All these offerings taken together give us a full view of christ and his great sacrificial work on the cross of calvary. Again we will be going through a portion of the meal offering, and maybe we will have enough time to get into the peace offering. The commentary goes on to make good use of literary analysis and comparative semitics. The lamp, the loaves, and the loudmouth leviticus 24 19. Jesus christ, the book becomes a document of vital importance. On top of this, leviticus is a bloody book, full of animal slaughter and dismemberment. It covers rituals, sacrifices, the priesthood, and feasts, as well as behaviors. In the book of leviticus, we learn that an israelite could offer a communion sacrifice as an expression of thanksgiving. In leviticus spiritual holiness is symbolized by physical perfection. Leviticus with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Leviticus is intimately linked with exodus, which describes how. Especially illuminating is his treatment and analysis of the meaning of tenple sacrifices, described in the. Wenham the book of leviticus the new international commentary on the old testament.
Orders are here given how that sort of sacrifice must be managed. A commentary on the book of leviticus gordon college faculty. The third book of moses, called leviticus chapter 1. Mar 11, 2016 commentary on leviticus 17 and the sacrifices as rituals of worship. As an introduction to all the upcoming portions of leviticus, lets look at six crucial lessons i believe. While the israelites were sacrificing animals at the time, this was a type picture, illustration of the coming redeemer who was promised as early as genesis 3. When any one of you brings an offering to the l ord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of leviticus.
He demonstrates the logic of israels sacrificial system, the ethical dimensions of ancient worship, and the priestly forms of ritual. However, for my money, a far better commentary on leviticus has been done by jacob milgrom in the anchor bible series. Now let us go back to the book of leviticus and in chapter 1, the first four verses. In the modern church it tends to be the last part of the bible that anyone looks at seriously. Because leviticus is largely concerned with subjects that seem incomprehensible and irrelevant today rituals for sacrifice and regulations concerning uncleanness. Leviticus used to be the first book that jewish children studied in the synagogue. Building upon his lifelong work on the book of leviticus, milgrom makes this book accessible to all readers. This was the inner meaning of the external ceremonies covered in the book of leviticus. In leviticus the principles of approaching god are shown. Unger genesis is the book of beginnings, exodus the book of redemption, and leviticus the book of atonement and a holy. If it was a sheep or goat, a lamb or kid, out of the flock. The book of leviticus is the book of fellowship or communion. Some years ago, while perusing the book of leviticus in the course of his daily.
Words in boxes are from the bible, except for the words in brackets. Commentary on leviticus 1 sacrifices february 11, 2015 bill pratt leave a comment the book of leviticus opens with god calling to moses from the tent of meeting. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary. Leviticus shows us, the sinful new testament people of god, how the sinful old testament people of god came before him. But till the israelites were in the wilderness, no very particular regulations seem to have been appointed. Levine ably brings modern scholarship as well as rabbinic commentary to bear when discussing the text. The pattern of sacrifice and thats where the book of leviticus comes in.
The word holy is mentioned more times in leviticus, than any other book in the bible. Over the period of a single month moses received the different classifications of blood sacrifice, the purity rites, the feast days and holy days of obligation that defined liturgical worship in gods sanctuary for the children of israel. Then the lord called to moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, speak to the sons of israel and say to them, lev. A sinful people cannot come into the presence of a holy god how they like. Duane lindsey adds that the book of leviticus was the first book studied by a jewish child. This weeks torah portion or bible weekly study began with the sacrifices in the book of leviticus.
Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary on. But our discussion will show, this describes the portion and successive ones only at the most basic, pshat, or simple level. Dec 23, 2010 the second section of the commentary proper covers the institution of the priesthood in leviticus 8. Leviticus 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Commentary on leviticus 17 and the sacrifices as rituals of worship. Then this book will appeal to you get right, say the offerings. Leviticus and the true sacrifice this article provides a good introduction to leviticus, showing how even the least interesting ceremonial books of the old testament foreshadow christ. The book of leviticus is a book of actual, real sacrifices. Apr 30, 2010 the book of leviticus provides many of the rules by which the israelites were supposed to live. These laws were designed to establish and foster a way of life for the people that was pleasing to god. The sacrifices of leviticus part 5 we are going to be going through another sermon in this series on the offerings of leviticus. Leviticus receives its name from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and means relating to the levites.
After camping out with the book of leviticus for about 3 monthsreading the scripture and wenhams commentary along the way, i must say i agree 100%. This commentary has been through advanced checking. What were the various sacrifices in the old testament. These chapters cover the ordination of aaron and his sons, aarons first sacrifices, and the judgment of nadam and abihu for offering strange fire. These passages also describe how to use the altar for the sacrifices and the offerings to god. First, it is likely to strike many readers as a dry legislative text specifying in minute detail the dozens of sacrifices and other ritual actions instituted by god through moses for the people of israel. David guzik bible commentary on leviticus 1 leviticus begins with a description of the sacrifice of the burnt offering, pointing to the work of jesus. Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary. There is nothing historical in all this book of leviticus except the account which it gives us of the consecration of the priesthood leviticus 8. Vayikra, leviticus, is my favorite book in the torah. Leviticus bible study commentary worship the lord in the beauty of holiness. Leviticus 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely.
The name leviticus is taken from the septuagint, identifying the section of the pentateuch which we call leviticus. The hebrew word for the book is wayiqraa, which, according to strongs a primitive root definition comes from qara, and which has the sense of calling a person by name. Although leviticus does not deal only with the special duties of the levites, it is so. Mathison says this commentary is not only the best commentary on the book of leviticus, it is one of the best commentaries on any book of the bible that i have read. The book of leviticus is the third of five parts which comprise what scripture calls the book of moses. The book of leviticus also serves as a reference point for the new testament, especially when there is reference to sacrifices, feasts or liturgy, such as the presentation of jesus in the temple luke 2. Mar 07, 2014 this weeks torah portion or bible weekly study began with the sacrifices in the book of leviticus. Commentary on leviticus 1 sacrifices tough questions. Leviticus 1 bible commentary matthew henry concise. Four lessons we can learn from the book of leviticus. The subject of leviticus is the sanctifying effect the sacrifice of christ can have upon our daily lives.
Its first portion, also called vayikra, appears to deal mainly with the priestly cult and laws of sacrifice. The five offerings of leviticus 17 chart and brief outline. God wants moses to instruct the israelites how to bring. Jun 01, 2003 the hebrew text is easy to read with the english translation set out alongside it and the commentary appearing below. Therefore the book demands perfect animals for its many sacrifices chs. You cannot come into gods presence empty handed, without your sacrifice. Leviticus chapters 17 free bible commentary in easy english. The book of leviticus opens with god calling to moses from the tent of meeting. This book begins with the laws concerning sacrifices, of which the most ancient were the burntofferings, about which god gives moses instructions in this chapter.
Commentary on leviticus 1 sacrifices tough questions answered. The lord jesus testifies to the fact that moses was the author of leviticus in matthew 8. There are five main types of sacrifices, or offerings, in the old testament. The book of leviticus new international commentary on the. From chapter 17, sacrifice and offerings are laid out for priests and individuals in detail. In exodus god saved his people and formed an alliance with them. Offerings in leviticuswhat they were and why they mattered. It is chiefly employed in describing the sacrifices and services of the tabernacle, to be performed by aaron the levite, as he is called, exodus 4.