful in and of themselves. In fact, the reason we struggle to understand this system is because when Jesus came, a thousand years later, He totally redefined these regulations, which we’ll see by the end of today’s sermon. But before we get into it, why did God call some things clean and others unclean even though they are not in and of themselves sinful? There are many explanations for this, but the best I’ve seen is that…

CLEAN (life/order) ←→ UNCLEAN (death/chaos)

…ancient Israelites associated things that are clean with life and order, which is what the Creator God is all about, and the things that are unclean with death and chaos, which God stands against. Now, WE may not make those associations, but ancient Israelites and their neighbors would have. That’s important to remember. The lists of unclean things that we’ll now survey in Leviticus 11-15 each had some sort connection to death and chaos, which are the results of sin.

#1 How to Distinguish Clean and Unclean Animals (11)

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.’”

Clean animals could be eaten; unclean could not. Clean animals tended to be more normal in the Israelite mind. Unclean animals deviated in some way from that norm. In chapter 11, the Lord describes distinctions between clean and unclean animals to Moses and Aaron…

CLEAN (life/order)	UNCLEAN (death/chaos)
split-hoofed cud-chewers (sheep) fish with scales and fins (tilapia) some birds (pigeon) two-legged, hopping bugs (locust)	other land animals (pig) “fish” without fins and scales (clam) birds of prey and scavengers (eagle) other bugs (fly) creepy crawlies (mouse) any dead animal, even clean ones

All of these unclean animals have some sort of connection to death and chaos in the ancient mind, either because they were dead or because they lived, ate, or moved in an abnormal way.

43 “Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. 44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”

The goal is for Israel to not only be clean but holy as God is holy. The distinctions between the clean and unclean constantly reminded Israel that it too had been set apart for the God of life and order. The holy God, out of sheer grace and mercy, rescued them from Egypt and chose them out of all the nations of the world to be His holy people dedicated solely to serving Him. These regulations then become not only a “have-to” but truly a “get-to” practice for God’s people.

#2 How to Cleanse Uncleanness from Postnatal Discharge (12)

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days… 6 When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.”

This is so strange to us, isn’t it? In fact, in our Old Testament reading group, we’re reading these chapters, and someone pointed that out in the online comments. How could birth make someone ceremonially unclean? God created human reproduction and there is certainly nothing sinful about giving birth to a child! And shouldn’t birth be associated with life instead of death, which makes people unclean? It’s not the birth that makes the mother unclean. According to verse 7, it’s the postnatal discharge.

So why is she required to give a sin offering? Sin offerings, as we learned from Leviticus 4, cleansed the stain of sin. So we need to be clear here: An Israelite mother did not sin in giving birth! Notice that even though she presents a sin offering, the priest pronounces her, in verse 7, clean–NOT forgiven. In the sin offerings of Leviticus 4, the priests pronounced the worshiper forgiven! But here, she is pronounced clean. In other words, the sin offering purifies her uncleanness but is not implying she also needed to be forgiven of sin. Her postnatal discharge made her symbolically unclean, so she needed to be cleansed.

By the way, there is a provision for the poor two offer two birds instead, if they can’t afford a lamb, which is exactly what Mary, mother of Jesus, offered after she gave birth to Him.

#3 How to Distinguish Unclean Skin Disease (13)

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. 3 The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean…”

The chapter read almost like an ancient medical guide, telling the priests how to distinguish whether a skin disease is clean or unclean. In fact, there are descriptions of 21 different skin conditions! The bottom line is that if it looks like it’s healing or superficial, they are clean. But if it is spreading or festering or more than skin-deep, they are unclean, which means…

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.”

This is harsh, but recall that the point of these instructions is to symbolically represent life in the worship of God. The unclean person would rely on God for healing. It was the priest’s job not to heal but to guard the ceremonial cleanness of the community. Chapter 13 also deals with molds that might grow on clothing. The Hebrew term for defiling mold is actually the same word for defiling skin disease, so it is a general word for any kind of visible, unhealthy blemish. The idea is not to diagnose specific diseases or molds but to say, “That doesn’t look good. That’s not fit for the presence of God, and we need God to heal it. For now, that needs to stay away from God’s house.”

