Leviticus

Center of the Torah (3rd of 5 books) & Heart of the Torah (Law)

What is Torah? The manual, the Law, instruction
What is Pentateuch? The 5-part instruction
What is Leviticus? The teaching to Levites? Not exactly. Rather, things priestly.

Leviticus is a book of (trans)formation (Jesus was all about transformation)
It is not a book for entry into God’s favor, rather of behavior that God deems appropriate.
It is a “How To” book to please God, of living in Response to God.
Leviticus reveals these laws as the direct Word of God as direct authority for God’s people.

What have we seen so far in the Torah:
Genesis = Promise, Exodus = Presence, Leviticus = Response
All three themes are represented here, building on the foundation of the Torah (on itself)
It’s the proper response to the presence of God: holy worship and holy living.

As the Tabernacle was created to be placed in the center of the community, (God resides there)
God wants to be at the center of the lives of his people.
Physically and spiritually, just like Leviticus is laid out.

1. Instruction for Priests (Sacrifices & Rites)
2. Instruction of Priests – for all people

1-16 Laws for the whole creation – the use and preservation of holy space, sacred things
17-26 Holiness lived out in a societal context

Theme 1: Sacrificial System (Ritual Behavior)
What is a sacrifice?
What was the purpose of Sacrifice?
To sacrifice something was to make something holy, sacred, consecrated.
It is a means of achieving union with God
It is giving a gift
It is expiation for sin (forgivness)
It is an act of obedience.

How do we celebrate this sacrificial act today?
(In the Lord’s Supper we share a communal meal and celebrate the sacrifice made for us.)

Why do the Jews not use the sacrificial system today?
Destruction of the Temple in 70 AD stopped the sacrifices.
A common proverb (not from scripture) speaking of sacrificial system states:
What’s the use of this without that?
What is the meaning of this proverb?
What’s the use of this (sacrifice) without that (a proper heart relationship with God.)
The purpose of Sacrifice was not the action itself, but the condition of the heart

Atonement: At-One-ment
Forgiven – through the blood on the altar
Forgotten – through the blood on the scapegoat (Sent away)

Theme 2: Holiness Code (Ethical Behavior)
The Guide to living in society.

Ethical Behavior = practical living within society

Ritual Behavior = Thinking/proper corporate behavior

Leviticus is about drawing these two things together into a holistic faith lifestyle


Leviticus calls for both God’s priests and God’s people to distinguish between what is holy and what is profane.
It draws lines to help us see clearly (blurry to focused.)

Leviticus is a book that offers rituals and prescriptions for officiating priests
And create a purified people.

It’s purpose is as God stated in 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26, “Be holy as I am holy.”

What God touches becomes holy.
When God is present, the very ground has become holy (burning bush)
When God touched Mary, she became holy, and so did her child (Jesus)
When God touches us, our heart of sacrifice, we become holy.



Questions:
1. What power do you see in the Sacrificial System?
2. How might it be beneficial to the faith community?
3. There are ultra-orthodox Jews who want to rebuild the Temple, what are the dangers to Judaism if this were to happen? (simply speculate, there are no “right” answers.)
4. How are we to see and use the Holiness Code and the book of Leviticus today?
5. What changes might take place in the faith community (church) if we lived by this code?
6. We depend on these laws still today. They were the foundation of the community upon which the church was built and the very laws of our nation. What aren’t we living by as a church? As a community and nation? What might happen if we were to continue to “make God in our own image” and take laws into our own hands? (redefining “holiness” according to our own standards.)