I’m preparing to preach through Leviticus at church for the next season, and I have really enjoyed digging into the different types of offerings in the early chapters.
I’ve perceived Leviticus often treated as a byword and joke among Christians (as the place where Bible reading plans go to die)—and much to our shame! Because the result is that we then have no idea what the New Testament is talking about when it describes the work of Christ. We conflate all OT sacrifices down to one purpose—payment for sin—and fail to recognize that only one type of offering (the guilt offering, Lev 5:14-6:7) has that purpose. And then we lose track of all the other ways Jesus’ once for all sacrifice fulfills the manifold purposes of OT offerings.
So when Peter says his readers have been elected “for sprinkling with his blood” (1 Pet 1:2), did you catch the reference to the sin offering (Lev 4:1-5:13)? It’s the one that cleans out the holy place from being contaminated by human sin, so that it’s a fit place for God to dwell with his people. And that’s now what you are, if God knows you and the Spirit sanctifies you. You are a place fit for God to dwell.
And whenever you celebrate the Lord’s Supper, do you catch the echoes of the peace offering (Lev 3)? It’s the only one where the worshiper gets to eat the meat, enjoying a feast in table fellowship with God. Such feasting is now possible only through the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
This handy summary from T.M. Suffield is well worth your time. He’ll get you started, very briefly, so you can deepen your delight in one of the most unfamiliar parts of the Bible.
Unfamiliar, yet so foundational. God has made a way for us to be with him. But we must do it his way or we do not do it at all. Leviticus shows us how it works, so you can delight in all the bases Jesus has covered on your behalf.
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