#4 How to Cleanse Uncleanness from Skin Disease (14)

The point of the process is not to heal the unclean person of their disease. God does that. The point of this process is to ceremonially cleanse that person, so that they might rejoin the community and be restored to worship God in the tabernacle.

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease, 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed. 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.”

The cleansing process took eight days. On the first day, if an unclean person passed the priestly examination outside the camp, they brought two birds as sacrifices. One is killed and blood is sprinkled over the person. They are pronounced clean! The other bird is set free in the field. The rest of the chapter describes the remaining week: The newly clean person must shave and bathe and wait seven days in the camp but still not go home. On the eighth day, the newly clean person gave a lamb as a guilt offering, and the priest put some of the blood and some oil on the right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe of the person who is now clean. Then they give two more lambs for a sin offering and a burnt offering, along with a grain offering.

If there is unclean mold in a house, the house must be gutted and renovated. If the unclean mold comes back, the house must be destroyed and rebuilt. But if the unclean mold is gone, it may be cleansed following the same procedure from the first day of cleansing for the person made unclean from a skin disease.

Again, these guilt and sin offerings are not necessarily to forgive sin but to make clean and sanctify. It’s not a sin to get sick or to find mold in your house. They don’t need to be forgiven for that. But they do need to be made clean. The seven-day ritual restores the unclean person or house back into the community. It’s reminiscent of the seven days of creation and the seven-day ceremony to sanctify the priests for service to God, which we saw in Leviticus 8.

#5 How to Cleanse Uncleanness from Male and Female Discharges (15)

We’ll just look at the first example in this chapter:

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any man has an unusual bodily discharge, such a discharge is unclean. 3 Whether it continues flowing from his body or is blocked, it will make him unclean. This is how his discharge will bring about uncleanness:

4 Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and anything he sits on will be unclean…13 When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean. 14 On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the LORD to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. 15 The priest is to sacrifice them, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement before the LORD for the man because of his discharge.””

Later in the chapter, a woman was made unclean by an unusually long discharge of blood outside of menstruation. Like the man, her body and anything she touches could pollute. But God also gives her the same cleansing process. Any emission of semen, even normal sexual intercourse, made someone unclean. A woman’s menstrual cycle made her unclean. Remember, becoming unclean does not necessarily mean that sex or menstruation were sinful. It does mean they may not worship in the tabernacle until they are clean, and God allowed for sacrifices to make the man or the woman ceremonially clean–not forgiven because they had not necessarily sinned.

Why are even normal human discharges called unclean? One theologian suggests that the “loss of life liquids” (semen, blood) symbolized disease and disorder and death, and so would make someone ceremonially unclean (Morales). We’re not totally sure why some things are unclean and others are not, but we do know is God’s ultimate purpose with the regulations for clean and unclean:

31 “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.”

These clean and unclean laws are for being in the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle. They don’t mean you’ve sinned. But they do mean that people defiled with death and disorder should not enter God’s presence, or else they’ll die. So…

What’s the point?!?! To be clean is to be fit for the presence of God.

God wants Israel to live and not die in His presence! And God is teaching Israel about His holiness, about what He deserves, and He’s using all of these symbols and laws and rituals to do it.

Now what does Jesus have to say about all of this?

Jesus and unclean food (Mark 7:17-23)

Jesus and the religious leaders had been debating the cleanliness practices, and afterward He explained to His disciples more fully…

“Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:18-23)

Jesus clearly says that the greater problem is sin from within, not ritual pollution from without. This is why Christians give little attention to the cleanliness laws. Jesus said there’s bigger fish to fry. Those regulations were important to the Jewish people who worshiped in the Temple. They were even important to Jesus. But they were not the most important thing to be concerned about. The bigger problem is our sinful hearts that need to be forgiven and cleansed by the Spirit of God.

Jesus and unclean skin disease (Mark 1:40-42)

Jesus regularly encountered people made unclean through a skin disease. Here’s an example…

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,”he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. (Mark 1:40-42)

Jesus was touched by man defiled by a skin disease but insteading of Jesus becoming unclean, the man became clean. More than that, he became healed and whole.

Jesus and unclean discharges (Mark 5:25-34)

This story is similar to the one with the man with the skin disease.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:25-34)

Jesus was touched by an unclean woman but insteading of Jesus becoming unclean, she becomes clean. More than that, she became healed and whole. In Leviticus, who is the One who heals? Who is the One who has authority over what is clean and unclean? Only God.

