1. The Story of God
Leviticus # 3

2. An Outline of Leviticus
Chapter 1-7: Laws about offerings. The presence of offerings doesn’t undo the need for personal purity
Chapter 8-10: Laws about the Priesthood
Chapter 11-16: Laws about Purification
Chapter 17-26: Instructions for Holiness
Chapter 27: Vows
This Outline comes from Alan Ross’ commentary on Leviticus: ”Holiness to the Lord”

3. The New Testament presumes that its readers are familiar with Leviticus
Mary went through the Levitical purification ritual after the birth of Jesus. Luke 2.22
Jesus commanded the healed leper to cleanse, Luke 5.14
Not eating unclean food. Acts 10
Many of the NT ethical considerations are grounded in Leviticus.

4. Everything in the book is about holiness
Priests must be clean before they can serve. Lev. 8-10
This involves wearing holy garments
This involves a personal ritual of cleansing
Even the altar they used had to be purified. 8.15; 16.16
When they failed, they died. Lev. 10

5. Jews needed to able to distinguish one from the other Food. Lev. 11
The distinction between clean and unclean extended to every area of life
Jews needed to able to distinguish one from the other
Food. Lev. 11
Childbirth. Lev. 12
Sickness. Lev
This culminated in an annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Lev. 16

6. Then the book takes up the subject of practical living
All offerings will be made to God, in accordance with His instructions. Lev. 17
Human sexuality must be holy. Lev. 18
Loving other people is more than a slogan. Lev. 19
Sin is serious and must be punished through the congregation. Lev. 20

7. Priests must abide in holiness. Lev. 21-22.16
Worship must be pleasing to God
Even if it is a voluntary offering, it must be pleasing
The Sabbath must be honored
The feasts and offerings must be observed
24.1-9: Oil and bread were placed before God, as a reminder to the people of His provision: spiritual and material

8. The name of the Lord must not be blasphemed. 24.10-23
God’s sovereignty over the land and the people must be honored. Lev. 25
Obedience is honored, and disobedience is punished. Lev. 26
Vows must be kept. Lev. 27

9. But even in Leviticus
These regulations were not treated as an oppressive burden
But as a delightful response to God’s deliverance
Lev. 11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Lev. 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.

10. Lev 22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, Lev 22:33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.
Lev. 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Lev. 25:42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.

11. Lev. 26:13 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.