Knowing God through His Word … Day by Day

Oh, No! Not Leviticus!

A sermon by Coty Pinckney, Community Bible Church, Williamstown, MA, 4/26/98

 

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What is your favorite book of the Bible? One of the gospels, perhaps Mark or John? Or the tale of the rapid spread of the early church told in Acts? Those who delight in a logical presentation of the Christian message might choose Romans, while others love the complete range of human emotion expressed in the Psalms.

Given the compelling story of the fall of man and God’s subsequent steps toward redemption through the lives of the patriarchs, some of you prefer Genesis. The display of God’s mighty power in freeing the Israelites from Egypt and speaking to his people at Sinai will attract others to the second book in the Bible, Exodus.

But what about the third book of the Bible? If Leviticus is your favorite book, would you please raise your hand? Is there no one? Well, that’s ok; I have never known anyone to say that Leviticus is their favorite book.

Indeed, many people would say quite the contrary. Those of you who have tried to read through the Bible cover to cover find Leviticus to be the first big challenge. Some give up in the middle of this book.

Well, this morning we begin a series of sermons on this relatively unpopular book. So let’s begin by facing the accusers: Why is Leviticus so unpopular?

Many readers object that this book focuses on:

1. A sacrificial system which is no longer relevant,
2. a priesthood which is no longer in existence,
3. and laws which are no longer binding.

The book, in sum, is thought to be out of date, of only historical interest to 20th century man.

Other readers simply feel uncomfortable. Indeed, if Leviticus were made into a movie, it would have to be labeled, “Adult Themes.” This book is full of discussion of sex and violence, blood and death, menstrual flows and seminal emissions. It even talks about eating locusts! So some readers feel squeamish, as these issues come up almost every page.

So should I just stop now and pick another book? Would we be better off just ignoring Leviticus? Why should we take the time and effort to study this book?

First, Leviticus is part of Scripture. Many of us like to quote 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All Scripture is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work.

Paul tells us here that Leviticus is God-breathed. Leviticus is profitable for us. We may not be able to see this as we read through the book in a cursory manner, but, as with all Scripture, we need to take it on faith that God will use His word to bless us and build us up.

But we can say more. Remember the prophecy about Jesus in Psalm 118?

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.

Stone cutters would shape the stones and present them to the chief builder, who would examine them to try to find the perfect stone for the corner of the building. The corner stone had to be perfect; if it were not square, the whole building would be off. Yet the builders rejected the very stone which was needed to create a perfect building. Leviticus, I suggest, is like that stone.

Or think of yourself standing before a locked door, with untold treasure on the other side. You have a huge ring of keys, hundreds of keys. You look at a particular key, examine the lock, and decide, “This old key can’t possibly fit; I’ll throw it away.” But that very key, the very key you reject, is the only one that can unlock the room full of riches.

I tell you this morning: Leviticus is the key to unlock the riches of the New Testament. A serious study of this wonderful book provides the key to understanding four concepts central to living the Christian life. Let’s consider these one by one.

The Concept of Sacrifice

We cannot understand the concept of sacrifice without studying the God-ordained sacrificial system presented in Leviticus.

Let me whet your appetite a bit here: Why did Jesus have to die? What did he accomplish in his death? Most of us here this morning will answer, correctly, that Jesus died as a substitute for us, that Jesus’ death saves us from our sins. That is right. But Leviticus brings out the often-ignored truth that the sacrificial system was not only concerned with forgiveness of sin. These offerings, as we shall see, were designed by God to meet our needs for love, for joy, and for peace. All that is in Leviticus.

Furthermore, in Romans 12:1, Paul tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. How can we possibly understand Paul’s injunction unless we understand the system of animal sacrifices presented here?

The Concept of Priesthood

Second, Leviticus describes the priesthood. Why should we be concerned about priests? In part, because Jesus is said to be our High Priest:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our confession, . . . let us draw near with confidence (Hebrews 4:14,16)

What is a high priest? What did Jesus do that made him act like a priest for us? Leviticus opens our eyes to these truths.

Furthermore, not only is Jesus our high priest, but the New Testament tells us that WE ARE PRIESTS! What does this mean? The New Testament alone gives us clues, but the authors presume their readers know the Law contained in Leviticus. So we need to study this book in order to understand our role as priests.

The Concept of Law

Third, Leviticus contains much of God’s Law given to the Israelites. Recall Jesus’ saying in the Sermon on the Mount:

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. (Mat 5:17-18)

So we need to study this book in order to understand the Law. And we need to ask ourselves how Jesus fulfilled the Law, and in what sense these laws are still relevant for us.

The Concept of Holiness 

In addition to sacrifice, priesthood, and law, Leviticus helps us to understand holiness. Now, we have a hard time with the term, ‘holy’. When you think of someone who is holy, what image comes to mind? Perhaps someone with his nose up in the air, someone who thinks he is better than everyone else. Or perhaps a mild-mannered person who is always spaced-out, so spaced-out that he’ll walk right into a ditch. Or perhaps your idea of a holy person is someone with a constantly sour face, someone who enjoys telling everyone else what not to do.

But that is not the biblical concept of holiness at all.

One might call holiness the central theme of Leviticus. Four times in this book God says something like, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26). Leviticus explains this grossly-misunderstood concept, and emphasizes the importance of holiness. We come to understand the holiness of God, and what holiness means for us by reading this book.

Let me give you a hint of what is coming here. Note that the root of the English word “holy” is the same as the root of the word “whole.” To be holy is to be a whole person, to be what you are intended to be, to have your act together. Leviticus tells us how to be whole persons.

So we can reject the arguments of those who say this book is irrelevant to us. The concepts of sacrifice, priesthood, law, and holiness are all central to our Christian walk; these are the themes of the book of Leviticus.

Permit me now to give you an example of a New Testament passage that will come alive to you after gaining a deeper understanding of these concepts. The entire book of Hebrews is one example, but here this morning let’s consider one of my favorite passages, 1 Peter 2:4-10

4  And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. (NASB, italic emphasis added)

Holiness. Priesthood. Sacrifices. They are all here. All of 1 Peter, and particularly this passage, comes alive with startling clarity when we gain a deeper understanding of these central concepts.

So we have determined WHY we should study Leviticus. The next question, then, is How to study this book.

To find out HOW to study Leviticus, and to read the REST of the sermon, please click here: