The Third Book of Moses Called

Leviticus

The Talmud, an ancient Jewish commentary, refers to the Book of Leviticus as the “Law of the priests” and the “law of the offerings.” The Septuagint gives the book the title Leuitikon, which means, “that which pertains to the Levites.” From this word, the Latin Vulgate derived the title Leviticus, the name that appears in all English translations.

Leviticus is God’s guidebook for His newly redeemed people, showing them how to worship, serve, and obey God. The book highlights the awesome holiness of the Lord of Israel by detailing the kind of sacrifice and obedience necessary to enjoy fellowship with Him. Indeed, “you shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (19:2).

Leviticus focuses on the worship and spiritual walk of the nation of God and spells out in great detail the laws regulating sacrificial offerings, the appointment of the priesthood, as well as personal, cultural, and priestly purity. It also describes how to celebrate eight national feasts.

The laws regarding sacrificial offerings beautifully illustrate God’s desire to enjoy fellowship with men and women. To us, the instructions seem complex; it almost looks as though God went out of His way to make it difficult for His people to get to Him. But the whole sacrificial system—fulfilled and culminated in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross—actually pictures God’s grace, since through it He provided a way for His people to get to Him.

God designed this system to allow sinful men and women to carry on a relationship with their sinless Creator. God, of course, was under no obligation to provide such a system. Yet He had such a strong desire for fellowship that He willingly went to great lengths to make such fellowship possible.

Theme: Leviticus focuses on holiness—the prerequisite for sinful people to have fellowship with a holy God. The Hebrew people achieved a kind of “temporary holiness” through animal sacrifice and by obedience to God’s Word. Obedience always brings a blessing!

Author: Moses

Time: God delivered the Book of Leviticus to Moses on Mount Sinai, shortly after the exodus from Egypt, around 1447 B.C.

Structure: Leviticus opens with the laws surrounding sacrifices and offerings (1–7), followed by the lawful duties and requirements of the priests (8–10), then by laws regarding personal and national cleanliness and holiness (11–22), followed by laws regarding feasts (23). The laws of the final four chapters of Leviticus include God’s promises for keeping the Law and His warnings for violating it.

As you read Leviticus, watch for several life principles that play an important role in this book:

5. God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. See Leviticus 10:1–7.

21. Obedience always brings blessing. See Leviticus 25:18.

13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God. See Leviticus 26:14–30.