Leviticus: Seedbed of NT Theology

[Elin]

Some have expressed interest in learning about Leviticus.

So this will be a tool for its study, chapter by chapter, maybe up to 15 chapters.

It will be notes of explanation which depend on first reading the chapter,
then consulting the notes given on relevant verses for more in-depth meaning
as you read the chapter the second time.

Leviticus is extremely rich in meaning, and should not be gobbled down, but masticated slowly.
Just skimming such rich material in curiousity is not the way to handle the word of God.

Introduction to Leviticus

1. Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumb line of NT theology,
because in it can be seen so many "patterns of the things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details, so it is the details that will be examined.

Leviticus drives home

• the holiness of God
• the nature of sin
• how an unholy people can approach a holy God; i.e., first, sin must be dealt with.

The patterns which can be seen in the ceremonies in Leviticus teach important

a) spiritual truth

• nature and character of God
• nature and work of Christ
• nature of grace

b) principles - of holiness (set apart--from sin, and to God)

 

[Elin]

The first 15 chapters of Leviticus reveal God's three-part remedy for sin.

So to get the most out of it, remember to read the chapter first in Leviticus, then review these notes.

Chapter 1 - Whole Burnt (Holocaust) Offering

• voluntary act of devotion and total consecration, not required to atone for sin
• always with grain and drink offerings
• offered every morning & evening by High Priest for people, burned continually on the altar
• could use deformed or stunted animal because it was voluntary (free-will) offering, but no other defects (blind, injured, maimed, diseased or cut - 22:22-24)

Picture of Christ, who was totally dedicated to God, and who voluntarily offered himself as a sacrifice (Jn 10:18).

The sacrificial system reveals the nature and work of Christ, therefore, the regulations are very specific so they will be an accurate revelation of the reality in Christ.

Sequence and Purpose of Sacrifices:

• sin, guilt - to make atonement, which is necessary for the sinner to be accepted by God
• burnt, grain - obedience, submission, dedication and consecration to God
• fellowship (peace) - fellowship with God and priest (in communal meal) who offered it

PERSONAL APPLICATION: In the purposes of the various sacrifices can be seen the elements of holiness

• confession
• repentance
• submission
• obedience
• dedication
• fellowship with God

The five steps of a sacrifice present many patterns which can be seen regarding the sacrifice of Christ:

v. 3 - presentation of sacrifice at door to be examined by the priest

• Christ presented himself for sacrifice - entry into Jerusalem (Lk 9:51)
• examination by the priests - Jn 18:12-13, 19-24; Mt 26: 57-65, 21:23-27

v. 4 - laying on of hands, confessing the sin

• sin transferred to, laid on animal, which died in sinner's place
• principle of substitionary atonement

v. 5 - animal slayed by sinner on north side of altar - Christ died north of the city

• to show personal responsibility for its death due to his sin
• to show sinner's judgment of his own sin (1Co 11:31) by its death
• to show agreement with righteous judgment of God on sin; i.e., death (Ro 6:25)

PERSONAL APPLICATION: As the sinner slayed the animal in judgment of sin and then cut it up, so we are to judge our own sin (1Co 11:31) and cut if off.

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: We must deal radically with our sin (Mk 9:43-48)

v. 5- blood applied to all sides of brazen altar for cleansing (which was defiled by sin laid on it), or to horns of gold altar

• Christ's blood cleanses all sin - 1Jn 1:7
• blood of Christ is applied in the NT by faith, trusting in the work of Christ on the cross (Ro 3:25)

v. 8-10 - sacrifice consumed, by total burning, or burning part of sacrifice and remainder eaten by priests

• priests removed guilt from the people by taking it within themselves (10:17)
• total burning was total consecration

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: As the burnt offering was totally consumed on the altar, so we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way to worship God (in view of what Christ did for us) - Ro 12:1.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the greatest commandment (Mk 12:28-30).

NT Parallels: in sacrificial regulations of Chp 1.
v. 5 - altar - pattern of Christ

• sinless, holy - altar is holy, sanctifies the gifts (Mt 23:19; Ex 29:37), as Christ sanctifies us
• sin-bearer, defiled - sin-bearing altar is defiled and must be cleansed by blood of the sacrifice, as our sin/defilement must be cleansed by the blood of Christ

v. 9 - aroma pleasing to God - because it is an act of total consecration by the offerer

6:9, 12 - continually burned on altar, fire never to go out because the fire came directly from the Lord (9:24)

• showed God's continual acceptance of the sacrifices

6:10 - priest - pattern of Christ

• white linen clothes (Ex 28:39, 42-43) - symbolizes righteousness (purity) of Christ
• ashes - symbol of sacrificed body of Christ

6:11 - placed in clean place - sacrificed body of Christ placed in undefiled tomb (Jn 19:41)

6:10 - on east side of altar (6:10) - points to Chris

• Morning Star (sun) - 2Pe 1:19; Rev 22:16
• his star in the east - Mt 2:2
• Star of Jacob - Nu 24:17
• see Ex 27:13; Nu 2:3, 3:28; 2Sa 23:4; S of S 6:10; Eze 10:19, 11:23, 43:1-4, 17, 44:1-3; Mal 4:2; Mt 24:7; Lk 1:78; Rev 2:28, 7:2

7:8 - skin given to priest to clothe himself, as sign of reconciliation through the sacrifice

• in the garden, the sacrificial animal was stripped of its skin and given to man to clothe himself, as a sign of reconciliation through the sacrifice
• picture of Christ - as the animal was stripped of its skin so that man (priest) might be clothed in it, so Christ (the sacrifice) was stripped of his righteousness and made sin for us, that we might be clothed in his righteousness (2Co 5;21) and acceptable to a holy God

