Leviticus & Christ

Leviticus, The Holy Priesthood

Introduction: The Book of Leviticus speaks of the different offerings and sacrifices to be made before God. It reveals to us the punishment of sin in Leviticus 10 with the death of Nadab and Abihu. How to determine leprosy and what to do if a person, article of clothing, or even a house contained leprosy? Different offerings are mentioned, distinction between clean and unclean, and at times details that can be hard to keep straight. In our over all theme of looking at the Old Testament looking toward Christ we can to look at the Priesthood.

1. Comparisons Of the Three Dispensations

a. During the Patriarchal Dispensation—Man functioned as his own priest, offering sacrifices to God, Genesis 4.3, 4; 8.20

b. Levitical Priesthood

i. Aaron’s sons were the priesthood, Lev. 1.5,7,9,11,12,15

1. The priesthood was determined by God, must be of the tribe of Levi.

2. They were consecrated to serve God, Lev. 8.2

3. They were not to come to God unclean, Lev. 22.3-4

ii. God regulated their dress, what they could eat, who they could marry, in many cases more strictly than the rest of the tribes, Leviticus 21.

1. The High Priest had extra restrictions

a. He could not touch any dead person, Lev. 11.12

b. Could only marry a virgin, Lev. 21.13

c. Could not tear his clothes, thus in New Testament at the trial of Jesus this was violated,

Matthew 26.65

c. Priesthood under Christ, 1 Peter 2.5

i. All Christians are holy and consecrated before God

ii. We offer our spiritual service of sacrifice before God, Romans 12.1

2. Comparisons of the High Priest

a. Levitical High Priest

i. Was a man, Aaron, and seceding sons, able to understand man’s spiritual needs

ii. Made intercessions for the people, Lev. 16.16-17

iii. On the Day of Atonement, he entered the most Holy Place to

offer a sin sacrifice for the people, this is a place made by hands (earthly) Lev. 16.2-3

iv. First he had to offer atonement for himself, Lev. 16.6

1. His weakness seen in his own sins

2. The High Priest would be replaced upon his death (continual change)

3. The animal sacrifices were inadequate to make atonement for sin, Lev. 16.29-34; Hebrews 10.1

4. He was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place once a

year

b. Christ as Our High Priest

i. Was a man able to understand man’s spiritual needs, Hebrews 2.17

1. Born of a woman, lived his life as a man

2. Lived in accordance with the Law of Moses

ii. Intercedes on man’s behalf, Hebrews 7.25

iii. Christ enters the Holy Place made without hands, Hebrews 8.1; 9.24

iv. Christ is perfect and without weakness, Hebrews 7.28

1. He knew no sin, Hebrews 4.15

2. He is the one and only High Priest, Hebrews 7.23-24

3. Offered the perfect sacrifice to atone for sin, Himself, Hebrews 9.14

4. This sacrifice was made only once, Hebrews 9.28a; 10.12

5. He is always in the presence of God, at His right hand, Hebrews 10.12

3. Three Common Themes

a. Both priesthoods to be Holy, dedicated, and not profane the holy, Lev. 21.6; 22.2,15

i. The Holiness of God is mentioned many times in Leviticus. For the priesthood to approach God they must be holy.

1. Holiness requires man to be pure and undefiled.

2. We are called to live as a holy people, 1 Peter 2.9

ii. Dedicated to serve God, He must come first in their lives. They

were not to leave the temple for just any reason

1. They did not receive tribal lands for the Lord was their inheritance.

2. We are to place God first in our lives iii. Not profane the holy

1. To profane is to treat as ordinary – the items in the temple were holy, their lives were holy

2. We are to rise above the ordinary and be a special people

b. Ear, thumb, toe

i. The blood of the sacrifice was to be placed on the three body parts, Lev. 8.23; 14.14

ii. They were to hear God, to do the will of God, and to go at His bidding.

Conclusion: Summarizing Leviticus in three words, I AM HOLY; in six words, I AM

HOLY, You Be Holy.

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