Does the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, reconciliation, covering over) teach us that animal sacrifices did not permanently remove sin but were reminders of sin? Did Yom Kippur remind people that even the priests were but sinful men who needed an offering for their sins? Do we through Jesus now have permanent atonement and access to the Holy of Holies? Let’s look at Leviticus 16.
Is there a greater mystery here that we, who are tainted with worldly values cannot understand? Is God’s understanding of justice very different to ours?
The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. (Leviticus 16:1-2 ESV)
What was required of Aaron before entering the holy of holies? Is this a reminder that every minister of God still sins?
Before entering this most holy place, you must offer a bull as a sacrifice for your sins and a ram as a sacrifice to please me. You will take a bath and put on the sacred linen clothes, including the underwear, the robe, the sash, and the turban. Then the community of Israel will bring you a ram and two goats, both of them males. The goats are to be used as sacrifices for sin, and the ram is to be used as a sacrifice to please me. (Leviticus 16:3-5 CEV)
Literally meaning the “entire removal” what was the purpose of the Azazel or escape goat? Did it picture the entire removal of sin and guilt? Was it a symbol of complete forgiveness?
Aaron will present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. Next he will take the two goats and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other for azazel, he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and sacrifice it as a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot for azazel is to be presented alive before the Lord to make purification with it by sending it into the wilderness for azazel. (Leviticus 16:6-10 HCSB)
What offerings were to be made on the Day of Atonement? Is this a reminder that every minister’s household also still sins?
Aaron is then to bring the bull for a sin offering for himself, thus making atonement for himself and his household. He is to slaughter the ox for himself. Then he is to take a censer and fill it with coals from the fire on the altar in the Lord’s presence. With his hands full of spiced and refined incense, he is to bring it beyond the curtain. Then he is to place the incense over the fire in the Lord’s presence, ensuring that the smoke from the incense covers the Mercy Seat, according to regulation, so he won’t die. He is to take blood from the ox and sprinkle it with his forefinger toward the surface of the Mercy Seat. Then he is to sprinkle the blood on the surface of the Mercy Seat with his forefinger seven times. (Leviticus 16:11-14 ISV)
What were they to do with the goat of the sin offering? Is this a reminder that a whole congregation still sins?
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (Leviticus 16:15-16 KJV)
How does blood make atonement? Does it symbolize Jesus in some way? Is this a reminder that every altar is still tainted by sin?
Now when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it. And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides. With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times and cleanse it and set it apart as holy from the uncleanness of the sons of Israel. (Leviticus 16:17-19 LSB)
What was the purpose of the live Azazel or scapegoat?
When he finishes atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wrongdoings of the sons of Israel and all their unlawful acts regarding all their sins; and he shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands ready. Then the goat shall carry on itself all their wrongdoings to an isolated territory; he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:20-22 NASB)
What was Aaron to do a second time and what could that be for? Is this a reminder that even after performing his duties, every minister also still requires forgiveness of his sins?
Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there. He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. (Leviticus 16:23-25 NIV)
What was the man who released the scapegoat to do? Is this a reminder that even after fulfilling his duties in the assembly, such a man is still tainted by sin?
And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. And they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal. Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. (Leviticus 16:26-28 NKJV)
Was this fast day also a day of complete rest for the people?
“On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves. Neither native-born Israelites nor foreigners living among you may do any kind of work. This is a permanent law for you. On that day offerings of purification will be made for you, and you will be purified in the Lord’s presence from all your sins. It will be a Sabbath day of complete rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. This is a permanent law for you. In future generations, the purification ceremony will be performed by the priest who has been anointed and ordained to serve as high priest in place of his ancestor Aaron. He will put on the holy linen garments and purify the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and the entire congregation. This is a permanent law for you, to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the Lord once each year.” Moses followed all these instructions exactly as the Lord had commanded him. (Leviticus 16:29-34 NLT)
Is there an atonement that once for all reconciles us to God?
By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus, whom God offered as a place where atonement by the Messiah’s blood would occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past. (Romans 3:24-25 ISV)
Does the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, reconciliation, covering over) teach us that animal sacrifices did not permanently remove sin but were reminders of sin? Did Yom Kippur remind people that even the priests were but sinful men who needed an offering for their sins? Do we through Jesus now have permanent atonement and access to the Holy of Holies? You decide!
Unclean Discharges (Leviticus 15)
Apart from foods, childbirth, skin diseases, mold and mildew, were there other ways to become unclean under Mosaic law? Would we call this simple quarantine today? Let’s look at Leviticus 15.
Could a man’s bodily discharge be a cause for concern regarding infection?
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any man has a discharge from his body, he is unclean. This is uncleanness of his discharge: Whether his body secretes the discharge or retains it, he is unclean. All the days that his body secretes or retains anything because of his discharge, he is unclean. Any bed the man with the discharge lies on will be unclean, and any furniture he sits on will be unclean.” (Leviticus 15:1-4 HCSB)
What precautions were people to make regarding touching a discharge?
Any person who touches his bed is to wash his garments and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever sits on any object on which the one with the discharge has sat is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever touches the body of someone with a discharge is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever has a discharge and spits on someone who is clean, then he is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:5-8 ISV)
What about anything that the man with the discharge touches?
And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. (Leviticus 15:9-12 KJV)
What was to happen when the man with the discharge was healed?
Now when the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and will become clean. Then on the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and come before Yahweh to the doorway of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest; and the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before Yahweh because of his discharge. (Leviticus 15:13-15 LSB)
What was a man to do about any seminal emissions?
Now if a man has a seminal emission, he shall bathe all his body in water and be unclean until evening. As for any garment or any leather on which there is a seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening. If a man sleeps with a woman so that there is a seminal emission, they shall both bathe in water and be unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:16-18 NASB)
How should a woman handle quarantine during her monthly period?
When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. Anyone who touches her bed will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who touches anything she sits on will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening. (Leviticus 15:19-23 NIV)
How should a woman handle quarantine for her menstrual flow if anything unusual happens?
And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:24-27 NKJV)
What should take place once the woman’s bleeding stops?
When the woman’s bleeding stops, she must count off seven days. Then she will be ceremonially clean. On the eighth day she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons and present them to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. The priest will offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. Through this process, the priest will purify her before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity caused by her bleeding. (Leviticus 15:28-30 NLT)
There are many possible reasons for bodily discharges, but are two of the more common reasons seminal emissions and a woman’s monthly?
Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean. (Leviticus 15:31-33 WEB)
What kind of discharge can make us spiritually unclean?
The food you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean. (Matthew 15:11 CEB)
Apart from foods, childbirth, skin diseases, mold and mildew, were there other ways to become unclean under Mosaic law? Would we call this simple quarantine today? Are we spiritually clean? You decide!
Could a man’s bodily discharge be a cause for concern regarding infection?
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any man has a discharge from his body, he is unclean. This is uncleanness of his discharge: Whether his body secretes the discharge or retains it, he is unclean. All the days that his body secretes or retains anything because of his discharge, he is unclean. Any bed the man with the discharge lies on will be unclean, and any furniture he sits on will be unclean.” (Leviticus 15:1-4 HCSB)
What precautions were people to make regarding touching a discharge?
Any person who touches his bed is to wash his garments and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever sits on any object on which the one with the discharge has sat is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever touches the body of someone with a discharge is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. Whoever has a discharge and spits on someone who is clean, then he is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:5-8 ISV)
What about anything that the man with the discharge touches?
And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. (Leviticus 15:9-12 KJV)
What was to happen when the man with the discharge was healed?
Now when the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and will become clean. Then on the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and come before Yahweh to the doorway of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest; and the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before Yahweh because of his discharge. (Leviticus 15:13-15 LSB)
What was a man to do about any seminal emissions?