Nu 15:5, 7 - always accompanied by drink and grain offerings

• flesh and bread must go together (Jn 6:51)
• bread and wine were also sacrifices (offerings - Lev 5:11; Nu 15:4, 10, 28:7), prefiguring Christ (Lk 22:19-20)

Nu 28:7 - strong wine - power of the blood of Christ to cleanse all sin (1Jn 1:7)

Nu 28:7 - wine poured out - Christ's blood was poured out in sacrifice (Mt 26:28)

• drink offering poured out represents death (2Tim 4:6; Php 2:7)

SUMMARY - Chapter 1

The whole burnt (holocaust) offering shows us something about:

1. nature of Christ:

• both holy and defiled, as the altar

2. work of Christ:

• fragrant offering pleasing to God - as the aroma of the sacrifices
• sacrificed body placed in an undefiled tomb - as ashes placed in a clean place
• sin bearer, stripped of his righteousness - as the animal was stipped of its skin
• would give his body as a sacrifice on the cross - as the bread was sacrificed on the altar (Nu 15:4)
• his blood would be poured out on the cross in sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin - as the wine offering was poured out in sacrifice (Nu 28:7)

3. nature of holiness: - as the Israelite slayed the animal in judgment of his own sin, and then cut it up,
so we are to judge our own sin and cut if off.

• We must deal radically with our sin (Mk 9:43-48).

 

[Abiding]

Elin, sounds exciting. It was a book i stayed away from for many years.
I thought it was there to put you to sleep. Wasnt i surprised later to
see what it really was.

Now im going to go away and google "masticated slowly"

 

[Elin]

CHAPTER 2 - Grain (Flour) Offering

• voluntary act of worship
• offered twice daily for the sin of the priests (Lev 6:19-22)
• sin sacrifice of the poor (Lev 5:11)
• portion is burned on altar, remainder is eaten by priests (except when offered for priests)
• accompanied all whole-burnt and fellowship offerings (Nu 15:8-10)
• most holy (as sin and guilt offerings - 6:17)

In the flour offering (sacrifice) can be seen a pattern of Christ, the Bread of Life (Jn 6:32-35), our complete provision (Php 4:19).

NT Parallels: in the regulations

v. 1 - oil poured on flour - Spirit poured on Christ without measure (Jn 3:34)

v. 2 - incense put on flour - prayer, intercession of Christ, our sacrifice (Heb 7:25)

v. 3 - only a portion burned on the alter (v. 2), rest of flour most holy - whatever touches will become holy (Lev 6:18)

• to lay hold of (touch) Christ in faith and obedience is to become holy

6:16 - remainder of flour sacrifice of sinner eaten by priest in a holy place, courtyard

• received sin of people into themselves (fed on them) - Lev 10:17
• picture of Christ as priest and sin-bearer receiving our sin (2Co 5:21; 1Pe 2:24))

6:23 - daily flour offerings for sin of priests not eaten by priests, but all is burned on the altar

• sin of priest must also be transferred to sin-bearer - altar (Christ), where the altar (fire) must eat up their offerings

vv. 4-7 - flour offering could be baked in an oven, prepared on a griddle or baked in a pan

• offering baked in an oven or prepared on a griddle must be without yeast
• symbol of sin which, if not dealt with, grows in our life just as yeast grows in bread

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Just as a little yeast will affect the whole loaf (Gal 5:9), so a little sin will ruin the whole life (1Co 5:6-8).

v. 11 - no honey on altar

• have no pleasure (honey) in sin (sacrifices)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Do not take pleasure in sin; and do not mix your pleasure with sin.

v. 13 - flour seasoned with salt - grace

• salt penetrates - grace penetrates to the level of our heart and motives, purifying them
• salt retards corruption - grace transforms our corruption
• salt aids healing - grace heals our sin (1Pe 2:24; see 2Kgs 2:20-22)
• salt makes the untasty tasty and acceptable - we are unacceptable to God without his grace

NT examples of salt as grace:

• Col 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace (no corruption), seasoned with salt (which retards corruption)."
• Mt 5:13 - "You are the salt of the earth (and the decaying earth needs salt). But if 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 by men."
  
  If the professing church (salt), loses its saltiness (holiness), it will no longer be good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled on by the world.
• Mk 9:50 - ". . .Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other."
  
  Grace retards our corruptions (the source of our conflicts - Jas 4:1) and makes us peaceable.
• Mk 9:49 - "Everyone will be salted with (sanctified by grace in) fire (of suffering and purification)."

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We must let God's grace penetrate every aspect of our lives, preserving us from evil, healing our sin and shortcomings, and making us pleasing to God (Ro 14:17-18; 2Co 5:9; Eph 5:8-10; Col 1:10).

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

SUMMARY - Chapter 2

The grain offering shows us something about:

1. nature of Christ - Holy Spirit would be poured out on Christ without measure, as the oil was poured on the flour sacrifice

2. work of Christ - would be our sin-bearer, taking our sin on himself, as the

• priest - who ate the grain offerings, taking their sin into himself
• altar - consumed the grain offerings for the priests, taking their sin onto itself

3. nature of sin - is in the heart, where it grows hidden like yeast, and will permeate our whole life if it is not dealt with radically (Mt 9:43-48).

