Overview Article
Leviticus enabled ancient Israel to live in relationship with a holy God. But now that Christ has come as our High Priest and ultimate sacrifice—thereby fulfilling many of the requirements outlined in Leviticus—what do laws governing ancient Israel’s system of worship, with its priests and animal sacrifices, have to do with us? Leviticus increases our understanding of God’s holiness. And God’s demand for those who know him remains the same: “I am the Lord your God. . . . You must be holy because I am holy” (Lev 11:44–45; 1 Pet 1:15–16).
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 16
Key Terms 99
Themes
Atonement 11 Leviticus 16 explains the Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest presented the community's sins to the LORD. Worshiping a holy God requires removing any ceremonial uncleanness or sin. God's grace accepted an a... Concern for the Poor 10 God instructed Israel to care for its people's well-being. Israel's covenant (special agreement) with God and its view of itself as a large family helped prevent claims to privilege. A family should support members in... Clean, Unclean, and Holy 7 The rules about ceremonial cleanness and uncleanness set Israel apart from other nations. One idea is that unclean things relate to death or the earth (see, for example, Leviticus 21:1 , 11 ; 22:8 ). Recent studies su... Holiness by Relationship 7 Holiness refers to God's transcendent nature and moral purity ( Leviticus 10:3 ). God is completely set apart from everything else. God is pure, perfect, and greater than all. But we are limited creatures who sin. So... God’s Instructions 6 The common Hebrew word torah is usually translated "law" in most English versions. This translation comes from the Greek word nomos , which often means "law." The Septuagint (the ancient Greek Old Testament) used nomo... The Family Redeemer 5 The idea of the family redeemer was established in the law of Moses. The story of Ruth shows us an example of this idea. In that book, this term has a specific legal meaning. In other places, the Hebrew term go’el tra... The Holiness of God’s People 4 God called the people of Israel "to be holy" because he freed them from slavery in Egypt (see Leviticus 11:45 ). He also freed humanity through Jesus Christ, who paid the price to release us from slavery to sin and de... Calling up the Dead 4 The Old Testament forbids magical practices like spiritism, divination, and necromancy. Necromancy involves contacting dead spirits, usually to seek future guidance (see Deuteronomy 18:9–12 ). Practicing necromancy an...
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Family, Community, and Sexual Sin 4 In Israel, the family was the foundation for the unity of the community. Each of the twelve tribes was a mixed group of families and clans. Together, these tribes made up the entire nation of Israel. While this unifie... Holiness and Sexual Purity 4 The Bible teaches that people should be holy in their sexual relationships. God created humans as sexual beings. The first command God gave to Adam and Eve was to "Be fruitful and multiply" ( Genesis 1:28 ). This mean... Community Identity 3 In many Western cultures, people often emphasize individual identity and personal independence. In contrast, many Eastern cultures, such as those in China and India, prioritize family and community relationships over... Blessing 3 Before the patriarch Jacob died, he blessed each of his sons and Joseph's sons ( Genesis 49:1–28 ; 48:3–20 ). This was also how his father Isaac had blessed him ( 27:27–29 ). A blessing gives, improves, and enriches l... God’s Absolute Holiness 3 Holiness is one main way to describe God. It is not just one of his many traits, it is central to who he is. Calling God “the Holy One” emphasizes how he is completely different than anyone or anything else. Creation... Living Water 3 Israel was a land often experiencing drought. People were very aware of water sources and quality. There were few year-round springs and rivers. So, people relied on a deep hole built underground to collect and store... Remove the Evil 3 Sin is so opposed to God’s holiness that it cannot exist with him. The same should be true for God's people. God is holy, and he expects his people to show his holiness ( Leviticus 11:45 ; 19:2 ). God required severe... The Glory of God 3 Glory in the Old Testament means something different than in English. In English, it often describes something temporary, like a sunset or last year's winning team. The Hebrew word for glory means what is "heavy" or "... Complete Dedication 3 The Hebrew word kherem (related to the verb kharam ) means something that is “specially set apart.” It has no exact match in modern English. The word can mean either to destroy something completely or to dedicate it f... Promised Land 3 God gave the first man and woman the task of governing the earth and ruling over creation. This was to meet their needs and honor the creator ( Genesis 1:28–30 ). But when humanity sinned, they became separated from G... Ancient Law Codes 2 Until the late 1800s, people thought the law of Moses was a unique legal code. They believed it existed nearly a thousand years before anything similar in Greek and Roman laws. Yet, archaeological excavations in Persi... Circumcision 2 Many ancient cultures practiced circumcision, the removal of the male foreskin (see Jeremiah 9:25–26 ). God chose circumcision as a sign of a covenant (special agreement) that focuses on descendants. God promised to m...
Related Articles
Outline
Use of Leviticus in the New Testament
Quoted 17 times across 9 New Testament books
Total quotations 17
Connected books 9
Most-connected book Matthew 5
Most Echoed Across the New Testament
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.
All References
| Leviticus | bookOverview.connections.ntReference | Compare |
|---|---|---|
| Leviticus 12:8 | Luke 2:24 | Compare |
| Leviticus 18:5 | Galatians 3:12 | Compare |
| Leviticus 18:5 | Romans 10:5 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:2 | 1 Peter 1:16 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:12 | Matthew 5:33 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Galatians 5:14 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | James 2:8 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Luke 10:27 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Matthew 5:43 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Matthew 19:19 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Matthew 22:39 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Mark 12:31 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Mark 12:33 | Compare |
| Leviticus 19:18 | Romans 13:9 | Compare |
| Leviticus 23:29 | Acts 3:23 | Compare |
| Leviticus 24:20 | Matthew 5:38 | Compare |
| Leviticus 26:11–12 | 2 Corinthians 6:16 | Compare |
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