Think Leviticus is Boring? Think Again!

February 16, 2017 Sharon Kaselonis

Think Leviticus is boring? Think again! Leviticus is often mistaken as boring, but a closer look will reveal a shadow of Jesus on every page.

In the New Testament, Paul explains that the law was given to reveal God's holiness and our lack thereof. We are completely incapable of living up to God's standard. God is perfect and we're not. The law demonstrates this.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

Where we failed - Jesus triumphed! Leviticus points out our failures, BUT Jesus did what we couldn't and He did it for us...

In Leviticus chapter 1 God gives the details of a walk, worship, and service that was acceptable to Him. In comparison, we look at the Gospels and see Jesus shouldering our failure to meet that standard and the consequences of our sin (Phil. 2:6-11).

Look up: Phil 2:6-11; Matt 11:29; 1 Pt 2:24

In Leviticus chapters 2 through 4 we find the high priest offering the required sacrifices. In contrast, consider the Gospels were we see Jesus, our Great High Priest, offering Himself as the fulfillment of the Levitical sacrifices.

Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life. He is our Great High Priest who stands making intercession for us. He is ourpeace offering, cleansing our conscience of past sin. He is our atonement, covering our transgressions. He is the sweet smelling sacrifice that, as hard as we may try, our dead works cannot produce.

Look up: Heb 4:14-16; Heb 7:25; Eph 2:14; Col 2:14; 1 John 2:2; Rom 3:25; Eph 5:2

As we take a closer look at these passages in Leviticus, let’s look to Jesus and we’ll be reminded of the price He paid as the Lamb of God.

For each of the following points, look up more verses and add to the list of New Testament fulfillment. There is an abundance of Scriptures that can be considered for each of these points!

Jesus is both our High Priest, the one making intercession on our behalf, and the perfect sacrifice.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Heb. 4:14

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Heb. 9:14

Jesus is our sacrifice (Lev. 1:4)

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” Eph. 5:2

Jesus seen in the meat offering (Lev. 2:1)

The meat offering was fine flour with oil and frankincense poured on it (Lev. 2:1). The four was refined and did not have any yeast in it. This is a type of Christ’s sinless life. The oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit. The Wisemen brought baby Jesus frankincense and Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume before He was crucified.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18

Jesus is our peace offering (Lev. 3:1)

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Col. 1:20

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” Eph. 2:14

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Rom. 5:1

Jesus is the sin offering (Lev. 4:1, 4)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5:21

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” Eph. 2:14

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Jesus is our trespass offering (Lev. 5:5, 6)

“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Rom. 4:7

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 8:12

Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God who laid down His own life. Dying on the cross, He paid the penalty that we owned. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17).

As we read through Leviticus, and through the Bible Cover2Cover, we can rejoice as we see God’s perfect standard and realize it has been completely and fully satisfied in Jesus Christ. As believers in Jesus Christ, we stand Redeemed, Forgiven, Justified, and are continually being Sanctified because of His great love.