4. nature of grace - is like salt, which penetrates our hearts to the level of our sin and corruption, transforming us there into the image of Christ

5. nature of holiness - as the grain sacrifices were seasoned with salt, so our lives are to be seasoned with grace to retard our corruption and sin, because

• without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

 

[Crazy4GODword]

CHAPTER 3 - Fellowship (Peace) Offering

• voluntary act of worship, not required to atone for sin; for thanksgiving, vow, request
• for peace and fellowship with God and priest
• communal meal
• always with grain and drink offerings (Nu 15:8-10)
• could use deformed or stunted animal (except for fulfillment of vow) because it was voluntary (free-will) offering,
  but no other defects (blind, injured, maimed, diseased, or cut - 22:22-24)

In the regulations for the fellowship offering can be seen patterns of holiness and of Christ, whose flesh is living bread, given for the life of the world (Jn 6:51-56).

v. 2 - blood sprinkled on all sides of the brazen altar

• to totally cleanse it of its defilement by the sin laid on the sacrifice, which was burned on it
• NT parallel - the blood of Christ totally cleanses (1Jn 1:7)

vv. 3-4 - only inner fat (suet) and kidneys were burned on the altar

• NT parallel - our inner heart given to God

the meat offering and grain offerings were eaten

v. 5 - although they were not sacrifices for sin, there is an element of atonement (burning) even in sacrifices of fellowship and worship, because

• atonement is the basis of all acceptable worship of and fellowship with God

v. 5 - burned on top of the daily whole-burnt offering (offered for consecration)

• to the fat of consecration (burnt offering) already on the altar was added the fat of fellowship and peace,
  which are a continuation and consequences of consecration

v. 16 - all the fat (suet) is the Lord's, the choicest portion (Ne 8:10, KJV), to be burned on the altar (Lev 7:25)

v. 17 - forbidden to eat any fat or any blood

• the fat is the Lord's (v. 16)
• the life of the creature is in the blood, which is given to make atonement, by substitution of its life for the sinner's life (17:11)
• blood was only for the pouring out of atonement, it was not for consumption

Lev 7:12-14 - in fellowship offering for thanksgiving, the meat always with three different grain offerings (bread, wafers, flour) with oil, to be eaten by priest

• flesh and bread must go together (Jn 6:51)
• cakes of bread and wafers made without yeast--bread without sin
• cakes of bread also made with yeast--bread with sin
• NT parallel - Christ, the Bread of Life without sin, who took on our sin (1Pe 2:24)

Lev 7:15-18 - part of the sacrifice was taken home and eaten in a communal meal - taking within himself the benefits of the sacrifice,
which were peace, fellowship with God and priest who offered it, who also ate a portion

• NT parallel - we receive the benefits of Christ's sacrifice in the Lord's Supper, which are peace and fellowship with God and the priest who offered it (Christ).

Lev 7:15 - sacrifice must not see decay

• NT parallel - Christ in the tomb (Ps 16:10)

Lev 7:17 - meat of the sacrifice must not be kept beyond the third day

• NT parallel - Christ did not remain in the tomb beyond the third day

Lev 7:20 - unclean who partake of the sacrificial meal must be cut off (put to death)

• NT parallel - 1Co 11:27-30: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup unworthily. . .eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is
  why. . .a number have died."

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We must deal with (give up) unrepentant sin before coming to the Lord's Table (1Co 11:28-29).

Lev 7:34 - meat waved and heaved to God by offerer

• breast - waved - to and fro to the God of the earth
  breast could signify affection offered to God
• right thigh - heaved - lifted up to the God of heaven
  thigh could signify strength, in honor of the power of God

SUMMARY - Chapter 3

The fellowship (peace) offering shows us something about:

1. nature of Christ

• without decay of death - as fellowship offering must not see decay

2. work of Christ

• body would not remain in the tomb beyond the third day - as the flesh of the fellowship offering could not be kept beyond the third day

3. nature of holiness

• fellowship with God is based on (and is the result of) consecration to God - as the fat of consecration was the base of the fat of fellowship
• the unworthy who partake of the Lord's Supper will be judged - as the unclean who partook of the fellowship sacrifice were cut off.
  
  We must deal with (give up) unrepentant sin before coming to the Lord's Table (1Co 11:28-29).

4. nature of Lord's Supper - the NT sacrificial meal where through faith we receive into ourselves (participate in - 1Co 10:16) the benefits of Christ's sacrifice, which are

• pardon of sin
• peace and acceptance with God
• access to the throne of grace
• fellowhship with God in Christ, the priest who offered it

as in the OT sacrificial meal, the offerer participated in the benefits of the fellowship sacrifice, in fellowship with the priest who offered it

5. In two OT pre-figures can be seen the nature of the Lord's Supper

• Passover Meal - memorial of the Passover (Dt 16:1-7) where they ate the flesh of the slaughtered lamb whose blood on their doorposts delivered them from death (Ex 12:3-11)
• Fellowship Sacrificial Meal - where the offerer received into himself (participation in) the benefits of the sacrifice by participating in a sacrificial meal of the flesh of the sacrifice
• for four Biblical patterns which show the meaning, purpose and importance of the Lord's Supper, see here

6. The Lord's Supper is

• a memorial of our deliverance from eternal death by the blood of the Lamb (1Co 11:25) - as in the Passover meal,
  where we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1Co 11:26), and
• the NT sacrificial meal of living bread given for the life of the world (Jn 6:51-58), which through faith
  is participation (1 Co 10:16) in the benefits of Christ's sacrifice - as in the meal of the fellowship offering"

quoted from Eleanor or Elin

 

[zone]

outstanding Elin.
i cheated and consumed these posts before i got out Leviticus.
but am copy/saving.

and will open the Book.

looking for more.
i am SO thankful i found LCMS.
thank you Elin.

JUST AMAZING

 

[psychomom]

really wonderful

thank you, Elin, so much for sharing your work.
thank You, Lord our God for your Word!

