Leviticus Overview

3rd book of the BIBLE, Old Testament, Pentateuch

Quoted 20 times in New Testament

Holiness mentioned 87 times in this books

The word “atonement” occurs 45 times

Relationship between first 3 books

Genesis: man ruined,

Exodus: man redeemed,

Leviticus: man worshiping

Holiness (Hebrew kedushah) is a key word in Leviticus, describing the sanctity of the divine presence

The sanctity of God and His great desire for fellowship with His people are clearly seen in the descriptions of the sacrificial system.

Leviticus is God’s guidebook for His newly redeemed people. It shows the Israelites:

How to worship God.

How to serve God.

How to obey God.

Leviticus does not deal with the Levites as a whole, but more with a segment of the Levites . . . the priests.

56 times in the 27 chapters of Leviticus, it is stated that God imparted these laws to Moses.

No geographical movement takes place in Leviticus. The Israelites remain at Mt. Sinai.

Leviticus contains very little narrative. It consists almost entirely of regulations for governing the relationship between God and Israel

To be holy means to be “set apart” or “Separated.” The Israelites were to be separated from other nations unto God.

The way to God was through a blood sacrifice.

Leviticus 17:11 – “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”

The blood sacrifices remind the worshippers that because of sin, the Holy God requires the costly gift of life.”

The blood of the innocent sacrificial animal become the substitute for the life of the guilty offender.

Various kinds of offerings in Leviticus include:

Burnt offerings

Meal offerings

Peace offerings

Sin offerings

Much of the Book of Leviticus is devoted to distinguishing between what is “clean” and “unclean,” and that which is “holy” from that which is “profane.”