Now if a man has a seminal emission, he shall bathe all his body in water and be unclean until evening. As for any garment or any leather on which there is a seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening. If a man sleeps with a woman so that there is a seminal emission, they shall both bathe in water and be unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:16-18 NASB)
How should a woman handle quarantine during her monthly period?
When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. Anyone who touches her bed will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who touches anything she sits on will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening. (Leviticus 15:19-23 NIV)
How should a woman handle quarantine for her menstrual flow if anything unusual happens?
And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. (Leviticus 15:24-27 NKJV)
What should take place once the woman’s bleeding stops?
When the woman’s bleeding stops, she must count off seven days. Then she will be ceremonially clean. On the eighth day she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons and present them to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. The priest will offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. Through this process, the priest will purify her before the Lord for the ceremonial impurity caused by her bleeding. (Leviticus 15:28-30 NLT)
There are many possible reasons for bodily discharges, but are two of the more common reasons seminal emissions and a woman’s monthly?
Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean. (Leviticus 15:31-33 WEB)
What kind of discharge can make us spiritually unclean?
The food you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean. (Matthew 15:11 CEB)
Apart from foods, childbirth, skin diseases, mold and mildew, were there other ways to become unclean under Mosaic law? Would we call this simple quarantine today? Are we spiritually clean? You decide!
Jesus Begins Ministry (Luke 4)
How did Jesus prepare for His earthly ministry? What was His message all about? Let’s look at Luke 4.
Did Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues or was He led into the wilderness? Was He thirsty after fasting or just hungry?
Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was being tempted by the Devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
What was the devil’s first temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:3-4 KJV)
What was the devil’s second temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this dominion and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” (Luke 4:5-8 LSB)
What was the devil’s third and final temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And he brought Him into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect You,’ and, ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been stated, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:9-13 NASB)
Is this a good summary of the devil’s tactics, three broad temptations? Did John mention a similar threesome?
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:16 NIV)
Where was one of the first places that Jesus began to preach?
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (Luke 4:14-17 NKJV)
What did Jesus quote from Isaiah in the synagogue?
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time [year] of the Lord’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18-19 NLT Isaiah 61:2)
What did Jesus say about the prophecy in Isaiah that shocked everyone?
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:20-22 WEB)
Did Jesus give a wishy washy message or preach directly and forthrightly?
Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.” (Luke 4:23-27 CEB)
Did people get angry at Jesus’ preaching? Do people ever get angry at preachers today?
When the people in the synagogue heard Jesus say this, they became so angry that they got up and threw him out of town. They dragged him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built, because they wanted to throw him down from there. But Jesus slipped through the crowd and got away. (Luke 4:28-30 CEV)
Were people also astonished at Jesus’ teaching in Capernaum?
And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” (Luke 4:31-34 ESV)
What did Jesus do with the pesky, aggressive demon?
But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. Amazement came over them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” And news about Him began to go out to every place in the vicinity. (Luke 4:35-37 HCSB)
What did Jesus do in Simon Peter’s house for his mother-in-law? How does Peter’s marriage fit into later traditions of celibacy?
Then Jesus got up to leave the synagogue and went into Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, so they asked Jesus about her. He bent over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began serving them. When the sun was setting, everyone who had any friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and began healing them. Even demons came out of many people, screaming, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. (Luke 4:38-41 ISV)
What did Jesus have to do in other cities throughout Galilee?
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. (Luke 4:42-44 KJV)
How did Jesus prepare for His earthly ministry? What was His message all about? You decide!
Did Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues or was He led into the wilderness? Was He thirsty after fasting or just hungry?
Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was being tempted by the Devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
What was the devil’s first temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:3-4 KJV)
What was the devil’s second temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this dominion and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” (Luke 4:5-8 LSB)
What was the devil’s third and final temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
And he brought Him into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect You,’ and, ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been stated, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:9-13 NASB)
Is this a good summary of the devil’s tactics, three broad temptations? Did John mention a similar threesome?
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:16 NIV)
Where was one of the first places that Jesus began to preach?
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (Luke 4:14-17 NKJV)
What did Jesus quote from Isaiah in the synagogue?
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time [year] of the Lord’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18-19 NLT Isaiah 61:2)
What did Jesus say about the prophecy in Isaiah that shocked everyone?
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:20-22 WEB)
Did Jesus give a wishy washy message or preach directly and forthrightly?
Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.” (Luke 4:23-27 CEB)
Did people get angry at Jesus’ preaching? Do people ever get angry at preachers today?
When the people in the synagogue heard Jesus say this, they became so angry that they got up and threw him out of town. They dragged him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built, because they wanted to throw him down from there. But Jesus slipped through the crowd and got away. (Luke 4:28-30 CEV)
Were people also astonished at Jesus’ teaching in Capernaum?
And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” (Luke 4:31-34 ESV)
What did Jesus do with the pesky, aggressive demon?
But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. Amazement came over them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!” And news about Him began to go out to every place in the vicinity. (Luke 4:35-37 HCSB)
What did Jesus do in Simon Peter’s house for his mother-in-law? How does Peter’s marriage fit into later traditions of celibacy?
Then Jesus got up to leave the synagogue and went into Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, so they asked Jesus about her. He bent over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began serving them. When the sun was setting, everyone who had any friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and began healing them. Even demons came out of many people, screaming, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. (Luke 4:38-41 ISV)
What did Jesus have to do in other cities throughout Galilee?
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. (Luke 4:42-44 KJV)
How did Jesus prepare for His earthly ministry? What was His message all about? You decide!
Unclean Houses (Leviticus 14)
Does the discussion of what is clean and unclean in the Bible go beyond foods and skin diseases to include mold and mildew? Does God want to bless His people physically? How does this relate to the ultimate blessing of being spiritually clean? Let’s look at Leviticus 14.
What offering and cleansing was to be made after a person was healed of a skin disease?
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, then the priest shall give a command to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed. The priest shall also give a command to slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and he shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the running water. He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and he shall let the live bird go free over the open field. The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean. Now afterward, he may enter the camp, but he shall stay outside his tent for seven days. And it will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. He shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and be clean. (Leviticus 14:1-9 LSB)
What atonement was to be made after a person was healed of a skin disease?
Now on the eighth day he is to take two male lambs without defect, and a yearling ewe lamb without defect, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil; and the priest who is going to pronounce him clean shall present the person to be cleansed and the offerings before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Then the priest shall take the one male lamb and bring it as a guilt offering, with the log of oil, and present them as a wave offering before the Lord. Next he shall slaughter the male lamb in the place where they slaughter the sin offering and the burnt offering, at the place of the sanctuary—for the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest shall then take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. The priest shall also take some of the log of oil, and pour it into his left palm; the priest shall then dip his right-hand finger into the oil that is in his left palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times before the Lord. Of the remaining oil which is in his palm, the priest shall put some on the right ear lobe of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the guilt offering; as for the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s palm, he shall put it on the head of the one to be cleansed. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the Lord. The priest shall next offer the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Then afterward, he shall slaughter the burnt offering. The priest shall offer up the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be clean. (Leviticus 14:10-20 NASB)
What atonement was the priest to make on behalf of a poor person?
“If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these, they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord. Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.” These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for their cleansing. (Leviticus 14:21-32 NIV)
What are they to do about house mold or mildew when they come into possession of the land?