 

[Elin]

CHAPTER 4 - Sin Offering

• mandatory for specific unintentional sin, as well as for
• confession of sin, forgiveness of sin and cleansing from defilement of sin
• priest and community offering differed from leader and member (most holy) offering
• blood applied to different altars; sacrifices consumed differently
• most holy, whoever touches will become holy (6:17-18) - see 2:3
• animal must be without defect (no stunted, deformed or blind, injured, maimed, diseased, or cut), because offering is mandatory (22:22-24)

In the mandatory sin offering can be seen a pattern of Christ, the perfect, sinless one sacrifice for sin (Jn 8:46; Heb 9:28).

v. 3 - The sin of the priest brought guilt on the people

• their spiritual well-being depended on the faithfulness of their High Priest
• the spiritual well-being of those who believe in Jesus Christ depends on the faithfulness of their High Priest, Jesus Christ (Heb 4:14--5:10)

NT Parallels: seen in the regulations

vv. 6, 16-17 - blood of the sin offering for priests or community taken into the Holy Place and sprinkled seven times before the shielding curtain

• complete and perfect atonement of the blood of Christ
• Christ's blood was taken into the Most Holy Place when he ascended into heaven (Heb 9:11-12)

vv. 7, 18 - blood applied to gold altar of incense with finger

• Holy Spirit is called the finger of God (Lk 11:2, see parallel Mt 12:28), who applies the blood of Christ to our sin through faith
• incense burning on altar can represent prayer ascending to God (Rev 5:8, 8:3-4)
• our prayer must be cleansed by the blood of Christ,
  because even the prayer and praises of a sinful people (1Jn 1:8-10) are defiled (Ex 28:38; Is 64:6)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:
• The only basis for prayer is the shed blood of Christ.

vv. 7, 18 - remainder of blood poured out at base of brazen altar

• Christ was sacrificed on the altar of the cross, where his blood was poured out at its base (Jn 19:34, 37)

vv. 7-10, 19-20 - inner kidneys and fat burned on altar

• our inner part, the heart, given to God

vv. 12, 21 - the rest of the sacrificial animal is burned outside the camp on the ceremonially clean ash heap of the burnt offerings (Lev 6:11)

• fire consumed the sacrifice
• outside the camp where their sin had been put away, never to rise up in judgment against them
• Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem (Heb 13:10-11)

6:30 - sin offering whose blood is taken into the Holy Place could not be eaten, must be totally burned on the altar

• The sacrifices only covered sin (Ro 4:7; Ps 85:2), they did not remit (take away) sin (Heb 10:4, 11), so
• because the blood of the true sacrifice (Christ) was not yet taken into the true (heavenly) sanctuary (Heb 9:12, 10:24)
  to purchase forgiveness (remittance) of sin (i.e., salvation), the sinner could not yet participate (1Co 10:16) in the benefits of remission (only of covering) by eating of the sacrifice

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:
• The OT priest could not eat the flesh of the altar if the blood was taken into the Holy Place,
  but the NT priest (believer - 1Pe 2:5) can eat the flesh of the altar (Lord's Supper) because the blood (of Christ)
  has been taken into the Most Holy Place (heaven).

vv. 25, 30 - blood of sin offering for leader or member applied to horns of brazen altar

• to remove guilt, and poured out at base of altar
• if they did not forsake their sin, the blood of the sin offering applied to the horns of the brazen altar
  remained as a witness against them (Jer 17:1)

v. 26 - fat only is burned on the altar, flesh is consumed by priests (6:26)

• received sin of people into themselves (fed on them) - 10:17
• Christ our priest and sin-bearer received our sin (2Co 5:21; 1Pe 2:24)

v. 31 - sin offering is an aroma pleasing to the Lord

• the atoning work of Chrst is a delight to the Lord

6:27 - any blood-spattered garment must be washed in a holy place

• NT parallel - Heb 10:29: the blood of Christ must not be treated as an unholy thing

6:25-28 - the sin sacrifice was both most holy and defiled

• the most holy Christ, our sin sacrifice, was defiled by our sin which he bore (1Pe 2:24)

4:13-14 - sin sacrifice was for unintentional sin only (sins of the faithful) - Lev 4:2, 13-14, 22, 27

• fails to speak up when he hears a public charge to testify
• touches anything ceremonially unclean
• touches human uncleanness
• thoughtlessly takes an oath (5:1-5)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:
• Ignorance does not excuse from responsibility and guilt of sin (Lev 5:17, 4:13-14).

Nu 15:30 - no sacrifice for intentional (high-handed, defiant, rebellious) sin

• the sinner is held responsible, he must bear his own guilt, because there is no sacrifice to bear it for him, he dies in his guilt, with his sin unforgiven (Lev 19:8, 20:17, 24:15-16, 7:18, 20, 25, 17:16)
• points to sin of unbelief/rebellion (Heb 10:26-27; Jn 3:18)
• note the exacting justice of God (Mt 5:25-26, 18:32-35)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:
• How do we satisfy the exacting justice of God? . .Jesus has done it for those who believe in him (Jn 3:18).

Nu 28:3 - sacrificial animal must be without defect, because sacrifice was mandatory

• our sin sacrifice, Jesus Christ, was without defect, pure, perfect, sinless (Jn 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15, 7:26; 1Pe 2:22)

5:1-5 - confession of sin must be specific

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Our confession of sin should be specific, to show
• realization of our sin
• awareness of God's holiness
• willingness to turn from (repent of) the sin

5:6-7 - sacrifices were penalty for sin (5:14, 6:6, 21:41, 43) - Jesus died as penalty for sin (Ro 3:25)

• God's response to sin is punitive (Lk 12:47-48; Ro 2:8)
• principle of penal atonement

5:11 - no oil or incense on grain offering for atonement of sin

• must not be pleasing to the taste (oil) or smell (incense), as sin is not pleasing to God

5:12 - grain offering for atonement of sin burned on top of animal (blood) sacrifices

• "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin." (Heb 9:22)
• the blood sacrifice was the base (basis) of atonement in the grain offering

SUMMARY - Chapter 4

The sin offering shows us something about:

1. nature of Christ - both holy and defiled, as the sin sacrifice, and the altar (chp 1)

2. work of Christ

• as priest, would offer himself as a substitutionary sin sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin - as the priest offered the substitutionary sin sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin
• outside Jerusalem - as the sin sacrifice was burned outside Jerusalem
• where his blood would be poured out at the foot of the cross - as the blood was poured out at the base of the brazen altar
• making complete atonement - as the blood sprinkled seven times before the shielding curtain to make atonement

3. holiness:

• prayer must be cleansed by the blood of Christ to be acceptable to God - as the gold altar of incense (prayer ascending to God) had to be cleansed by the blood
• the blood of Christ removes the guilt of the believer, but judges the guilt of the unbeliever - as the blood applied to the horns of the brazen altar removed the guilt of the repentant, but increased the guilt of the unrepentant

 

[Elin]

CHAPTERS 5-7 - Guilt Offering

• mandatory for unintentional sin where restitution was possible and, therefore, required
• accompanied by restitution, plus 20% (when there is no doubt of the sinfulness of the act)
• for cleansing of defilement
• most holy, whatever touches will become holy (6:17-18) - see 2:3
• animal must be without defect (no stunted, deformed, blind, injured, maimed, diseased, or cut - 22:22-24), because sacrifice was mandatory
• always a ram (fat-tailed sheep)

The guilt offering differed from the the sin offering, in that the sin offering was for atonement, while the guilt offering also required restitution, when possible.

Picture of Christ, who made restitution (expiation) plus appeasement (propitiation - 1Jn 2:2, 4:10; Ro 3:25) for our sin by his sacrifice.

Chapter 5 - Unintentional Sin

v. 14-19 - for unintentional sins against the holy things

• against priests
• ignorantly (unaware) used what should have been offered for tithes, first fruits, first-born animals (Lev 22:14)
• when uncertain if action was sinful, it had to be treated as sin (requiring sacrifice and restitution, but not an additional 20%)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: When uncertain if an action is sinful or not, we are to treat it as sin (avoid it) - Ro 14:23.

Chapter 6 - Unfaithfulness to the LORD

vv. 1-3 - for sins against common things

• against neighbor
• deceives about something left in his care or stolen
• cheats his neighbor
• finds lost property and lies about it
• swears falsely
• restitution, plus additional 20%, to effect reconciliation (appeasement) in addition to forgiveness

PERSONAL APPLICATION: To sin against our neighbor in property matters is to sin against the Lord.
Protecting our neighbors' property is a matter of faithfulness to the Lord (Ex 22:7-15; Dt 22:1-3; see Mt 5:23-24).
No "finders keepers, losers weepers."

vv. 19-23 - ORDINATION OFFERING

• grain offering of the priest, prepared with oil on a griddle, burned completely, half in the morning and half in the evening on day of ordination
• must not be eaten by priests, because sin of priest must be transferred to sin-bearing altar, where the altar (fire) must eat up the offering

v. 21 - oil poured on and incense put on the flour, as in the grain offering of chp 2

• picture of Christ - on whom the Holy Spirit (oil) was poured without measure (Jn 3:34)
• who always lives to intercede (incense = prayer) for those who believe in him (Heb 7:25, 9:24; Ro 8:34; 1Jn 2:1)

Chapter 7 - Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden

vv. 22-25 - fat (suet - around kidneys and liver) must not be eaten - punishable by death

• the fat was the Lord's (3:16), the choicest portion (Nu 8:10, KJV), to be burned on the altar

vv. 26-27 - blood of birds and animals must not be eaten - punishable by death

SUMMARY - Chapters 5-7

The guilt offering shows us something about:

1. work of Christ - in paying the penalty for sin (5:6, 7, 14, 6:6, 21:41, 43) Christ would satisfy (expiate) God's justice, and in addition appease (propitiate) God's wrath (Ro 3:25),
just as the guilt sacrifice was accompanied by restitution (expiation) for forgiveness by one's neighbor, plus an additional 20% to effect reconciliation (propitiation)

2. nature of holiness

• in cases of uncertainty about sin, we are to treat the action as sin (avoid it) - just as cases of uncertainty about sinfulness had to be treated as sin (requiring sacrifice)
• to deceive our neighbor is to sin against the Lord, for all sin is against the Lord (Ps 51:4)

Chp 7 completes the powerful gospel truths given in the Levitical regulations for the five different sacrifices.
There are regulations also in Numbers, which have been included here in chps 1-7, for complete coverage of all regulations.

In chp 1-7, God establishes the first leg, substitutionary penal atonement, of the three-legged stool which is his remedy for sin.

 

[Elin]

CHAPTER 8 - Establishment of Priesthood

Having established substitutionary penal atonement in chps 1-7 as the first leg of the three-legged stool which is God's remedy for sin,
in chp 8 God now establishes the second part of his three-pronged remedy--the Priesthood as the mediator between God and man.

The priesthood begins with Moses' ordination of his brother, Aaron, and his four sons, of the tribe of Levi.