Jesus makes fit for the presence of God.

After the crucified and risen Jesus ascended to heaven as King of kings, He called His followers to help people from all nations follow Him too. That means they were to go beyond the Jewish people. This was quite a stretch for those Jewish disciples. They had grown up learning to respect the cleanliness laws, but now Jesus told them to go out and mingle and make disciples of the unclean nations. Jesus gave Peter a vision in which He told Peter to eat all these unclean animals. Peter answered, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:14-15) Later that day, a Roman army commander–unclean by the way—invited Peter over for lunch. Peter accepted the invitation and, when he arrived, “he said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.’” (Acts 10:28-29) Peter went on that day to help Cornelius and his family begin following Jesus! Jesus makes anyone He wants fit for God’s presence.

Later, Paul, also a practicing Jew, wrote to the church in Rome, which was full of both Jews and Gentiles, and was caught up in a fight over these cleanliness laws. To them, Paul wrote: I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. (Rom 14:14-15) Christians do not have to live by these extra reminders, unless they are personally convicted to do so. But Christian freedom from the cleanliness laws is no excuse to neglect the worship of God and love of others. In fact, because of Jesus’ death for us, our worship to Him and our love for others moves from “I have to” to “I get to.”

Questions for Reflection and/or Discussion

Put yourself in the shoes of an Old Testament Israelite. How would the regulations on clean and unclean affect your daily life? If you understood their purpose, how and when would you be reminded of God’s holiness and the call to be holy? How has Jesus changed how we think about these Old Testament regulations and how will that change your life now?

Priesthood (Leviticus 8-10)

Have you ever felt the need for a priest? Have you ever woken up in the morning and the first thing you think is: “I need someone to go between me and God. I’m so sinful, I’m so unworthy. I need someone to deliver God’s Word to me and my worship and prayers to Him. I need a priest.” Of course not. None of us think that. At least not that explicitly. We tend to think pretty highly of ourselves: “Why couldn’t I talk to God and learn about Him? Why would I need anybody else to help me with that?” That kind of thinking reviews our falsely high view of ourselves and our falsely low view of God.

But I’ll tell you what, there are some who find themselves in desperate situations or horrible suffering or terrible confusion and then wish, even in the back of their mind, that they had a stronger connection to God. You see, in our sinful state, we need God to come to us and rescue us. More than that, we need God to use someone to help us come to Him. In the biblical story, that person is the priest. The priest represents God to the world and the world to God. But if there’s a problem with the priest, the relationship between God and humanity falls apart. That’s where Jesus comes in! But first, let’s remember our goal for the year: In 2023, we’re seeking to…

“Live The Cross-Shaped Life” – Cruciformity is learning to embody the self-sacrificial love of King Jesus, which God always deserves and honors.

God really does deserve our cruciformity. He created us. He saved us. If you truly believe that, you’ll give God what He deserves. It’s only fair. It’s more than fair. The Apostle Paul said it like this:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

It’s a merciful miracle that we can worship God. Leviticus is all about “The Miracle of Worship,” how God makes it possible for an unworthy people to worship a worthy God, to live in His presence, to receive His blessing, and to follow His ways. In order for us sinners to worship God, He has to do a miracle to forgive our sin and change our hearts. While we may think of worship as a tedious obligation or not think of it at all, it is in reality a great gift! Because of God’s mercy, our worship mindset moves from a “have-to” to “get-to.”

Leviticus follows the biblical books of Genesis and Exodus. In Genesis, God created a world that was very good and a humanity meant to worship Him, but humanity rebelled against Him and destroyed our relationship with God and others. Yet God graciously promised to call humanity back to Himself through Abraham, his family, the eventual nation of Israel. In Exodus, God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and made a special covenant relationship with them that, if they would be His faithful worshipers on earth, He would prosper them. The centerpiece of this covenant was the tabernacle, where God “dwelt” in a special way, but the book of Exodus ends with a cliffhanger. No one could enter God’s house to worship and learn from Him–not even Moses. That’s how holy God is and how unworthy His people were. So in Leviticus, God solves the impossibility of our worship and relationship with Him by giving Israel recipes for worship, His handbook for how He reconciled His Old Testament people Israel to Himself. Leviticus provides insights into how God reconciles His New Testament people–the church–to Himself in Christ. The book opens with…

Five Types of Offerings in Leviticus

Burnt Offerings: Gifts of everything.
Grain Offerings: Gifts of grateful loyalty.
Fellowship Offerings: Dinner with God!
Sin Offerings: Cleansing sin’s stain.
Guilt Offerings: Paying sin’s debt.

