Introduction to Leviticus
The book of Leviticus continues without interruption from the setting up of the tabernacle in Exodus. The tabernacle is the holy place where God dwells in the midst of his people. Leviticus describes how a holy God can dwell in the midst of a people who struggle with uncleanness in a myriad of ways.
Outline of Leviticus
Section titled “Outline of Leviticus”ESV Study Bible
- The Five Offerings (1:1–6:7)
- Handling of the Offerings (6:8–7:38)
- Establishment of the Priesthood (chs. 8–10)
- Laws on Cleanness and Uncleanness (chs. 11–15)
- The Day of Atonement Ritual (ch. 16)
- Handling and Meaning of Blood (ch. 17)
- The Holiness Code (chs. 18–22)
- Holy Times (chs. 23–25)
- Blessings and Curses (ch. 26)
- Vows and Dedication (ch. 27)
The “Holiness–Sin–Atonement” System: From Shadow to Reality
Section titled “The “Holiness–Sin–Atonement” System: From Shadow to Reality”Hebrews 9:1–14
| Earthly Shadow (Old Covenant) | Heavenly Reality (New Covenant) |
|---|---|
| God’s holy presence—the glory cloud (Ex. 29:42–46; 40:34; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 26:11–12) | God’s holiness, justice, and moral perfection: “God is light” (1 John 1:5) |
| Ritual impurity—clean versus unclean (Lev. 11–15; 20:25–26; see also 16:16) | Human sinfulness—defilement as a matter of the heart (Mark 7:14–23; Acts 15:9) |
| Animal sacrifices that purify only the flesh (Lev. 1–7; also ch. 16) | Christ’s “better sacrifice” (Heb. 9:23), which cleanses hearts and consciences (Heb. 9:14; 10:22) |
How Can Leviticus 4:35 and Hebrews 10:4–6 Be Reconciled?
Section titled “How Can Leviticus 4:35 and Hebrews 10:4–6 Be Reconciled?”Leviticus 4:35 — “And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the LORD’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.” (ESV)
Hebrews 10:4–6 — “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [5] Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; [6] in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.’” (ESV)
Superficially, these two texts appear to be in contradiction or tension with each other. Leviticus says the OT sacrifices make atonement for sin, resulting in forgiveness. Hebrews says this is impossible, and that only Christ’s offering of himself can atone for sin.
The resolution is that the OT sacrificial system (priesthood, sacrifice, tabernacle) was an earthly copy of the heavenly reality. The earthly shadow was a “projection of the heavenly reality” (Kline, Structure of Biblical Authority, 156-8). As such, the OT sacrifices had both an outer shell and an inner core:
- From the perspective of their outer shell, they were types of Christ’s sacrifice.
- From the perspective of their inner core, they functioned like sacraments.
The sacrificial system could not “make perfect”; only Christ can (Heb. 7:11, 19; 10:1, 14). But since the OT sacrificial system functioned not only as a type but also as a sacrament, the Israelite who offered the sacrifice in faith was able to obtain atonement and forgiveness, not from the shadow but from the reality to which it pointed.