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give you as a possession, and I put the leprous plague [mold] in a house in the land of your possession, and he who owns the house comes and tells the priest, saying, ‘It seems to me that there is some plague in the house,’ then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes into it to examine the plague, that all that is in the house may not be made unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to examine the house. And he shall examine the plague; and indeed if the plague is on the walls of the house with ingrained streaks, greenish or reddish, which appear to be deep in the wall, then the priest shall go out of the house, to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. And the priest shall come again on the seventh day and look; and indeed if the plague has spread on the walls of the house, then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which is the plague, and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city. And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house.” (Leviticus 14:33-42 NKJV)
What if the mold or mildew reappears in a house?
But if the mildew reappears after all the stones have been replaced and the house has been scraped and replastered, the priest must return and inspect the house again. If he finds that the mildew has spread, the walls are clearly contaminated with a serious mildew, and the house is defiled. It must be torn down, and all its stones, timbers, and plaster must be carried out of town to the place designated as ceremonially unclean. Those who enter the house during the period of quarantine will be ceremonially unclean until evening, and all who sleep or eat in the house must wash their clothing. (Leviticus 14:43-47 NLT)
What if the mold or mildew has not spread in the house?
If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. He shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean. (Leviticus 14:48-53 WEB)
Does that conclude the discussion of unclean growths on the skin, in clothing and in houses?
These are the things you must do if you discover that you are unclean because of an itch or a sore, or that your clothing or house is unclean because of mildew. (Leviticus 14:54-57 CEV)
What did Jesus say about those who are more concerned with being physically clean on the outside than spiritually clean on the inside?
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (Matthew 23:25-26 ESV)
Does the discussion of what is clean and unclean in the Bible go beyond foods and skin diseases to include mold and mildew? Does God want to bless His people physically? How does this relate to the ultimate blessing of being spiritually clean? You decide!
What offering and cleansing was to be made after a person was healed of a skin disease?
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, then the priest shall give a command to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed. The priest shall also give a command to slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and he shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the running water. He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and he shall let the live bird go free over the open field. The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean. Now afterward, he may enter the camp, but he shall stay outside his tent for seven days. And it will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. He shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and be clean. (Leviticus 14:1-9 LSB)
What atonement was to be made after a person was healed of a skin disease?
Now on the eighth day he is to take two male lambs without defect, and a yearling ewe lamb without defect, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil; and the priest who is going to pronounce him clean shall present the person to be cleansed and the offerings before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Then the priest shall take the one male lamb and bring it as a guilt offering, with the log of oil, and present them as a wave offering before the Lord. Next he shall slaughter the male lamb in the place where they slaughter the sin offering and the burnt offering, at the place of the sanctuary—for the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest shall then take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. The priest shall also take some of the log of oil, and pour it into his left palm; the priest shall then dip his right-hand finger into the oil that is in his left palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times before the Lord. Of the remaining oil which is in his palm, the priest shall put some on the right ear lobe of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the guilt offering; as for the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s palm, he shall put it on the head of the one to be cleansed. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the Lord. The priest shall next offer the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Then afterward, he shall slaughter the burnt offering. The priest shall offer up the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be clean. (Leviticus 14:10-20 NASB)
What atonement was the priest to make on behalf of a poor person?
“If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these, they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord. Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.” These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for their cleansing. (Leviticus 14:21-32 NIV)
What are they to do about house mold or mildew when they come into possession of the land?
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give you as a possession, and I put the leprous plague [mold] in a house in the land of your possession, and he who owns the house comes and tells the priest, saying, ‘It seems to me that there is some plague in the house,’ then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes into it to examine the plague, that all that is in the house may not be made unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to examine the house. And he shall examine the plague; and indeed if the plague is on the walls of the house with ingrained streaks, greenish or reddish, which appear to be deep in the wall, then the priest shall go out of the house, to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. And the priest shall come again on the seventh day and look; and indeed if the plague has spread on the walls of the house, then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which is the plague, and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city. And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house.” (Leviticus 14:33-42 NKJV)
What if the mold or mildew reappears in a house?
But if the mildew reappears after all the stones have been replaced and the house has been scraped and replastered, the priest must return and inspect the house again. If he finds that the mildew has spread, the walls are clearly contaminated with a serious mildew, and the house is defiled. It must be torn down, and all its stones, timbers, and plaster must be carried out of town to the place designated as ceremonially unclean. Those who enter the house during the period of quarantine will be ceremonially unclean until evening, and all who sleep or eat in the house must wash their clothing. (Leviticus 14:43-47 NLT)
What if the mold or mildew has not spread in the house?
If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. He shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean. (Leviticus 14:48-53 WEB)
Does that conclude the discussion of unclean growths on the skin, in clothing and in houses?
These are the things you must do if you discover that you are unclean because of an itch or a sore, or that your clothing or house is unclean because of mildew. (Leviticus 14:54-57 CEV)
What did Jesus say about those who are more concerned with being physically clean on the outside than spiritually clean on the inside?
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. (Matthew 23:25-26 ESV)
Does the discussion of what is clean and unclean in the Bible go beyond foods and skin diseases to include mold and mildew? Does God want to bless His people physically? How does this relate to the ultimate blessing of being spiritually clean? You decide!
Unclean Skin Diseases (Leviticus 13)
How concerned was God about the health of millions of nomadic Israelites camping in the wilderness? Are we spiritually clean through Christ? Let’s look at Leviticus 13.
In the Bible were the terms clean and unclean also applied to diseases?
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “If anyone has a swelling or a rash or discolored skin that might develop into a serious skin disease, that person must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons. The priest will examine the affected area of the skin. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the problem appears to be more than skin-deep, it is a serious skin disease, and the priest who examines it must pronounce the person ceremonially unclean.” (Leviticus 13:1-3 NLT)
How long was quarantine to be? What if after quarantine, the rash has not spread?
If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. Behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. (Leviticus 13:4-6 WEB)
What if after quarantine, the rash has continued to spread?
But if the rash continues to spread over the skin after they appeared before the priest for purification, they must again show themselves to the priest. If the priest sees that the rash has spread over the skin, the priest will declare the person unclean; it is a case of skin disease. (Leviticus 13:7-8 CEB)
How was the priest to examine any such skin disease, broadly termed leprosy?
Any of you with a skin disease must be brought to a priest. If he discovers that the sore spot is white with pus and that the hair around it has also turned white, he will say, “This is leprosy [skin disease]. You are unclean and must stay away from everyone else.” But if the disease has run its course and only the scars remain, he will say, “You are clean.” If the sores come back and turn white again, he will say, “This is leprosy [skin disease]—you are unclean.” However, if the sores heal and only white spots remain, the priest will say, “You are now clean.” (Leviticus 13:9-18 CEV)
What details was the priest to look for to pronounce the person unclean?
If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous [skin] disease that has broken out in the boil. (Leviticus 13:18-20 ESV)
What details was the priest to look for to pronounce the person clean?
But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in it, and it is not beneath the skin but is faded, the priest must quarantine him seven days. If it spreads further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection. But if the spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil. The priest is to pronounce him clean. (Leviticus 13:21-23 HCSB)
What about burn scars? Could they become infected?
When a person has a burn scar in the skin that turns bright, white-reddish, or white, if the priest examines it and indeed the hair has turned white with a white spot appearing more extensive than skin deep, it’s an infectious skin disease with a burn scar that has spread. The priest is to declare him unclean. It’s an infectious skin disease. But if the priest examines it and discovers that there’s no bright area or white hair, or if he discovers that it’s not more extensive than skin deep and it’s dull, then the priest is to isolate him for seven days. (Leviticus 13:24-26 ISV)
What were the guidelines if the burn scar was to spread?
And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy [a skin disease]. And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning. (Leviticus 13:27-28 KJV)
What were the guidelines if there was an infection on the head?
