Book Introduction

The Third Book of Moses called Leviticus

LEVITICUS stands in the same relation to EXODUS, that the Epistles do to the Gospels. EXODUS is the record of redemption, and lays the foundation of the cleansing, worship, and service of a redeemed people. LEVITICUS gives the detail of the walk, worship, and service of that people. In EXODUS God speaks out of the mount to which approach was forbidden; in LEVITICUS He speaks out of the tabernacle in which He dwells in the midst of His people, to tell them that which befits His holiness in their approach to, and communion with, Himself.

The key word of Leviticus is holiness, occurring 87 times. Key verse is Lev 19.2.

LEVITICUS is in nine chief divisions:

I. The Offerings 1.-6. 7

II. The Law of the Offerings 6.8-7. 38.

III. Consecration 8. 1-9. 24

IV. A Warning Example 10. 1-20.

V. A Holy God Must Have a Cleansed People 11. -15.

VI. Atonement 16., 17.

VII. The Relationships of God's People 18.-22.

VIII.The Feasts of Jehovah, 23.

IX. Instructions and Warnings, 24.-27.

The burnt-offering

(1) typifies Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father's will even in death.

(2) it is atoning because the believer has not had this delight in the will of God; and

(3) substitutionary (Lev 1:4) because Christ did it in the sinner's stead. But the thought of penalty is not prominent. Heb 9:11-14 10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 Phil 2:8. The emphatic words Lev 1:3-5 are "burnt-sacrifice," "voluntary," "it shall be accepted for him," and "atonement." The creatures acceptable for sacrifice are five:

(1) The bullock, or ox, typifies Christ as the patient and enduring Servant 1Cor 9:9,10 Heb 12:2,3 "obedient unto death" Isa 52:13-15 Phil 2:5-8. His offering in this character is substitutionary, for this we have not been.

(2) The sheep, or lamb, typifies Christ in unresisting self-surrender to the death of the cross Isa 53:7 Acts 8:32-35.

(3) The goat typifies the sinner Mt 25:33 and, when used sacrificially, Christ, as "numbered with the transgressors" Isa 53:12 Lk 23:33 and "made sin," and "a curse" Gal 3:13 2Cor 5:21 as the sinner's substitute.

(4,5) The turtle-dove or pigeon. Naturally a symbol of mourning innocency Isa 38:14 59:11 Mt 23:37 Heb 7:26 is associated with poverty in Lev 5:7 and speaks of Him who for our sakes become poor Lk 9:58 and whose pathway of poverty which began with laying aside "the form of God," ended in the sacrifice through which we became rich 2Cor 8:9 Phil 2:6-8. The sacrifice of the poor Man becomes the poor man's sacrifice. Lk 2:24. These grades of typical sacrifice test the measure of our apprehension of the varied aspects of Christ's one sacrifice on the cross. The mature believer should see Christ crucified in all these aspects.

The laying of the offerer's hand signified acceptance and identification if himself with his offering. In type it answered to the believer's faith accepting and identifying himself with Christ Rom 4:5 6:3-11. The believer is justified by faith, and his faith is reckoned for righteousness, because his faith identifies him with Christ, who died as his sin-offering 2Cor 5:21 1Pet 2:24.

Margin atonement See Scofield Note: "Ex 29:33".

Fire. Essentially as symbol of God's holiness. As such it expresses God in three ways:

(1) In judgment upon that which His holiness utterly condemns (e.g.) Gen 19:24 Mk 9:43-48 Rev 20:15.

(2) in the manifestation of Himself, and of that which He approves Ex 3:2 1Pet 1:7 Ex 13:21

and (3) in purification (e.g) 1Cor 3:12-14 Mal 3:2,3. So, in Leviticus, the fire which only manifests the sweet savour of the burnt-, meal-, and peace- offerings, wholly consumes the sin-offering.

Margin fat That which burns most quickly -- devotedness, zeal.

The sweet savour offerings are Song called because they typify Christ in His own perfections, and in His affectionate devotion to the Father's will. The non-sweet savour offerings typify Christ as bearing the whole demerit of the sinner. Both are substantial. In our place Christ, in the burnt-offering, makes good our lack of devotedness, and, in the sin- and trespass-offerings, suffers because of our disobediences.