Survey of the Bible - Leviticus
Text: Hebrews 10:1-10
I. The book of Leviticus is a continuation of the Exodus - Leviticus 27:34
A. Where Exodus tells the story of Israel becoming a nation and the building of the tabernacle, Leviticus deals with the detailed instructions for carrying out of the law, particularly by the priests
B. The name of the book means “that pertaining to the Levites”
1. It was from the Levites that the priests, descendants of Aaron, a Levite, were taken - Exodus 28:41
2. Other Levites served as the priest’s helpers - Numbers 3:6-13
3. This is because they stood as a tribe against the sins of the other tribes - Exodus 32:26-29
4. This book then was the instructions to those God gave the task of running His worship
C. The book is a series of laws on a variety of topics
1. Most prominent are the various sacrifices – what was to be done and when they were to be done.
2. But there are also laws covering social interaction and health
3. It also contains two short historical accounts - Leviticus 8:1-10:19 and Leviticus 24:10-24
II. Outline of Leviticus
A. Laws of Offering - Leviticus 1-7
1. Burnt offering - Leviticus 1
a. A voluntary offering which is completely and totally given to God.
2. Meal offering - Leviticus 2
a. An offering to thank God
3. Peace offering - Leviticus 3
a. An offering showing fellowship with God
4. Sin offering - Leviticus 4
a. An offering for forgiveness of sins in general
5. Trespass offering - Leviticus 5
a. An offering for forgiveness of specific sins
6. Other laws concerning the offerings - Leviticus 6-7
B. Laws of Consecrating Priests - Leviticus 8-10
1. Done as a historical text relating the first consecration
2. Aaron and his sons anointed - Leviticus 8
3. Aaron’s offerings - Leviticus 9
4. Nadab and Abihu’s carelessness - Leviticus 10
C. Laws of Purity - Leviticus 11-15
1. Laws of food and touch - Leviticus 11
2. Laws of birth - Leviticus 12
3. Laws of skin diseases - Leviticus 13-14
4. Laws of discharges - Leviticus 15
D. Laws of Atonement - Leviticus 16
E. Laws for a Holy People - Leviticus 17-20
1. Laws Concerning Blood - Leviticus 17
2. Laws Concerning Sex - Leviticus 18
3. Applications of the Law - Leviticus 19
4. Penalties for breaking the Law - Leviticus 20
F. Laws for the Priests - Leviticus 22-22
G. Laws for Worship - Leviticus 23-25
1. The Holy Convocations (Special Sabbaths) - Leviticus 23
a. The Sabbath Day - Weekly worship and a remembrance that they were once slaves now freed.
b. Passover - Remembrance of God sparing the first born and Israel’s departure from Egypt and slavery
c. Unleavened Bread - Being purified by God (required attendance by all males)
d. Firstfruits - Thankfulness for blessings
e. Pentecost - Thankfulness for blessings (required attendance by all males)
f. Trumpets - Call for awareness of sins
g. Day of Atonement - Request for forgiveness of sins
h. Tabernacles - Remembrance of the wilderness wanderings (required attendance by all males)
i. Sabbath Year - Rest for the land and dependance on God, held every seven years
j. Jubilee - Restoration and Freedom, held every 50 years
2. Laws for Daily Worship - Leviticus 24:1-9
3. Laws for Judges - Leviticus 24:10-23
4. The Sabbath Year and Jubilee Year - Leviticus 25
H. Promises and Consequences - Leviticus 26
I. Laws concerning Vows and Consecrations - Leviticus 27
III. Types Seen in Leviticus
A. Sacrifices
1. Jesus being our sacrifice
a. Burnt offering - “Sweet smelling” - Ephesians 5:2
b. Atoning - II Corinthians 5:21
2. The Christian
a. Burnt offering - Romans 12:1
b. A drink offering - Philippians 2:17
c. Peace offering - The Lord’s Supper - I Corinthians 10:16-17
B. High Priest - Served as mediator between God and man
1. Jesus is our mediator - I Timothy 2:5
2. Jesus is our High Priest - Hebrews 4:14
3. Hebrews 8-10 describes how Jesus functions as a High Priest for us
C. Uncleanness was a type of sin
