Background and Introduction to the Book of Leviticus

In the Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus immediately follows Exodus and is the third book of the Pentateuch. The entire book contains all the statutes and regulations that the priests of the tribe of Levi were required to observe. Consequently, the Jews also refer to this book as “the Priests’ Handbook.”

The Hebrew name for Leviticus is ‘Vayikra’, which means “And He called.” If Genesis tells of human depravity, fall, and being trapped in sin, and Exodus tells of God’s redemption, leading His people to “walk out” of the bondage of sin, then Leviticus immediately follows with “God calls.” Exodus covers a period of about three hundred years, while Leviticus covers only one month. Clearly, Leviticus serves as a turning point, with its focus on the most important month, the most important place, and the most important tribe. This makes the book a key to the entire Mosaic Law, as it records how God’s people were to offer thanksgiving sacrifices in gratitude for God’s grace and salvation. While Leviticus may not be as dramatic as Exodus, God expects us to be thankful for all He has done for us, helping us understand that we were saved to serve.

The Lord intended to choose a holy nation, a sanctified people, and set them apart to serve Him. While faithful servants of God had been offering sacrifices to the Lord since Abel, it was not until the nation of Israel was formed that the Lord detailed the arrangements for sin offerings and other sacrifices. Leviticus elaborates on these arrangements, reminding the Israelites of the seriousness of sin and how it made them detestable in the eyes of the Lord. These regulations were part of the Law, which, like a tutor, brought the Jews to Christ. They demonstrated the need for a Savior and helped them become a nation set apart from the world.

At first glance, Leviticus seems like an Old Testament manual on rituals that is far removed from our modern lives, possibly making it the most tedious and difficult book in the Bible. However, no other book in the entire Bible records more words spoken directly by God, with over fifty declarations like, “The Lord spoke to Moses” and “The Lord said to Moses.” God personally calls us to draw near to Him, revealing the way to resolve all our troubles in His presence. The New Testament also repeatedly quotes Leviticus. Jesus, Paul, and James all quoted, “love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul quoted, “The person who does these things will live by them,” and Peter quoted, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Paul points out that the Lord Jesus is the sin offering, the peace offering, and the burnt offering. The Book of Hebrews, in particular, views Leviticus as a prefiguration of Christ’s work, showing Him to be both the “Great High Priest” and the “better sacrifice.” Simply put, without reading Leviticus, we cannot truly understand the New Testament.

According to the New Testament, we see Christ’s identity and work in Leviticus. We learn how to live out the reality of being a “royal priesthood,” a “holy nation,” and “God’s special possession” in His presence, offering our bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is our true and proper worship.

(Compiled and edited based on the Chinese Union Version and recordings from David Pawson’s “Unlocking the Old Testament” series.)