Summary of the Book of Leviticus

Author:
Moses was the author of the Book of Leviticus. Full article: Who wrote the Book of Leviticus? Who was the author of Leviticus?

Date of Writing:
The Book of Leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
Due to the Israelites’ 400-year captivity in Egypt, their understanding of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians. Leviticus aims to offer guidance and laws to a sinful yet redeemed people in their relationship with a holy God. The book emphasizes the necessity of personal holiness in response to a holy God. Sin must be atoned for through the proper offering of sacrifices (chapters 8-10). Additionally, Leviticus covers topics such as dietary regulations (clean and unclean foods), childbirth, and the careful management of diseases (chapters 11-15). Chapter 16 details the Day of Atonement, where an annual sacrifice is made for the collective sins of the people. Moreover, the people of God are instructed to live circumspectly in their personal, moral, and social conduct, in contrast to the practices of the surrounding heathen nations (chapters 17-22).

Key Verses:

Leviticus 1:4, “He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”

Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Leviticus 19:18, “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

Brief Summary:
Chapters 1–7 detail the required offerings for both the laity and the priesthood. Chapters 8–10 depict the consecration of Aaron and his sons.

Chapters 11–16 detail the regulations for various types of uncleanness. The final 10 chapters provide God’s instructions to His people for living a life of practical holiness. Various feasts were established for the worship of God, conducted and observed in accordance with God’s decrees. Obedience or disobedience to God’s commandments would result in blessings or curses (chapter 26). Chapter 27 addresses vows made to the Lord.

The central theme of Leviticus is holiness, reflecting God’s requirement for His people to be holy as He is holy. A key aspect is the concept of atonement, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining holiness before God, which can only be achieved through proper atonement.

Foreshadowings:
Many of the ritual practices in worship symbolize aspects of the person and work of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10 explains that the Mosaic Law serves as a foreshadowing of the future fulfillment in Christ, indicating that the daily sacrifices performed by the priests on behalf of the people prefigured the ultimate Sacrifice—Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice would be once and for all for those who believe in Him. The temporary holiness granted by the Law would eventually be superseded by the complete holiness received by Christians when they exchange their sin for the righteousness of Christ, as stated in «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Practical Application:
God regards His holiness with utmost seriousness, and we should do the same. In today’s postmodern church, there is a tendency to mold God according to our preferences, attributing to Him qualities we desire rather than those revealed in His Word. God’s absolute holiness, His majestic glory, and His “unapproachable light” «who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see:»To whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:16) are unfamiliar concepts to many Christians. We are called to walk in the Light and to rid ourselves of the darkness in our lives so that we may be pleasing in His sight. A holy God cannot tolerate blatant, unashamed sin in His people, and His holiness requires Him to punish it. We must not be casual in our attitudes toward sin or God’s abhorrence of it, nor should we treat it lightly in any way.

Praise the Lord that because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices. Leviticus focuses on substitution. The animals’ death served as a substitute penalty for those who have sinned. Similarly, but infinitely better, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the substitute for our sins. Now we can stand before a God of complete holiness without fear because He sees the righteousness of Christ in us.