Ex 29:9 - ordination (to fill the hand, Lev 8:27) - to fill with the Holy Spirit

Ex 29:1 - consecration - to set apart for sacred use

NT Parallels: in Moses' ordination and clothing of High Priest

v. 6 - washed

• all priests washed at ordination
• symbol of regeneration (rebirth, born again - Jn 3:3, 5), saved through washing of regeneration (Tit 3:5)
• the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ, was washed at his ordination, in the Jordan (Mt 3:16-17)

v. 7 - clothed in tunic - long sleeved, floor-length undergarment

• white linen - signifies purity, sinlessness, righteousness, holiness of the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ
  (Jn 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 7:26, 4:15; 1Pe 2:22)

v. 7 - robe - mid-sleeved, three-quarter length garment worn over the tunic

• blue - signifies heaven, the origin of the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ (Jn 3:13, 6:32-33, 38, 42, 62)

v. 7 - ephod - sleeveless, mid-length garment worn over the robe, made of white linen, embroidered in

• gold - signifies divinity of the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ (Holy of Holies made of gold--Ex 25-26; Jn 1:1, 5:18, 14:7-9, 12:44-45; Php 2:6)
• blue - signifies heavenly origin of the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ (Jn 3:13, 6:32-33, 38, 42, 62)
• purple - signifies royalty, kingship of NT High Priest, Jesus Christ (Lk 1:33; 1Co 15:25; 2Tim 2:12)
• scarlet - signifies atoning blood offered by the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ (Ro 3:25; Heb 2:17, 9:23; 1Jn 4:10)
• same embroidered linen used for
  • walls of the Holy Place (Ex 26:1)
  • curtain of the Most Holy Place (Ex 26:31)
  • curtain at entrance to Courtyard on the east (Ex 26:36)

v. 8 - breastpiece - suspended from straps over the shoulders

• with 12 jewels, each engraved with a tribe of Israel
• symbol of God's people as his treasure (Ex 19:5; Dt 7:6)
• to bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual memorial before the Lord
• our NT High Priest bears the names of his own (Jn 6:39, 10:28) over his heart as he continually intercedes for them in the Holy of Holies (Heb 7:25, 9:24)
• contained Urim and Thumin, for decision making, to bear the means for decision making over his heart before the Lord (Exz 28:30), see Pr 16:33

v. 9 - mitre (turban) - worn on the head

• white linen - signifying the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ, crowned with righteousness (purity) and holiness (Heb 2:9; 2Tim 4:8)

v. 9 - gold plate set on front of mitre - sacred diadem

• engraved with HOLY TO THE LORD
• worn on the front of the mitre
• to bear the guilt of the Israelites' sacred consecrated gifts (Ex 28:38) - even their sacred gifts were defiled (Is 64:6)
• (description of clothing for High Priest in Ex 28)

Having clothed the High Priest Aaron, Moses then prepares the holy things.

v. 10 - tabernacle and everything in it anointed and consecrated with oil

• signifies Holy Spirit who sanctifies

v. 11 - altar sprinkled seven times with oil, anointing and consecrating it, all its utensils, and the basin with its stand

• seven signifies complete consecration, made most holy (Ex 20:25-29)

v. 12 - priest anointed by pouring oil on his head (see Ps 133:2)

• the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ, was anointed by the Holy Spirit at his ordination (Mt 3:16)
• oil poured, not spinkled, on priest
• the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ, was given the Holy Spirit without measure (Jn 3:34)

v. 15 - sin offering for priests - blood applied with Moses' finger to horns of brazen altar to purify it

• in the NT, the Holy Spirit (finger of God - Lk 11:20) applies Christ's atonement to purify the sin of those who believe in him

v. 23 - atoning blood of sin offering applied to priest's right ear, thumb and toe

• to cleanse totally from head to toe
• to bind them to the altar and its service

v. 30 - oil and blood sprinkled on priest's garments - to consecrate them, adorning them with the beauty of holiness (1Chr 16:29; 2Chr 20:21; Ps 29:1-2)

• oil - graces of the Spirit
• blood - cleansing of Christ, which clothes in righteousness (Rev 7:14)
• in the NT, the blood of Christ is to be sprinkled on our consciences (Heb 9:14), not on our clothes

v. 30 - oil and blood used together in consecration

• where there is the blood of justification (salvation), there is always the Spirit of sanctification (1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Sanctification is a necessary aspect of salvation.
  We have no Biblical warrant for believing we are justified (saved) if we are not being sanctified; i.e., are living in known sin. (Heb 12:14; Mt 5:8)

v. 33 - ordination sacrifices repeated for seven days - points to inadequacy and adequacy

• repeated - shows inadequacy of sacrifices to take away sin (Heb 10:1-4)
• seven - complete; pointing to the NT "one sacrifice which made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Heb 10:14)

v. 36 - Moses (and Aaron) did everything the Lord commanded (v. 9, 13, 17, 21, 29)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:
• We are chosen by God for obedience to Jesus Christ (1Pe 1:2; Jn 14:21; Heb 5:9; 1Jn 5:3).

SUMMARY - Chapter 8

The High Priestly garments point to the glory of the NT High Priest, Jesus Christ, in his nature and work

• heavenly origin - Jn 3:13, 6:32-33, 38, 42, 62
• divine nature - Jn 1:1, 5:18, 14:7-9, 12:44-45; Php 2:6
• purity, holiness - Jn 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 7:26, 4:15; 1Pe 2:22
• kingship - Jn 18:36-37; Lk 1:33, 23:3; 1Co 15:25; 2Tim 2:12
• atoning work - Mt 20:28, 26:28; Heb 7:27, 9:26, 28: 1 Pe 3:18

 

[zone]

bump thread.
still workin' from it

 

[Elin]

CHAPTERS 9-10 -Priests Begin Their Ministry

Having established the first of his three-prong remedy for sin,
sutstitutionary penal atonement through the shedding of blood in the five different sacrifices (chps 1-7),
God then established the second prong of this three-prong remedy, the priesthood as mediator between God and man (chp 8).

In Chap 9, the priests begin their appointed duties.

CHAPTER 9 - Priests Offer Their First Sacrifices

vv. 1-21 - the High Priest Aaron, assisted by his two eldest sons the priests, offer their first sacrifices before all the people

• a sin offering and burnt offering for the priests (themselves)
• a sin offering, burnt offering with its grain offering, and fellowship offering for the people

all according to the Lord's command, so that the glory of the Lord would appear to them (v.6)

v.22 - after waving the fellowship offering, the High Priest Aaron blessed the people (Nu 22:26) and stepped down

vv. 23-24 - then when he and Moses came out of the Holy Place, together they blessed the people and

• the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people
• fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering with its fat portion (Heb 12:29)
• indicating God's acceptance of the sacrifices
• and when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We must do what the Lord commands so that the glory of the Lord may dwell with us.

