The Bible: Book #3 What It Says, Why It Matters, & How to Live It
Leviticus
Holiness, Presence, and a God Who Cares How We Live
Leviticus is the book many people skip and the one many misunderstand.
It feels strange, detailed, and distant. Laws about sacrifices, purity, blood, clothing, food, and rituals can feel overwhelming or irrelevant. But Leviticus is not about arbitrary rules.
Leviticus answers one crucial question Exodus raises:
How can a holy God dwell among a sinful people without destroying them?
This book exists because God wants to stay close.
1. What Leviticus Is About (The Big Picture)
Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses
Audience: Israel, freshly delivered and living near God’s presence
Setting: At the foot of Mount Sinai, centered around the Tabernacle
Exodus ends with God’s glory filling the Tabernacle. Leviticus begins with instructions flowing from that presence.
Leviticus is not about how to get saved. Israel is already saved. It is about how to live in relationship with a holy God.
2. What Leviticus Reveals About God
Leviticus reveals aspects of God many people avoid, but desperately need to understand.
God is:
Holy — utterly distinct, pure, and righteous
Intentional — nothing about worship is careless
Relational — God desires closeness, not distance
Just — sin matters because people matter
Merciful — God provides a way for forgiveness
Leviticus does not present an angry God obsessed with rules. It presents a holy God making space for imperfect people.
3. Major Themes in Leviticus (Extended)
1. Holiness
“Be holy, because I am holy.”
Holiness means set apart, not superior, but distinct. God’s people are meant to reflect His character.
2. Sacrifice and Substitution
Blood represents life. Sacrifice acknowledges the cost of sin and the seriousness of reconciliation. This prepares us to understand the cross.
3. God’s Presence Among His People
The Tabernacle is central. Everything revolves around maintaining God’s dwelling place among Israel.
4. Purity and Order
Purity laws are about restoring order, not shaming bodies or lives.
They remind Israel that God cares about every part of life.
5. Mediation
Priests act as mediators, not because they’re better, but because access to holiness requires preparation.
6. Community Responsibility
Leviticus is communal. Sin affects more than the individual; holiness blesses more than the self.
4. Key Sections You Need to Understand
The Sacrificial System (Leviticus 1–7)
Different sacrifices address:
gratitude
repentance
atonement
fellowship
These sacrifices teach Israel:
sin has consequences
forgiveness requires humility
reconciliation is costly
They also teach that God Himself provides the means for forgiveness.
The Priesthood (Leviticus 8–10)
Priests are set apart to help Israel approach God safely. The death of Nadab and Abihu is sobering, not because God is cruel, but because His holiness is real and not to be treated casually.
Clean and Unclean (Leviticus 11–15)
These laws often confuse modern readers. They are not moral judgments. They are ritual boundaries teaching Israel that God brings order out of chaos.
Unclean ≠ sinful.
It means temporarily unable to approach sacred space.
The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
This is the heart of Leviticus.
Once a year:
sin is confessed
blood is shed
guilt is removed
the scapegoat carries sin away
This single chapter shapes the entire biblical understanding of forgiveness.
The Holiness Code (Leviticus 17–26)
God’s holiness is expressed through:
justice
sexual ethics
care for the poor
honesty
compassion
worship
Holiness is not isolation—it is faithful living in community.
5. How Leviticus Points to Jesus
Leviticus makes no sense without Jesus and Jesus makes no sense without Leviticus.
The sacrifices → Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice
The priesthood → Jesus our High Priest
The Day of Atonement → the cross
The scapegoat → sin removed completely
The Tabernacle → God dwelling with us
Jesus does not abolish Leviticus. He fulfills its purpose.
6. Common Misunderstandings About Leviticus
❌ “Leviticus is irrelevant to Christians”
It explains why Jesus’ sacrifice mattered.
❌ “Leviticus proves God is harsh”
Leviticus proves God is serious about restoring relationship.
❌ “Holiness means moral perfection”
Holiness means belonging to God and being shaped by Him.
7. Why Leviticus Matters Right Now
Leviticus speaks into modern confusion powerfully:
When people say boundaries are oppressive → Leviticus shows boundaries protect
When holiness feels outdated → Leviticus shows holiness is relational
When faith becomes casual → Leviticus reminds us God is sacred
When grace is cheapened → Leviticus reveals its cost
Leviticus reminds us: God is loving, but not casual.
8. How to Read Leviticus Without Getting Lost
Read it slowly and thoughtfully
Don’t try to apply every command directly
Ask what each law reveals about God’s character
Read it through the lens of Christ
Helpful prayer:
“God, teach me to take Your presence seriously without becoming fearful.”
9. A Devotional Reflection
Leviticus teaches us that God does not ask for perfection, He provides a path back when we fail.
Holiness is not about never falling. It’s about never treating God casually. If you’ve ever felt unworthy, distant, or unsure how to approach God, Leviticus quietly says:
God made a way long before you ever asked.
10. Prayer
Holy God,
You are near, yet set apart. Teach us to honor Your presence without fear and to receive Your grace without abusing it. Thank You for providing a way to be restored when we fall short. Shape our lives so they reflect Your holiness, love, and care for others.
Amen