Now if a man or woman has an infection on the head or on the beard, then the priest shall look at the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin, and there is thin yellowish hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a scale; it is leprosy [a skin disease] of the head or of the beard. But if the priest looks at the infection of the scale, and behold, it appears to be no deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days. (Leviticus 13:29-31 LSB)
After a week’s quarantine period, how was the priest to judge the infection anywhere on the head?
And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection, and if the scale has not spread and no yellowish hair has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale is no deeper than the skin, then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale for seven more days. Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale, and if the scale has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean. (Leviticus 13:32-34 NASB)
What if the sore on the head spreads after it was pronounced clean?
But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean. If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean. When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean. (Leviticus 13:35-39 NIV)
What was the priest to do about examining head sores?
As for the man whose hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. He whose hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean. And if there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white sore, it is leprosy [skin disease] breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the swelling of the sore is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy [skin disease] on the skin of the body, he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his sore is on his head. (Leviticus 13:40-44 NKJV)
Was there to be a quarantine for those with a serious skin disease?
Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp. (Leviticus 13:45-46 NLT)
What was the priest to do about any article of clothing worn by a person with a skin disease?
The garment also that the plague of leprosy [skin disease] is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment; whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in a leather, or in anything made of leather; if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest. The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days. (Leviticus 13:47-50 WEB)
What was the priest to do with such an item of clothing after examination?
On the seventh day he will examine the infection again. If the infection has spread in the clothing, the weaving, or the skin, whatever it is used for, the infection is a case of infectious skin disease; the item is unclean. The priest will burn the clothing, the weaving of the wool or linen, or whatever skin item in which the infection was found, because it is an infectious skin disease; it must be burned with fire. (Leviticus 13:51-52 CEB)
What must the priest do after a week if the mildew has spread?
If the priest discovers that the mildew hasn't spread, he will tell you to wash the clothing or leather and put it aside for another seven days, after which he will examine it again. If the spot hasn't spread, but is still greenish or reddish, the clothing or leather is unclean and must be burned. But if the spot has faded after being washed, he will tear away the spot. (Leviticus 13:53-56 CEV)
When was such clothing to be washed rather than burned?
“Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.” This is the law for a case of leprous disease [a skin disease] in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean. (Leviticus 13:57-59 ESV)
Was Jesus concerned with spiritual uncleanness?
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27 KJV)
Are fornication and fraud kinds of spiritual uncleanness? Have we been called to live holy lives?
… abstain from fornication … no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 KJV)
How concerned was God about the health of millions of nomadic Israelites camping in the wilderness? Are we spiritually clean through Christ? You decide!
In the Bible were the terms clean and unclean also applied to diseases?
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “If anyone has a swelling or a rash or discolored skin that might develop into a serious skin disease, that person must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons. The priest will examine the affected area of the skin. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the problem appears to be more than skin-deep, it is a serious skin disease, and the priest who examines it must pronounce the person ceremonially unclean.” (Leviticus 13:1-3 NLT)
How long was quarantine to be? What if after quarantine, the rash has not spread?
If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. Behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. (Leviticus 13:4-6 WEB)
What if after quarantine, the rash has continued to spread?
But if the rash continues to spread over the skin after they appeared before the priest for purification, they must again show themselves to the priest. If the priest sees that the rash has spread over the skin, the priest will declare the person unclean; it is a case of skin disease. (Leviticus 13:7-8 CEB)
How was the priest to examine any such skin disease, broadly termed leprosy?
Any of you with a skin disease must be brought to a priest. If he discovers that the sore spot is white with pus and that the hair around it has also turned white, he will say, “This is leprosy [skin disease]. You are unclean and must stay away from everyone else.” But if the disease has run its course and only the scars remain, he will say, “You are clean.” If the sores come back and turn white again, he will say, “This is leprosy [skin disease]—you are unclean.” However, if the sores heal and only white spots remain, the priest will say, “You are now clean.” (Leviticus 13:9-18 CEV)
What details was the priest to look for to pronounce the person unclean?
If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous [skin] disease that has broken out in the boil. (Leviticus 13:18-20 ESV)
What details was the priest to look for to pronounce the person clean?
But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in it, and it is not beneath the skin but is faded, the priest must quarantine him seven days. If it spreads further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection. But if the spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil. The priest is to pronounce him clean. (Leviticus 13:21-23 HCSB)
What about burn scars? Could they become infected?
When a person has a burn scar in the skin that turns bright, white-reddish, or white, if the priest examines it and indeed the hair has turned white with a white spot appearing more extensive than skin deep, it’s an infectious skin disease with a burn scar that has spread. The priest is to declare him unclean. It’s an infectious skin disease. But if the priest examines it and discovers that there’s no bright area or white hair, or if he discovers that it’s not more extensive than skin deep and it’s dull, then the priest is to isolate him for seven days. (Leviticus 13:24-26 ISV)
What were the guidelines if the burn scar was to spread?
And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy [a skin disease]. And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning. (Leviticus 13:27-28 KJV)
What were the guidelines if there was an infection on the head?
Now if a man or woman has an infection on the head or on the beard, then the priest shall look at the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin, and there is thin yellowish hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a scale; it is leprosy [a skin disease] of the head or of the beard. But if the priest looks at the infection of the scale, and behold, it appears to be no deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days. (Leviticus 13:29-31 LSB)
After a week’s quarantine period, how was the priest to judge the infection anywhere on the head?
And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection, and if the scale has not spread and no yellowish hair has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale is no deeper than the skin, then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale for seven more days. Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale, and if the scale has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean. (Leviticus 13:32-34 NASB)
What if the sore on the head spreads after it was pronounced clean?
But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean. If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean. When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean. (Leviticus 13:35-39 NIV)
What was the priest to do about examining head sores?
As for the man whose hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. He whose hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean. And if there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white sore, it is leprosy [skin disease] breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the swelling of the sore is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy [skin disease] on the skin of the body, he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his sore is on his head. (Leviticus 13:40-44 NKJV)
Was there to be a quarantine for those with a serious skin disease?
Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp. (Leviticus 13:45-46 NLT)
What was the priest to do about any article of clothing worn by a person with a skin disease?
The garment also that the plague of leprosy [skin disease] is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment; whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in a leather, or in anything made of leather; if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest. The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days. (Leviticus 13:47-50 WEB)
What was the priest to do with such an item of clothing after examination?
On the seventh day he will examine the infection again. If the infection has spread in the clothing, the weaving, or the skin, whatever it is used for, the infection is a case of infectious skin disease; the item is unclean. The priest will burn the clothing, the weaving of the wool or linen, or whatever skin item in which the infection was found, because it is an infectious skin disease; it must be burned with fire. (Leviticus 13:51-52 CEB)
What must the priest do after a week if the mildew has spread?
If the priest discovers that the mildew hasn't spread, he will tell you to wash the clothing or leather and put it aside for another seven days, after which he will examine it again. If the spot hasn't spread, but is still greenish or reddish, the clothing or leather is unclean and must be burned. But if the spot has faded after being washed, he will tear away the spot. (Leviticus 13:53-56 CEV)
When was such clothing to be washed rather than burned?
“Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.” This is the law for a case of leprous disease [a skin disease] in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean. (Leviticus 13:57-59 ESV)
Was Jesus concerned with spiritual uncleanness?
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27 KJV)
Are fornication and fraud kinds of spiritual uncleanness? Have we been called to live holy lives?
… abstain from fornication … no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 KJV)
How concerned was God about the health of millions of nomadic Israelites camping in the wilderness? Are we spiritually clean through Christ? You decide!