After 7 chapters of God’s instructions about these sacrifices, the story shifts. In Leviticus 8, 9, and 10, there are three stories about the priests, each building on the one before to give us an idea of the role of priests. These stories will also shed light on Jesus and even believers as priests!

THE STORY

1) The priesthood was founded in God’s mercy and human obedience. (Leviticus 8)

First, let’s look at the origin story of Israel’s priesthood:

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, 3 and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” 4 Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 5 Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.” (8:1-5)

The Lord commanded this installation ceremony way back in Exodus 29, which we read in our Old Testament reading plan this past week. Moses and Aaron and the rest of the priests obey perfectly. The phrase “as the Lord commanded,” which we first see in verse 4 here, will be repeated six more times in verses 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, and 36. That’s seven times total, which is important. This ceremony will last seven days, and Moses will obey God’s word seven times . This has hints of creation all over it. Just like God created the universe in seven days and installed Adam and Eve as its caretakers, so God made a new creation out of Israel and installed Aaron and his sons as its caretakers–priests. The first step was to gather Israel at the tabernacle. Here’s the second step…

6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on Aaron… 9 …as the LORD commanded Moses. (8:6-9)

The second step was to prepare the priests. First, they needed a shower, but this washing was about more than simple hygiene. It symbolized the desire for inner cleansing, purification of the heart through forgiveness of sin and new life from God (Ps 24:3-4). After the washing Aaron and his sons were dressed in the official priestly uniform. Why a uniform? It allows people to quickly identify and respect an authority figure functioning in their role. Police, doctors. It separates the office and function from the personality.

10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. 13 …as the LORD commanded Moses. (8:10-13)

The third step was to consecrate the tabernacle and the furniture with the holy anointing oil.

14 He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 17 …as the LORD commanded Moses. (8:14-17)

The fourth step was to give the sin offering for Aaron and the rest of the priests. Even though they were called by God, they were far from perfect. In fact, only a few weeks earlier, Aaron had helped Israel make and worship a golden calf idol, which we read in Exodus 32 this past week in our OT plan. This sin offering would symbolically purify the priests, and God would accept them as clean.

18 He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 21 …as the LORD commanded Moses. (8:18-21)

The fifth step was a burnt offering, a gift totally burned up in worship to the Lord.

22 He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 29 …as the LORD commanded Moses. (8:22-29)

The sixth step was the ordination offering, which was a sort of fellowship offering. Moses, Aaron, and the priests would eat this ram in the presence of God. One interesting feature of this ordination offering is that Moses put a little of the blood from it on Aaron’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe to consecrate Aaron as a living sacrifice, fully dedicated to serving God.

31 Moses then said to Aaron and his sons, “Cook the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting and eat it there with the bread from the basket of ordination offerings… 34 What has been done today was commanded by the LORD to make atonement for you. 35 You must stay at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and do what the LORD requires, so you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded.” 36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses. (8:31-36)

The seventh and final step is a seven-day vigil at the entrance of the tabernacle. What’s important to note in this step and the previous six, is how Moses and Aaron and his sons keep obeying God. This is so important for priests. If they are to represent God to the people and the people to God, they must obey God’s commands perfectly. Next we see the results of priestly obedience:

2) The priesthood led worship in obedience. (Leviticus 9)

1 On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the LORD. 3 Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.’” (9:1-4)

Now that the “new creation” week is complete, Aaron and his sons are officially God’s priests in Israel. God commands them to lead the first worship service now for Israel and gives an amazing promise to them: The Lord will appear! Imagine that! God will show Himself in an obvious and glorious way by the end of this worship service. So Aaron gets to it…

8 So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself… 12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering… 15 Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people. He took the goat for the people’s sin offering and slaughtered it and offered it for a sin offering as he did with the first one. 16 He brought the burnt offering and offered it in the prescribed way… 18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people… (9:8-18)

Aaron follows God’s commands perfectly. He offers the sacrifices in their divinely-commanded order and in their divinely-commanded way. Sin offering and burnt offering for himself first, then a sin offering and a burnt offering for all God’s people, and lastly, fellowship offerings for all to eat and commune with God!

