Leviticus

Is Leviticus Still Relevant?

What an Ancient Text Says to a Modern World

Introduction

Although Leviticus was the first book that Jewish children studied in the synagogue, it is often the last to be tackled by modern Christian readers, if they ever try!

-Gordan J. Wenham

The Book of Leviticus is at the center of rabbinic teaching and learning.  Traditionally, young children would begin their study of the Torah with Leviticus, for multiple reasons.  These include the idea that purity was a concept best grasped as a child, the emphasis on daily worship and life in general, and the theme of God making a point to dwell with His chosen people.  

There are many divisions within the book of Leviticus, ranging from sacrifice to temple cleaning, feasts and holy days, cleanliness and uncleanliness.  A major division is made between chapters 1-16 and 27 (The Priestly Code) and chapters 17-26 (The Holiness Code).  The former proves to be the more difficult of the two sections and thus merits our reflection and dialogue.

What Leviticus Says About God:  Creation of Tabernacle Worship

            Chapters 1-7 of Leviticus outline the multitude of sacrifices to be offered within the Tabernacle.  These include: burnt offerings (1:1-17, 6:8-13), grain offerings (2:1-16, 6:14-18, 6:19-23), peace offerings (3:1-17, 7:11-21, 7:28-36), sin offerings (4:1-5:13, 6:24-30), and guilt offerings (5:14-6:7, 7:1-10).  Each description provides the manner in which the sacrifice is given, what is offered, who it is on behalf of, etc.  The complexity of sacrificial worship is crucial in that it recognizes the many facets of human existence.  The sacrifices transcended economic status, priestly status, and even the uncleanliness of humanity (16:16).  Essentially, sacrifice allows for the consecration of humanity, regardless of circumstance or status.  In creating such a formula, God is providing a way for man to obey His command to, “consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy” (11:44). 

            In recognizing what God is doing through the sacrificial system, it becomes apparent that God is once again attempting to dwell with humanity, despite humanities consistent rebellion.  As chapter 10 proves, even when God goes to such great efforts to reconcile humanity, humanity finds a way to rebel.  Regardless, the mere fact that God is willing to provide communion between man and Himself points back to the garden and forward to the Incarnation. 

What Leviticus Says About Humanity:  The State of Being Unclean

            In addition to dietary laws (external uncleanliness), the book of Leviticus focuses on several internal catalysts for uncleanliness.  The unfortunate difficulty is that many of these factors that result in uncleanliness, can in no way be equated with sin.  To develop this point further, the examples of childbirth and skin disorder may be employed.

            First, Genesis 1:28 makes it apparent that childbirth is not only a necessary piece of human existence, but it is a direct command from God.  How then can an entire chapter (12) be dedicated to the ritual of cleansing after childbirth?  The answer is not that the act of giving birth is sinful, but that the woman herself, as well as her male counterpart (15:16), is sinful by nature and consequently so is their child.  George A.F. Knight explains that, “Rather, the woman is aware that all that she is and does, including having sex (and giving birth), is involved in her state of original sin.  Consequently she asks God to let it be that her baby should be born from a forgiven sinner”.

            Secondly, while there are several examples of God using leprosy as punishment for disobedience (Num. 12:10, 2 Kings. 5:27), there is little support for the idea that leprosy (as it is called) was a consequence of rebellion or sin.  Again, the question as to why these members of the Israelite nation would be excluded from Tabernacle worship must be asked.  In this case, the leper is rejected due to imperfection.  As previously discussed, holiness is what is being sought by the worshiper.  As Gordan Wenham puts it, “Peeling, raw skin is not perfect life, so it is understandable why it is regarded as unclean”.  It is only upon approved termination of the disease that the cleansing process may begin and the leper may be restored (14:1-57).

            Significant to the modern Christian is the fact that God requires complete holiness.  Unfortunately, when born with original sin, the task of achieving holiness is incredibly daunting.  Regardless, the message of Leviticus is that the Israelite (Christian) must seek to rid himself of all uncleanliness, even that which comes natural.  Here the Christian finds motivation to repent of original sin, recognize his depraved state, put to death the flesh, and embrace the gift of new life in Christ which alone provides escape from natural sin.

What Leviticus Says About Jesus:  Applying an Ancient Text to a First Century Messiah

            The New Testament makes many connections between Jesus and Leviticus including:  the idea of Jesus as our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14), Jesus as our sin offering (2 Corn. 5:21), Jesus’ blood as our peace offering (Col. 1:20), and so on.  These connections, as well as many others, allow the modern Christian to grasp a better understanding of everything that Christ is for us.  Considering the themes previously discussed, Hebrews 12:22-24 provides a wonderful example of the severity of God’s fellowship with humanity. 

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

            Using Leviticus as a background, it is a very serious matter to approach Zion, the dwelling place of Almighty God (Ps. 51:18, Isa. 28:18, Joel 2:32, Heb. 12:22).  As discussed previously, to approach the dwelling place of God would require complete holiness.  With the sacrificial system no longer in existence, this holiness hinges on the belief that in the sacrifice of Christ, each offering was made sufficiently, “once and for all” (Heb. 10:10).  Essentially, Christ must not only be a sacrifice for sin, but a sacrifice, which sufficiently substitutes for the entire Tabernacle worship model.  Only then may what is unclean without the “sprinkled blood” enter into the holy dwelling place of God.