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So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations. Leviticus 17:7 (ESV)

The cults of the near east at this time were noting short of witchcraft and satanism involving the direct worship of demons and satan himself (under various pseudo names). So the admonition against idolatry was a serious one, because when Gods people went astray it was not a momentary flirting with sin, it was full on adultery with Gods enemy.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Leviticus 17:11 (ESV)

When Jesus shed his blood, he gave his very life for us, it is by his blood that atonement is made for our sins

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:2 (ESV)

God prepares to speak concerning sexual relationships by declaring that he is The Lord your God. It is in the light of our relationship with and worship of God that we should have and pursue godly and pure relationships in marriage, family and community.

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. Leviticus 18:16 (ESV)

John the Baptist had to deal with this with Herod

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 (ESV)

Homosexuality is an abomination before God.

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:3 (ESV)

Family is at the heart of society, this is why it is one of the first things God addresses and the first the devil attacks. Even today’s political agendas with same sex marriage etc are an attack on the heart of society… The family.

And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:10 (ESV)

We should remember the poor in all our relative wealth here in the west. Gods model for society and social care is best

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17 (ESV)

We are called to be open and honest

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 (ESV)

This is the great command revived and emphasised by Jesus as being a summary of the law alongside the command to treasure God above all.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32 (ESV)

It is the opposite in today’s society, we can’t wait to get the old out of the way. We need God to chafe our hearts and minds

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25 (ESV)

No one can take away your testimony of what you know Jesus has done for you

“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.” This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean. Leviticus 15:31–33 (ESV)

This no longer directly applies but we can learn from it that God takes our sexual purity seriously and addresses it often in the new testament. see 2 Cor 12:21, Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5

and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Leviticus 16:2 (ESV)

It is such a privilege that we can now come boldly before God throne of grace. Without Jesus, approaching God’s throne was a fearful and dangerous thing because God is holy and we are not.

but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. Leviticus 16:10 (ESV)

Azazel means scapegoat but also speaks of the place in the wilderness that the goat would go to never to be seen again, a symbolic sign of sin being taken away. Jesus was our scapegoat, taking sin away.

and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. Leviticus 16:13 (ESV)

The cloud of incense served a very practical (as well as ceremonial) purpose, it covered Aaron’s eyes so he would not see God and die.

For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. Leviticus 16:30 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled the day of Atonement on the cross

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 (ESV)

God (not the devil) is sovereign over disability. God created the disabled for his purposes and to display his work in them sometimes resulting in their healing.

one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for him who is being cleansed. Leviticus 14:31 (ESV)

Thank God we no longer have to go through all of this, Jesus came and fulfilled all of this for us by dying for our sins on the cross and rising from the dead then ascending to heaven to be our High Priest. Jesus makes atonement for us through his sacrifice on the cross.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:31–33 (ESV)

The evidence (Staying in God’s word) and reward (knowing the truth, being free) of true discipleship.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. John 8:34–35 (ESV)

In the modern world we often talk about and exalt “free will” when in fact in sin our will is bound (not free) to a slave master which is sin itself. The act of sin actively enslaves.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. John 8:42 (ESV)

It was the Father that sent the Son. Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan from before the world began.

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 (ESV)

Unless we are chosen by God we can not understand Gods word or the teaching of Jesus. No amount of convincing will work without the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible not because we are wise or were convinced but because God adopted us and made us his children.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 (ESV)

Jesus bold claim to be God incarnate. The “I AM” is one of the most sacred names of God.

And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.” Leviticus 12:8 (ESV)

Mary the mother of Jesus was obedient to this command and brought this version of the offering to be cleansed after Jesus was born, this show that the family Jesus was born into was not wealthy

and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. Leviticus 13:3 (ESV)

Leprosy was a horrible disease and can be symbolic of sin which is is a disease of the heart (deeper than the skin)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

Jesus makes a bold and unique declaration to be the light of the world. This would have stirred up imagery in the ears of those listening (along with his earlier allusions using mana and living water) to the manifest presence and Glory of God seen in the wilderness and tabernacle. This is Jesus second I Am statement, revealing himself as the incarnate Word.

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19 (ESV)

Religions that supposedly honour God but dishonour Jesus, prove themselves to be false

This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, Leviticus 7:37 (ESV)

At the close of this section in Leviticus we get a summary of all 6 types of sacrifice described, all of which pointed forward to Jesus. This whole section (chapter 1-7) serves to remind us that worship in the church and our lives must be done in order and holiness.

And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Leviticus 8:23 (ESV)

We need the blood of Jesus on our ears so we always hear (listen) to the voice of God, hands to carry out (work) Gods commands and the feet to walk (act, behave) in holiness.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Leviticus 9:23 (ESV)

Gods glory was revealed as a stamp of approval for the newly built tabernacle, sacrifice system and most of all Arron as a mediator and his sons as priests. This again prefigures Jesus who is our high priest, who in entering his ministry after his sacrifice, revealed to us the glory of God’s indwelling presence on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:3 (ESV)

Ministry should not be undertaken or done lightly, God is holy and must be ministered to in holiness. Strange fire can represent anything we bring before The Lord which is itself not holy or just a cloak for our sinful attitude etc

You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.” Leviticus 10:10–11 (ESV)

As believers we too have been called to be priests, so we are called to be holy, this means we need to clearly distinguish between that which is holy and not, this discernment comes from Godds word and his Holy Spirit. We are also called to teach by our lifestyle and words. We are set apron to minister to God but also to be a witness.

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” John 7:46 (ESV)

Even the temple soldiers (These were not like the roman soldiers, they were actually chosen from the levites and so had religious training, which means the teaching of Jesus would have impacted them all the more) had to recognise the unparalleled wisdom of Jesus. Jesus is the Word incarnate, no one will ever compare to him in wisdom or speech. Even today many recognise the wisdom of Jesus but do not submit to him which is itself not wise. As CS Lewis said he can not just be a good teacher, the things Jesus said means he can only be a liar, a lunatic or LORD.