Sensible Birth Laws (Leviticus 12)
Were God’s laws millenia ahead of modern science? Various sources state that the blood clotting agents, vitamin K and prothrombin, are at optimum levels on the 8th day after birth. Circumcision provided health benefits for a future wife, drastically reducing incidences of cervical cancer. Let’s look at Leviticus 12.
How far advanced were these ancient laws regarding circumcision?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:1-3 KJV)
Most modern doctors recommend that a woman wait about six weeks after childbirth before resuming normal marital relations. How far advanced were these ancient commands regarding the period after childbirth?
Then she shall remain in the blood of her cleansing for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing; and she shall not enter the sanctuary until the days of her cleansing are fulfilled. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six days. (Leviticus 12:4-5 LSB)
What offering is the new mother to make when the days of her purification are over?
When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one-year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering. Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who gives birth to a child, whether a male or a female. (Leviticus 12:6-7 NASB)
What if the mother is too poor for a lamb offering?
But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. (Leviticus 12:8 NIV)
Similar rules for the poor applied to other offerings. What does Joseph and Mary’s offering tell us about their economic status?
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24 NKJV)
Do Christians need to be circumcised? Can regular washing prevent infections? What kind of circumcision is applicable for Christians, of the flesh or of the heart?
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. (Colossians 2:11 NLT)
Were God’s laws millenia ahead of modern science? You decide!
How far advanced were these ancient laws regarding circumcision?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:1-3 KJV)
Most modern doctors recommend that a woman wait about six weeks after childbirth before resuming normal marital relations. How far advanced were these ancient commands regarding the period after childbirth?
Then she shall remain in the blood of her cleansing for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing; and she shall not enter the sanctuary until the days of her cleansing are fulfilled. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six days. (Leviticus 12:4-5 LSB)
What offering is the new mother to make when the days of her purification are over?
When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one-year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering. Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who gives birth to a child, whether a male or a female. (Leviticus 12:6-7 NASB)
What if the mother is too poor for a lamb offering?
But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean. (Leviticus 12:8 NIV)
Similar rules for the poor applied to other offerings. What does Joseph and Mary’s offering tell us about their economic status?
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24 NKJV)
Do Christians need to be circumcised? Can regular washing prevent infections? What kind of circumcision is applicable for Christians, of the flesh or of the heart?
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. (Colossians 2:11 NLT)
Were God’s laws millenia ahead of modern science? You decide!
Clean & Unclean (Leviticus 11)
What was the purpose of clean and unclean laws, including edible and inedible foods? Was it purely ceremonial or were there possible health considerations? Are they still relevant to Christians? Let’s look at Leviticus 11.
Which creatures could they eat and which were forbidden? Do cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, elk, moose and many others have split hooves and chew the cud?
The Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Tell the Israelis that these are the living creatures that you may eat among the animals of the earth: You may eat any animal that has divided hooves with cloven feet and that ruminates its cud, except you are not to eat the following animals that have divided hooves or ruminate their cud: the camel (because it chews the cud but doesn’t have divided hooves, it is to be unclean for you), the rock badger (because it chews its cud but its hooves aren’t divided, it is to be unclean for you), the hare (because it chews its cud, but its hooves aren’t divided, it is to be unclean for you), and the pig (because it has divided hooves and is therefore cloven-footed, but it doesn’t ruminate its cud, it is to be unclean for you). You are not to eat their flesh or even touch their carcasses. They are to be unclean for you.” (Leviticus 11:1-8 ISV)
What water creatures were considered clean and unclean?
These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. (Leviticus 11:9-12 KJV)
What types of birds were considered clean and unclean?
These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, and the kite and the falcon in its kind, every raven in its kind, and the ostrich and the owl and the gull and the hawk in its kind, and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture, and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:13-19 LSB)
What kinds of insects were considered clean and unclean?
All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects that walk on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to jump on the earth. These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, the devastating locust in its kinds,
What must someone do with the carcass of an unclean animal?
You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you. (Leviticus 11:24-28 NIV)
What kinds of creeping things were considered clean and unclean?
These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. Anything on which any of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is, in which any work is done, it must be put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean. (Leviticus 11:29-32 NKJV)
What kinds of vessels were considered clean and unclean?
If such an animal falls into a clay pot, everything in the pot will be defiled, and the pot must be smashed. If the water from such a container spills on any food, the food will be defiled. And any beverage in such a container will be defiled. Any object on which the carcass of such an animal falls will be defiled. If it is an oven or hearth, it must be destroyed, for it is defiled, and you must treat it accordingly. (Leviticus 11:33-35 NLT)
What about the carcass of an animal? Is there the possibility of disease?
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. If any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. (Leviticus 11:36-40 WEB)
What about creeping creatures like spiders and centipedes?
Every creature that swarms on the earth is detestable; it must not be eaten. Among all such creatures that swarm on the earth, you must not eat anything that moves on its belly or anything that walks on four or more feet because they are detestable. Do not make yourselves detestable by means of any swarming creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean with them or be made unclean by them. I am the Lord your God. You must keep yourselves holy and be holy, because I am holy. You must not make yourselves unclean by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. You must be holy, because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:41-45 CEB)
Was this a health law or purely ceremonial to make Israel separate?
I have given these laws so that you will know what animals, birds, and fish are clean and may be eaten, and which ones are unclean and may not be eaten. (Leviticus 11:46-47 CEV)
Did Jesus really declare all foods clean as some translations insert into the text?
Don’t you know that nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean? Because it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then into the sewer, thereby expelling all foods.” Then he continued, “It’s what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean, (Mark 7:18b-20 ISV)
If Peter’s vision of the sheet was strictly about God making Gentiles clean, why would the Lord tell Peter to eat?
“Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!” Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” … God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:13b-15, 28b HCSB)
Is forbidding certain foods now heresy, a departure from the faith?
… some shall depart from the faith … commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5 ISV)
What was the purpose of clean and unclean laws, including edible and inedible foods? Was it purely ceremonial or were there possible health considerations? Are they still relevant to Christians? You decide!
Which creatures could they eat and which were forbidden? Do cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, elk, moose and many others have split hooves and chew the cud?
The Lord told Moses and Aaron, “Tell the Israelis that these are the living creatures that you may eat among the animals of the earth: You may eat any animal that has divided hooves with cloven feet and that ruminates its cud, except you are not to eat the following animals that have divided hooves or ruminate their cud: the camel (because it chews the cud but doesn’t have divided hooves, it is to be unclean for you), the rock badger (because it chews its cud but its hooves aren’t divided, it is to be unclean for you), the hare (because it chews its cud, but its hooves aren’t divided, it is to be unclean for you), and the pig (because it has divided hooves and is therefore cloven-footed, but it doesn’t ruminate its cud, it is to be unclean for you). You are not to eat their flesh or even touch their carcasses. They are to be unclean for you.” (Leviticus 11:1-8 ISV)
What water creatures were considered clean and unclean?
These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. (Leviticus 11:9-12 KJV)
What types of birds were considered clean and unclean?
These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard, and the kite and the falcon in its kind, every raven in its kind, and the ostrich and the owl and the gull and the hawk in its kind, and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture, and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:13-19 LSB)
What kinds of insects were considered clean and unclean?
All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects that walk on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to jump on the earth. These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, the devastating locust in its kinds,
What must someone do with the carcass of an unclean animal?
You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you. (Leviticus 11:24-28 NIV)
What kinds of creeping things were considered clean and unclean?
These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. Anything on which any of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is, in which any work is done, it must be put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean. (Leviticus 11:29-32 NKJV)
What kinds of vessels were considered clean and unclean?
