Studies from the Book of Leviticus
Contents
Introduction
1) Leviticus 1 –
Sacrifice
Lev 1:1-17
2) Leviticus 16 –
Atonement
Lev 16:3-34
3) Leviticus 18 –
Holiness
Lev 18:1-19:2
4) Leviticus 23 –
Celebration
Lev 23:1-14, 33-44
5) Leviticus 25 –
Jubilee
Lev 25:1-17, 20-28
Introduction
The story so far: The Israelites have been freed from slavery in
Egypt by the power of God through his servant, Moses. During the
years of wandering in the desert that follow, God reveals to Moses
how he wants his people to live in light of the freedom they now
have, not only in the wilderness but also in expectation of their final
rest in the land promised to their ancestors.
Leviticus follows straight on from where Exodus left off and
examines in more detail the commands that God is giving to his
new people. This system of laws is for the people of God seeking
to live in continuing relationship with God, and addresses
issues that are still important for us today:
SIN – the thing that ruins relationships between us and
and us and our neighbours
God,
HOLINESS – how we reflect God and express our difference to a
world that ignores God
INTEGRITY – how we act and think in relation to God and each
other as a people of God
FAIRNESS – in how we worship together and how we carry out our
work activities
CELEBRATION – joyfulness in worship as a community,
thankfulness for freedom and security, and all God's
blessings
Leviticus may seem to us today like just an obscure list of
commandments that don't really make much sense or don't really
apply to us. But as the Word of God, Leviticus reveals some
fundamental aspects of what God is like, and also what it means to
live under God as the people of God. As we respond to God in
appropriate worship, centred on him, our interactions likewise with
our brothers and sisters in Christ are transformed.
So let's all join in this journey back to the past together and discover
a place and time that may be a distant and foreign land, but one in
which our familiar, eternal and glorious God still seeks to change
hearts and lives for his glory.
Leviticus 1 – Sacrifice
Discussion Question:
What do you feel like you could never give up? Why?
Read Leviticus 1:1-17
1) When someone brings one of their animals to be sacrificed,
why do they lay their hands on its head (v. 4)?
2) What does “atonement” mean?
3) What part do the priests (“sons of Aaron”) play in the sacrifice?
Why do you think priests are required?
4) You'll notice that three different sorts of sacrifices are
provided. What are they? Why do you think three different
sorts are allowed rather than just one?
These offerings are known as free-will offerings, and are different
from sin offerings, which are made when someone is repentant
before God for something they've done (covered in the next study).
Free-will offerings are the most general sort of sacrifice what
someone makes as an act of worship.
5) Why might someone want to make a free-will offering?
6) Even though these aren't sin offerings, atonement still plays a
part. Why do you think this is so?
7) In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us, “in view of God's mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship”. How is Paul's idea of
sacrifice different to the system of sacrifice we have looked at
so far? How is it similar?
Leviticus 16 – Atonement
Discussion Question:
When have you done something for someone because they
couldn't do it for themselves? What was this person's response to
your help?
Read Leviticus 16:3-17
1) Have a look back at question 2 in the last study. Once again,
what is atonement? Why is atonement important?
2) Why does Aaron (the high priest) have to sprinkle incense on
the fire before the Lord (v. 13)?
3) Verse 8 mentions two goats. What happens to them? Why do
you think both these things are done, rather than just one or
the other?
Read Leviticus 16:18-34
4) Why do you think the high priest has to make atonement for
the Most Holy Place and the Tent of Meeting (20, 33)?
5) Why is the Day of Atonement to be “a lasting ordinance”
(v. 29)?
6) Why do you think it's important that everyone is involved (2930)?
7) Hebrews 9:11-15 talks about the difference between the high
priest in Leviticus and Christ. What is the difference? What
does this mean for us?
Leviticus 18 – Holiness
Discussion Question:
Are there certain rules or laws (e.g. speed limits, not staying out late
when you were younger) that you've thought of more as guidelines
that don't necessarily always have to be followed?
Read Leviticus 18:1-23
1) Who should the Israelites be following in regards to how they
should live their lives?
2) Why do you think it's important that God states his name in
verses 2 and 5, and again in verse 21?
3) What do these laws in verses 6-23 all relate to (v. 6 is a hint)?
Why is this important?
Read Leviticus 18:24-19:2
4) Why do you think the land is important here (18:24-28)? What
is the punishment that is hinted at in 18:28?
5) Why do you think it's important that everyone is involved
(18:26)?
6) What does “holy” mean (19:2)?
7) 1 Peter 1:13-21 quotes Leviticus 19:2 and urges that
Christians should also live holy lives. What do you think that
look like in our day and age?
Leviticus 23 – Celebration
Discussion Question:
What's your favourite way of worshipping God (e.g. praying,
singing, reading the Bible, something else)? Why?
Read Leviticus 23:1-14
1) Why shouldn't there be any work on the Sabbaths?
2) Why do you think it's important that the feasts are held at the
appointed times?
3) Why is it important that the things mentioned in verses 12-13
are sacrificed together? (v. 10 is a hint.)
Read Leviticus 23:33-44
4) What does the Feast of Tabernacles commemorate (42-43)?
Why is this important?
5) These feasts are in addition to the other sacrifices we've
looked at previously. How are they similar? How are they
different? Why have both?
6) What kind of effect do you think it would have had on the
Israelites to have all these festivals and sacrifices?
7) In Mark 2:27-28, Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for
people, not people for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord
even of the Sabbath.” What does this mean? How does it help
us to understand the relevance of Sabbaths to us today?
Leviticus 25 – Jubilee
Discussion Question:
In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to trust God, or leave
things up to God? Why?
Read Leviticus 25:1-7 and 20-22
1) What is the difference between what happens to the land on a
Sabbath year and what normally happens?
2) Why does the land get a Sabbath? What do you think this tells
us about God?
3) What effect do you think it should have had on the Israelites to
have a Sabbath year for the land (20-22)?
Read Leviticus 25:8-17 and 23-28
4)
5)
6)
7)
Why is it important that any land that is bought or sold should
return to its original owner?
What are the main purposes of the Year of Jubilee (vv. 17 and
23 are hints)?
Why do you think a Year of Jubilee was never celebrated in
the hundreds of years of Israelite history?
Later verses also refer to debts being cancelled and slaves
being released for Jubilee. Jesus refers back to this in
Luke 4:18-19, saying this is what he has come to proclaim.
What do you think is the significance of him saying this?