CHAPTER 10 - Strange Fire

In Chp 10,

• Nadab and Abihu offer worship to God of their own devising
• Israel learns the nature of God's exacting holiness
• we learn how contrary to our culture are God's ways, which are not our ways (Is 55:8-9)

The chapter is a picture of Jn 14:6: there is only one way to approach God which will avoid the divine judgment--the way
he has authorized--in Jesus Christ

v. 1 - Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's two oldest sons, who

• had been with Moses and the elders on Mt Sinai (Ex 24:1)
• had seen the Lord (Ex 24:11)
• had participated in the covenant meal in the presence of the Lord (Ex 24:11)

offered fire and incense in the Holy Place

v. 1 - contrary to the Lord's command.

• only the High Priest (Aaron) was to burn incense before the Lord in the Holy Place (Ex 30:7-8)
• only the High Priest could look on the holy things in the Holy Place (Nu 4:15, 20)
• used defiled coals which did not come from the divine fire (Lev 9:24) on the sanctified altar (Lev 8:24), as prescribed (Lev 16:12)
• did not approach the Lord in the prescribed manner (through the High Priest), see 2Sa 6:3-7; 1Ch 15:12-15
• worshipped God in their own way instead of God's prescribed way--will worship (Col 2:22-23, KJV)
• picture of God's response to all who do not approach him in the prescribed manner (through his High Priest, Jesus Christ - Heb 7:24--8:2)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: To escape divine judgment on sin, we must approach God in and through his High Priest, Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6).

v. 2 - fire from the presence of the Lord consumed the offenders, just as it had consumed the sacrifices - see Heb 12:29

• because they knowingly (intentionally) sinned against the holy things (5:14), there was no sacrifice for their sin (Nu 15:30), they died in their guilt - see Josh 6:15-19, 7:1, 20-26
• picture of God's response to all the guilty who have no sacrifice (no faith in the blood of Christ--Ro 3:25) to cleanse their sin

• BIBLICAL PRINICPLE: Those who approach God must be holy (cleansed by the blood of Christ) because God is holy.
• To approach God in unholiness (outside faith in the blood of Christ--Ro 3:25) is to provoke his judgment on sin.

v. 2 - those who offered unauthorized fire died by fire

• punishment corresponds to the sin, according to the law of retaliation (Lev 24:19-20--an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth)

v. 3 - "This is what the Lord spoke of. . ." - throughout the whole Law (e.g., Ex 19:10-13, 20-22, 24:1, 29:43-44, 34:14, Lev 8:35)

v. 3 - "Among those who approach me I will show myself holy;". . .(set apart, not like them. I will be worshipped with holiness and reverence, exactly as I have prescribed.)

v. 3 - "in the sight of all the people I will be honored." (If I am not honored and glorified by them, I will be honored and glorified upon them.) See Pharoah - Ex 14:4, 17-18

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: God is (made) known by the judgments he executes. (Ps 9:16; Ex 7:5, 9:14, 10:2, 14:4, 18)
• God is sovereign. He has created all mankind for his glory. Those who do not choose to glorify him will glorify him against their choosing (including Satan),
• for God is loser to no man. (Lk 12:59)

v. 6 - High Priest, Aaron is forbidden to use public ceremonies of mourning (must mourn silently, privately)

• to show greater value and affection for God and their work than for family and friends (Mt 22:36-38, 10:37, 12:47-48)
• to show he did not approve of the sin or disagree with the justice of God in its punishmnt, but agreed that God is right
  (Dt 32:4; Eze 18:25; Lk 7:29)
• shows the attitude and heart disposition of those who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (Mk 12:30)

v. 6 - all Israel is to mourn publicly

• not only mourn the loss of their new priests, but especially mourn their sin of disobedience which provoked the wrath of God
• so they would be moved to conscientious obedience in the furure

The two separate regulations show two principles:

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: To love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength is to agree with God
  that all his ways are just and all he does is good (Dt 32:4; Ps 119:68).

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: And to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is also to consecrate our hearts to conscientious obedience to all that he commands (Jn 14:15, 21, 23).

This is the second time the house of Levi (Moses, Aaron) is required to separate themselves from their families and agree with God's judgment on those families (golden calf - Ex 32:26-28), and which is why they are now set apart (separated) for the priesthood (Ex 32:29).

PERSONAL APPLICATION: God delights in his saints (Ps 16:3; Is 65:19; Zep 3:17; 2Sa 22:20) because they agree with (justify) him (Lk 7:29)

• particularly when they agree with him about (confess) their sin (1Jn 1:9; Ps 51:4),
  and with his chief purpose for man, which is to glorify him (1Co 10:31; Ro 1:21)
• God's enemies disagree with him (Lk 7:29-30; Rev 12:10; Ro 8:33-34)

v. 3 - Aaron, the High Priest, remained silent when the fire consumed his sons, Nadab and Abihu

• our high Priest, Christ, was silent (Is 53:7; Mk 14:61, 15:5; Lk 23:9; Jn 19:9) because he agreed with God's just judgment on our sin requiring the shedding of his blood in atonement (Heb 10:5-7)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: When God corrects us and those who belong to us for sin, we should be silent under the correction, and not quarrel with God, nor fault his justice, nor accuse him of wrong, but submit in all that he does (1Sa 3:18; 2Sa 15:26; Job 1:21).

v. 8 - God spoke to Aaron - God honored Aaron by speaking to him directly for the first time

v. 9 - God's prohibition of wine limited to the tabernacle, so they would not sin through lack of alertness and provoke his exacting justice

v. 10 - KEY VERSE: "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean."