If such an animal falls into a clay pot, everything in the pot will be defiled, and the pot must be smashed. If the water from such a container spills on any food, the food will be defiled. And any beverage in such a container will be defiled. Any object on which the carcass of such an animal falls will be defiled. If it is an oven or hearth, it must be destroyed, for it is defiled, and you must treat it accordingly. (Leviticus 11:33-35 NLT)
What about the carcass of an animal? Is there the possibility of disease?
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. If any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. (Leviticus 11:36-40 WEB)
What about creeping creatures like spiders and centipedes?
Every creature that swarms on the earth is detestable; it must not be eaten. Among all such creatures that swarm on the earth, you must not eat anything that moves on its belly or anything that walks on four or more feet because they are detestable. Do not make yourselves detestable by means of any swarming creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean with them or be made unclean by them. I am the Lord your God. You must keep yourselves holy and be holy, because I am holy. You must not make yourselves unclean by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God. You must be holy, because I am holy. (Leviticus 11:41-45 CEB)
Was this a health law or purely ceremonial to make Israel separate?
I have given these laws so that you will know what animals, birds, and fish are clean and may be eaten, and which ones are unclean and may not be eaten. (Leviticus 11:46-47 CEV)
Did Jesus really declare all foods clean as some translations insert into the text?
Don’t you know that nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean? Because it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then into the sewer, thereby expelling all foods.” Then he continued, “It’s what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean, (Mark 7:18b-20 ISV)
If Peter’s vision of the sheet was strictly about God making Gentiles clean, why would the Lord tell Peter to eat?
“Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!” Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” … God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:13b-15, 28b HCSB)
Is forbidding certain foods now heresy, a departure from the faith?
… some shall depart from the faith … commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5 ISV)
What was the purpose of clean and unclean laws, including edible and inedible foods? Was it purely ceremonial or were there possible health considerations? Are they still relevant to Christians? You decide!
What John Taught (Luke 3)
What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Let’s look at Luke 3.
How are we introduced to John the Baptist’s ministry?
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. (Luke 3:1-2 NASB)
Was Isaiah’s prophecy understood metaphorically or literally as it applied to John?
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:3-6 NIV Isaiah 40:3-5)
Did John speak with subtle tact or forthrightly? Did he believe in repentance without fruit?
Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:7-9 NKJV)
What were some examples of that fruit? Did he teach giving to the poor? Did he tell tax collectors to quit their jobs? Did he tell soldiers to quit and become pacifists?
The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:10-14 NLT)
Was John humble about his ministry or did he make exaggerated claims?
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:15-17 WEB)
Was John shy about harshly criticizing the sins of a political leader?
With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people. But Herod the ruler had been criticized harshly by John because of Herodias, Herod’s brother’s wife, and because of all the evil he had done. He added this to the list of his evil deeds: he locked John up in prison. (Luke 3:18-20 CEB)
Did Jesus submit to baptism? Did God the Father and God the Holy Spirit also take part?
While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” (Luke 3:21-22 CEV)
Does Luke give the family line of Mary and Matthew give Joseph’s line, as some believe?
Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, (Luke 3:23-31a ESV)
Could it be, as others believe, that Matthew follows the lineage from David’s son Solomon, and Luke follows the lineage from Nathan, another Son of David, thus giving two different but compatible genealogies?
son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. (Luke 3:31b-38 HCSB)
What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Did John teach anything we need to heed? You decide!
How are we introduced to John the Baptist’s ministry?
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. (Luke 3:1-2 NASB)
Was Isaiah’s prophecy understood metaphorically or literally as it applied to John?
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:3-6 NIV Isaiah 40:3-5)
Did John speak with subtle tact or forthrightly? Did he believe in repentance without fruit?
Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:7-9 NKJV)
What were some examples of that fruit? Did he teach giving to the poor? Did he tell tax collectors to quit their jobs? Did he tell soldiers to quit and become pacifists?
The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:10-14 NLT)
Was John humble about his ministry or did he make exaggerated claims?
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:15-17 WEB)
Was John shy about harshly criticizing the sins of a political leader?
With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people. But Herod the ruler had been criticized harshly by John because of Herodias, Herod’s brother’s wife, and because of all the evil he had done. He added this to the list of his evil deeds: he locked John up in prison. (Luke 3:18-20 CEB)
Did Jesus submit to baptism? Did God the Father and God the Holy Spirit also take part?
While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” (Luke 3:21-22 CEV)
Does Luke give the family line of Mary and Matthew give Joseph’s line, as some believe?
Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, (Luke 3:23-31a ESV)
Could it be, as others believe, that Matthew follows the lineage from David’s son Solomon, and Luke follows the lineage from Nathan, another Son of David, thus giving two different but compatible genealogies?
son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. (Luke 3:31b-38 HCSB)
What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Did John teach anything we need to heed? You decide!
NOT as the Lord Commanded (Leviticus 10)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how some did not do as the Lord commanded? Is this a weakness of apostolic succession? Where is the guarantee that even the very next generation of priests will be faithful? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Are we faithful to them? Let’s look at Leviticus 10.
What happened when two of the priests, Aaron’s sons, went against God’s commands? Is this a warning for today’s church leaders?
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered [strange] unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2 NIV)
What did Moses say to his brother Aaron about this situation?
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” (Leviticus 10:3 NIV)
What was to be done with the bodies of the two rebellious priests?
Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said. (Leviticus 10:4-5 NKJV)
Should they grieve their rebellious family members?
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not show grief by leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the Lord’s anger will strike the whole community of Israel. However, the rest of the Israelites, your relatives, may mourn because of the Lord’s fiery destruction of Nadab and Abihu. But you must not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle or you will die, for you have been anointed with the Lord’s anointing oil.” So they did as Moses commanded. (Leviticus 10:6-7 NLT)
Could part of the cause of their rebellion have been drinking too much alcohol?
Then Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. You are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses.” (Leviticus 10:8-11 WEB)
Should they get on with the Lord’s business, even though they probably did not feel like it for the moment?
Moses then told Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the Lord’s food gifts and eat it unleavened next to the altar, because it is most holy. You must eat it in a holy place because it is your portion and your sons’ portion from the Lord’s food gifts, as I have been commanded. (Leviticus 10:12-13 CEB)
Could the priest’s family also eat certain parts of the offerings?
But the choice ribs and the hind leg that were lifted up may be eaten by your entire family, as long as you do so in an acceptable place. These parts are yours from the sacrifices that the people offer to ask the Lord's blessing. This is what the Lord has commanded, and it will never change. (Leviticus 10:14-15 CEV)
Was Moses angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the surviving sons of Aaron?
Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” (Leviticus 10:16-18 ESV)
Did Aaron appease Moses for the sake of his sons?
But Aaron replied to Moses, “See, today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the Lord’s sight?” When Moses heard this, it was acceptable to him. (Leviticus 10:19-20 HCSB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how some did not do as the Lord commanded? Is this a weakness of apostolic succession? Where is the guarantee that even the very next generation of priests will be faithful? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Are we faithful to them? You decide!
What happened when two of the priests, Aaron’s sons, went against God’s commands? Is this a warning for today’s church leaders?
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered [strange] unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2 NIV)
What did Moses say to his brother Aaron about this situation?
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” (Leviticus 10:3 NIV)
What was to be done with the bodies of the two rebellious priests?
Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said. (Leviticus 10:4-5 NKJV)
Should they grieve their rebellious family members?
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not show grief by leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the Lord’s anger will strike the whole community of Israel. However, the rest of the Israelites, your relatives, may mourn because of the Lord’s fiery destruction of Nadab and Abihu. But you must not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle or you will die, for you have been anointed with the Lord’s anointing oil.” So they did as Moses commanded. (Leviticus 10:6-7 NLT)
Could part of the cause of their rebellion have been drinking too much alcohol?