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. (9:22)

In the next book, Numbers, Aaron was told to give this blessing to the people: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Number 6:24-26) The sacrifices have now been presented, but God has not shown up quite yet…

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. (9:23-24)

Wow! Moses and Aaron both go in to meet with God, and, when they come out, they bless the people one more time, and God shows up! God sends a special fire to consume the sacrifices that were still smoldering on the fire! Amazing! With the tabernacle and sacrificial system and priesthood in place, Israel is finally able to worship God! It’s a miracle–the miracle of worship! But just when we’ve reached this high point, it becomes evident that none of us–even God’s appointed priests–have our act together. Here’s what happens next…

3) The priesthood brought judgment through disobedience. (Leviticus 10)

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me, I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people, I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent. (10:1-3)

Instead of consuming a sacrifice offered in faith and obedience, the Lord consumes two disobedient priests, the oldest sons of Aaron (and nephews of Moses). This may seem like an overreaction by God, but it’s not. The 16th century theologian John Calvin reflected on this passage: “If we reflect how holy a thing God’s worship is, the enormity of the punishment will by no means offend us.” God has done so much for Israel and given clear instructions on how worship is to be conducted. But Nadab and Abihu disobeyed God’s command. God is holy, and He defends that holiness no matter the cost. Whereas moments before, at the end of chapter 9, fire from the Lord brought shouts of joy from the people, fire from the Lord causes Aaron to sit in stunned and fearful silence. The seriousness of his priestly calling continues to dawn on him.

8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.” (10:8-11)

Priests must stay sober so that they can distinguish between the holy–God and all that belongs to Him–and the common, clean–that which may approach God—and unclean–that which may not approach God, which is what we’ll get into in the next couple of weeks. They must also remain able to teach Israel the laws of God.

THE LESSONS

1) Jesus, the Perfect Priest, enables His church to worship God. (Hebrew 2:10-18)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters… 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:10-18)

As much as Jesus is fully God, He also became fully human. He’s one of us–except He never sinned. He’s not a priest like Aaron who had to offer sacrifices for his own sin before he ever dared lead God’s people in worship. Jesus passed the test throughout His entire life. He never gave in to temptation, never gave up during trials. He was perfected through all His suffering and proved Himself to be able and willing to save God’s people.

In fact, Jesus defended God’s holiness, no matter the cost, by going all the way to the cross! That was the cost! Jesus became Nadab and Abihu–He became us–suffered the consequences of our sin–the wrath of the holy God! God’s holiness has been defended in the self-sacrifice of Christ, and there is no need for fear for those who are in Christ. He died to atone for our sins and now helps us worship God…

2) Jesus’ church enables the world to worship God. (1 Peter 2:9-12)

While there are some parallels between priests and church leaders like pastors or elders, the New Testament places a far greater emphasis on the idea that EVERY believer is made a priest through Christ. Here’s a prime example from Peter’s first letter to the churches in the New Testament…

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:9-12)

God has rescued us in Christ and given us a priestly role among the world today. Through our testimonies, we can share with others the difference God has made in our lives. Is it our job to convince everyone to love God? No. God must do a miracle in their hearts just as He’s done in ours. But it is our job to share how He has forgiven and changed us! Every area of our lives can display God’s holiness and glory and love and truth to others—how we learn, how we work, how we spend our money, how we use our gifts, how we handle our sexuality, how we care for a significant other or spouse, how we parent or grandparent, how we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, how we love our neighbors. Our whole lives become stages upon which God gets the glory.

Questions for Reflection and/or Discussion

1) Have you ever felt the need for a priest, someone to go between you and God? Why/why not? How does our understanding of God’s holiness and our shortcomings influence how we think about our need for a priest?

2) Read Hebrews 2:10-18. What makes Jesus the perfect priest? In what ways does He perfect the tasks that the Old Testament priesthood performed?

3) Read 2 Peter 2:9-12. In what ways does Jesus’ church act as a sort of priest? How has God’s glory and holiness changed you? How can you better represent Him to people around you?