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: We must separate the unclean (sin) from the clean (new nature) in our lives (Ro 8:13).

v. 11 - it was the duty of the priests and Levites to teach the Law of God to the people (Dt 31:9-11, 33:8, 10)

v. 17 - Aaron's sons, the priests Eleazar and Ithamar, did not eat the sin offering as required (6:26) to bear the guilt of the people

vv. 18-20 - Moses was satisfied with Aaron's reason for not eating the sin offering, contrary to Moses' command

• bread eaten in mourning was unclean (Hos 9:4; Dt 26:14)
• Aaron feared that if he ate the sacred portion in mourning, God would have been displeased because it would have defiled him as High Priest
• Moses was satisfied that Aaron was not disobedient

SUMMARY - Chapter10

The death of Nadab and Abihu shows us something about:

the nature and character of God:

• his ways are not our ways
• the only worship acceptable to him is what is authorized by him

Chapter 10 completes the powerful gospel truths given in the regulations for the second part of God's three-part remedy for sin.

• Part 1 = substitutionary atonement (chps 1-7)
• Part 2 = priesthood as mediator between God and man (chps 8-10)

 

[Elin]

CHAPTER 11 - Personal Defilement (Bodies, Food)

In Chp 11, God moves to the third part of the three-legged stool on which rests his remedy for salvation from his just wrath on sin.

The first leg is substitutionary penal atonement for sin in Chps 1-7 - in the five different sacrifices.
The second leg is the priesthood in Chps 8-10 - through whom the sacrifices must to be offered.
And now the third leg is spiritual cleanness (holiness), pictured in persons, food, clothing and houses.

First are regulations for unclean animals, bodies and food.
The distinction between clean and unclean was as old as the time of Noah (Ge 7:2-3), and was for sacrificial purposes only (Ge 9:3).

v. 2 - ceremonial prohibitions were only to the Jews - neighboring nations were under none of these obligations

• picture of God's spiritual Israel, the redeemed (Ro 2:28-29; Php 3:3; Gal 3:29), from whom more is required

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Because of our special privileges of adoption and fellowship with God, we must more than others take up the cross and deny ourselves (Mt 16:24-27).

v. 8 - must not touch carcasses of unclean animals, which would defile them

• picture of sin - which defiles everything it touches

The ceremonial laws were the barrier, or wall of partition (Eph 2:14), by which God separated Israel from the sin of the pagan Gentiles, as well as governed their daily lives.

• another picture of God's spiritual Israel, the redeemed (Ro 2:28-29; Php 3:3; Gal 3:29), who must be separated from sin

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Redemption requires separation from sin.
  In our hearts, minds and lives, we should be separated from the world (sin) and governed by God's ways (Ro 12:2; 1Jn 2:15; 1Pe 1:7).

vv. 24, 28 - must not touch dead bodies, which defiled them

• to show that all death is caused by sin (Ro 6:23), which defiles

Ceremonial uncleannes was not moral uncleanness, but a picture of moral uncleanness, which defiles the conscience (Tit 1:15).

vv. 24, 28 - ceremonial uncleanness removed at evening

• the guilt of sin was removed at the death of Christ in the evening of time, the last times, which are the NT (Heb 1:2, 9:26; 1Pe 1:20)
• the ceremonial laws were set aside (Heb 7:18-19) at the death of Christ in the evening of time, the last times, which are the NT

vv. 37-38 - ceremonial regulations required great care

• great care is also needed for gospel holiness (Ac 24:16; Ro 12:17; 2Co 8:21; 2Pe 3:14)

v. 43 - "Do not make yourselves unclean by them, or be made unclean by them."

• gospel as well as law: "Have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness." (Eph 5:11)

• BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Holiness in heart and life is essential to a relationship with God (Heb 12:14; 2Co 7:1; 1Th 4:7; 1Jn 3:3).

v. 44a - the reason they are to obey: "I am the LORD your God."

• God is sovereign. He made us, he owns us (Ex 19:5; Eze 18:4; Mt 20:15; Lk 17:7-9), and we are required to do whatever he pleases (Lk 17:10).

v. 44b - "Be holy because I am holy." - is also gospel law

• "Do not fashion yourselves acording to the lusts you had when you lived in ignorance." (1Pe 1:14-16)

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Gospel light (which removes ignorance) is to result in gospel behavior.

v. 47 - KEY VERSE: "You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean."

• We must separate sin from our lives.

vv. 44-45 - the food laws were not health regulations (see Ge 9:3), but symbolic holiness regulations,

• to show that every aspect of our lives, even eating and drinking, must be according to the will of God (1Co 10:31)

PERSONAL APPLICATION: The purpose of all God's laws is to sanctify us and make us holy (not for health considerations).

The food laws are set aside, there is no unclean food in the NT. (Heb 9:9-10; Ro 14:14, 17, 20; 1Co 8:8, 10:25; 1Tim 4:3-5; Col 2:16-19; Eph 2:14-15--where food laws were part of the barrier, which is now removed)

The unclean food of the NT is sin (Mt 15:11, 18).

 

[Abiding]

Can i audit and take the coarse
next semester?

 

[crossnote]

Can i audit and take the coarse
next semester?

You may, when you learn how to spell 'course'.

 

[Abiding]

ok gotcha

 

[BarlyGurl]

you got a horse?!!!

 

[BarlyGurl]

"masticated slowly"[/QUOTE]


that happens ALL THE TIME around here...

 

[Abiding]

you got a horse?!!!

Yes and a horse is a horse of "course" <-------------crossnote looky!

 

[crossnote]

you got a horse?!!!

Neighhhhh!