Then Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. You are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses.” (Leviticus 10:8-11 WEB)
Should they get on with the Lord’s business, even though they probably did not feel like it for the moment?
Moses then told Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the Lord’s food gifts and eat it unleavened next to the altar, because it is most holy. You must eat it in a holy place because it is your portion and your sons’ portion from the Lord’s food gifts, as I have been commanded. (Leviticus 10:12-13 CEB)
Could the priest’s family also eat certain parts of the offerings?
But the choice ribs and the hind leg that were lifted up may be eaten by your entire family, as long as you do so in an acceptable place. These parts are yours from the sacrifices that the people offer to ask the Lord's blessing. This is what the Lord has commanded, and it will never change. (Leviticus 10:14-15 CEV)
Was Moses angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the surviving sons of Aaron?
Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” (Leviticus 10:16-18 ESV)
Did Aaron appease Moses for the sake of his sons?
But Aaron replied to Moses, “See, today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the Lord’s sight?” When Moses heard this, it was acceptable to him. (Leviticus 10:19-20 HCSB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how some did not do as the Lord commanded? Is this a weakness of apostolic succession? Where is the guarantee that even the very next generation of priests will be faithful? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Are we faithful to them? You decide!
As the Lord Commanded (Leviticus 9)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? Let’s look at Leviticus 9.
What happened after the ordination week was finished?
On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’” (Leviticus 9:1-4 ESV)
Was this what the Lord had commanded or just an innovation by Moses?
They brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole community came forward and stood before the Lord. Moses said, “This is what the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.” (Leviticus 9:5-7 HCSB)
Did Aaron also obey the commandment of the Lord, or just make up some human innovation?
So Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf for a sin offering on behalf of himself. Next, Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his fingers in the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar. As to the rest of the blood, he poured it at the base of the altar. He incinerated the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage from the liver of the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also incinerated the meat and skin outside the camp. And so the burnt offering was slaughtered, and Aaron’s sons secured for him the blood, which he poured on the altar and around it. (Leviticus 9:8-12 ISV)
What offerings did Aaron and his sons present before the Lord?
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. (Leviticus 9:13-17 KJV)
Did they continue as Moses had commanded or just invent their own things?
Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him, and he splashed it around on the altar. As for the portions of fat from the ox and from the ram, the fat tail and the fat covering and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, they now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before Yahweh, just as Moses had commanded. (Leviticus 9:18-21 LSB)
After all this did the glory of the Lord then appear to all the people?
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward. (Leviticus 9:22-24 NASB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? You decide!
What happened after the ordination week was finished?
On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’” (Leviticus 9:1-4 ESV)
Was this what the Lord had commanded or just an innovation by Moses?
They brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole community came forward and stood before the Lord. Moses said, “This is what the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.” (Leviticus 9:5-7 HCSB)
Did Aaron also obey the commandment of the Lord, or just make up some human innovation?
So Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf for a sin offering on behalf of himself. Next, Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his fingers in the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar. As to the rest of the blood, he poured it at the base of the altar. He incinerated the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage from the liver of the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also incinerated the meat and skin outside the camp. And so the burnt offering was slaughtered, and Aaron’s sons secured for him the blood, which he poured on the altar and around it. (Leviticus 9:8-12 ISV)
What offerings did Aaron and his sons present before the Lord?
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. (Leviticus 9:13-17 KJV)
Did they continue as Moses had commanded or just invent their own things?
Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him, and he splashed it around on the altar. As for the portions of fat from the ox and from the ram, the fat tail and the fat covering and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, they now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before Yahweh, just as Moses had commanded. (Leviticus 9:18-21 LSB)
After all this did the glory of the Lord then appear to all the people?
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward. (Leviticus 9:22-24 NASB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? You decide!
Ordaining the Priests (Leviticus 8)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? Let’s look at Leviticus 8.
How different was the ordination of Aaron and his sons from a modern ordination ceremony?
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Moses said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” (Leviticus 8:1-5 HCSB)
How different was the priestly clothing to anything worn by elders and overseers of modern churches?
Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. Then he clothed Aaron with the tunic, girded him with the band for priests, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, girded him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it on him. He set the breastplate on him, placed the Urim and Thummim on top of the breastplate, then he set the turban on his head. On the turban at the front he set the golden plate, the sacred crown that the Lord had commanded. (Leviticus 8:6-9 ISV)
How different and similar was the application of anointing oil compared to its use in a modern ordination ceremony?
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:10-13 KJV)
What was the purpose of a sin offering during the ordination ceremony?
Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and set it apart as holy, to make atonement for it. (Leviticus 8:14-15 LSB)
Is Jesus’ sacrifice pictured by burning part of the sacrifice outside the camp? Did He too suffer outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12)?
He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. But the bull and its hide, its flesh, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:16-17 NASB)
What was the purpose of the priests laying their hands on the burnt offering?
He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:18-21 NIV)
What was the purpose of a second ram during this ordination ceremony?
And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. (Leviticus 8:22-24 NKJV)
What was the purpose of offering the fat and a cake of unleavened bread?
Next Moses took the fat, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh. On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the Lord’s presence. He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and he lifted these gifts as a special offering to the Lord. (Leviticus 8:25-27 NLT)
What was the purpose of this consecration offering and sprinkling the anointing oil?
Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh. Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh commanded Moses. Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. (Leviticus 8:28-30 WEB)
Was there a meal shared by all the priests at their ordination?
Moses said to Aaron and his sons: “Cook the meat at the meeting tent’s entrance. You may eat it there along with the bread that is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I was commanded, ‘Aaron and his sons can eat it.’ But you must burn whatever is left over of the meat and bread with fire. (Leviticus 8:31-32 CEB)
Unlike modern ordination ceremonies, where were they to stay for seven days? Is time off after ordination a good thing?
and stay near the entrance to the sacred tent until the ordination ceremony ends seven days from now. We have obeyed the Lord in everything that has been done today, so that your sins may be forgiven. The Lord has told me that you must stay near the entrance to the tent for seven days and nights, or else you will die. Aaron and his sons obeyed everything that the Lord had told Moses they must do. (Leviticus 8:33-36 CEV)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? You decide!
How different was the ordination of Aaron and his sons from a modern ordination ceremony?
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Moses said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” (Leviticus 8:1-5 HCSB)
How different was the priestly clothing to anything worn by elders and overseers of modern churches?
Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. Then he clothed Aaron with the tunic, girded him with the band for priests, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, girded him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it on him. He set the breastplate on him, placed the Urim and Thummim on top of the breastplate, then he set the turban on his head. On the turban at the front he set the golden plate, the sacred crown that the Lord had commanded. (Leviticus 8:6-9 ISV)
How different and similar was the application of anointing oil compared to its use in a modern ordination ceremony?
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:10-13 KJV)
What was the purpose of a sin offering during the ordination ceremony?
Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and set it apart as holy, to make atonement for it. (Leviticus 8:14-15 LSB)
Is Jesus’ sacrifice pictured by burning part of the sacrifice outside the camp? Did He too suffer outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12)?
He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. But the bull and its hide, its flesh, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:16-17 NASB)
What was the purpose of the priests laying their hands on the burnt offering?
He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:18-21 NIV)
What was the purpose of a second ram during this ordination ceremony?
And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. (Leviticus 8:22-24 NKJV)
What was the purpose of offering the fat and a cake of unleavened bread?
Next Moses took the fat, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh. On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the Lord’s presence. He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and he lifted these gifts as a special offering to the Lord. (Leviticus 8:25-27 NLT)
What was the purpose of this consecration offering and sprinkling the anointing oil?
Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh. Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh commanded Moses. Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. (Leviticus 8:28-30 WEB)
Was there a meal shared by all the priests at their ordination?
Moses said to Aaron and his sons: “Cook the meat at the meeting tent’s entrance. You may eat it there along with the bread that is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I was commanded, ‘Aaron and his sons can eat it.’ But you must burn whatever is left over of the meat and bread with fire. (Leviticus 8:31-32 CEB)
Unlike modern ordination ceremonies, where were they to stay for seven days? Is time off after ordination a good thing?
and stay near the entrance to the sacred tent until the ordination ceremony ends seven days from now. We have obeyed the Lord in everything that has been done today, so that your sins may be forgiven. The Lord has told me that you must stay near the entrance to the tent for seven days and nights, or else you will die. Aaron and his sons obeyed everything that the Lord had told Moses they must do. (Leviticus 8:33-36 CEV)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? You decide!
More Offering Instructions (Leviticus 7)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? Let’s look at Leviticus 7.
Guilt Offering
What are further priestly instructions about the trespass, reparation or guilt offering?
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:1-5 KJV)
How were various offerings similar in regard to the priest’s portion?
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. Also the priest who brings near any man’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought near. Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who brings it near. And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to all alike. (Leviticus 7:6-10 LSB)
Peace Offerings
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was a thanksgiving offering?
Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. (Leviticus 7:11-15 NASB)
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was either a vow or a freewill offering?
If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted. It will not be reckoned to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible. (Leviticus 7:15-18 NIV)
Unclean Things
Was uncleanness completely ceremonial, or also quarantine practices?
The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:19-21 NKJV)
Blood & Fat
What about blood and fat, could they be eaten?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose. Anyone who eats fat from an animal presented as a special gift to the Lord will be cut off from the community. No matter where you live, you must never consume the blood of any bird or animal. Anyone who consumes blood will be cut off from the community.” (Leviticus 7:22-27 NLT)
What was the priest’s portion of the peace offerings?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. (Leviticus 7:28-31 WEB)
What other portion of the peace offering was to be given to the priests?
You will give the right thigh of your communal sacrifice of well-being to the priest as a gift. The right thigh will belong to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the well-being offering. I have taken the breast of the uplifted offering and the thigh that is given by the Israelites from their communal sacrifices of well-being, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a permanent portion from the Israelites. This is what Aaron and his sons are allotted from the Lord’s food gifts once they have been presented to serve the Lord as priests. The Lord commanded that these things be given to the priests by the Israelites, following their anointment. It is their permanent portion throughout their future generations. (Leviticus 7:32-36 CEB)
What is a good summary of various reasons for giving offerings?
These are the ceremonies for sacrifices to please the Lord, to give him thanks, and to ask for his blessing or his forgiveness, as well as the ceremonies for those sacrifices that demand a payment and for the sacrifices that are offered when priests are ordained. While Moses and the people of Israel were in the desert at Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded them to start offering these sacrifices. (Leviticus 7:37-38 CEV)
Do any of these things still apply? Should Christians eat blood sausage or blood pudding?
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:19-20 ESV)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? You decide!
Guilt Offering
What are further priestly instructions about the trespass, reparation or guilt offering?
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:1-5 KJV)
How were various offerings similar in regard to the priest’s portion?
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. Also the priest who brings near any man’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought near. Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who brings it near. And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to all alike. (Leviticus 7:6-10 LSB)
Peace Offerings
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was a thanksgiving offering?
Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. (Leviticus 7:11-15 NASB)
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was either a vow or a freewill offering?
If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted. It will not be reckoned to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible. (Leviticus 7:15-18 NIV)
Unclean Things
Was uncleanness completely ceremonial, or also quarantine practices?
The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:19-21 NKJV)
Blood & Fat
What about blood and fat, could they be eaten?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose. Anyone who eats fat from an animal presented as a special gift to the Lord will be cut off from the community. No matter where you live, you must never consume the blood of any bird or animal. Anyone who consumes blood will be cut off from the community.” (Leviticus 7:22-27 NLT)
What was the priest’s portion of the peace offerings?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. (Leviticus 7:28-31 WEB)
What other portion of the peace offering was to be given to the priests?
You will give the right thigh of your communal sacrifice of well-being to the priest as a gift. The right thigh will belong to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the well-being offering. I have taken the breast of the uplifted offering and the thigh that is given by the Israelites from their communal sacrifices of well-being, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a permanent portion from the Israelites. This is what Aaron and his sons are allotted from the Lord’s food gifts once they have been presented to serve the Lord as priests. The Lord commanded that these things be given to the priests by the Israelites, following their anointment. It is their permanent portion throughout their future generations. (Leviticus 7:32-36 CEB)
What is a good summary of various reasons for giving offerings?
These are the ceremonies for sacrifices to please the Lord, to give him thanks, and to ask for his blessing or his forgiveness, as well as the ceremonies for those sacrifices that demand a payment and for the sacrifices that are offered when priests are ordained. While Moses and the people of Israel were in the desert at Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded them to start offering these sacrifices. (Leviticus 7:37-38 CEV)
Do any of these things still apply? Should Christians eat blood sausage or blood pudding?
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:19-20 ESV)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? You decide!
Priestly Offering Instructions (Leviticus 6)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? Let’s look at Leviticus 6.
What other kinds of sin would require a guilt or reparation offering?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:1-3 KJV)
How should such a person compensate their neighbor when they are guilty of such sins?
then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. (Leviticus 6:4-5 LSB)
What offering should the guilty person make before a priest?
Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your assessment, as a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt. (Leviticus 6:6-7 NASB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the burnt offering?
The Lord said to Moses: “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.’” (Leviticus 6:8-10 NIV)
Could the priests allow the fire to go out on the altar of sacrifice?
Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:11-13 NKJV)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the grain offering?
These are the instructions regarding the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must present this offering to the Lord in front of the altar. The priest on duty will take from the grain offering a handful of the choice flour moistened with olive oil, together with all the frankincense. He will burn this representative portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Leviticus 6:14-16 NLT)
Could it be baked with yeast? Did the priests eat of it, as their portion?
It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass [guilt] offering. Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:17-18 WEB)
What were the regulations regarding ordination after Aaron’s death or retirement?
The Lord said to Moses, This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the Lord on the day of his anointment: one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular grain offering, half in the morning and half in the evening. It must be prepared on a griddle with oil. You must bring it thoroughly mixed up and must present it as a grain offering of crumbled pieces as a soothing smell to the Lord. The priest who is anointed from among Aaron’s sons to succeed him will prepare the offering as a permanent portion for the Lord. It will be completely burned as a complete offering. Every priestly grain offering must be a complete offering; it must not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:19-23 CEB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the sin offering?
The Lord told Moses how the priests from Aaron's family were to offer the sacrifice for sin: This sacrifice is very sacred, and the animal must be killed in my presence at the north side of the bronze altar. The priest who offers this sacrifice must eat it in the sacred courtyard of the sacred tent, and anyone or anything that touches the meat will be holy. If any of the animal's blood is splattered on the clothes of the priest, they must be washed in a holy place. If the meat was cooked in a clay pot, the pot must be destroyed, but if it was cooked in a bronze pot, the pot must be scrubbed and rinsed with water. (Leviticus 6:24-28 CEV)
Who may eat of the sin offering made for a priest?
Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire. (Leviticus 6:29-30 ESV)
Are these offerings still in effect under the new covenant?
After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10 HCSB)
Is there something more important than all the offerings and sacrifices that even a scribe recognized?
To love him [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 ISV)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? You decide!
What other kinds of sin would require a guilt or reparation offering?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:1-3 KJV)
How should such a person compensate their neighbor when they are guilty of such sins?
then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. (Leviticus 6:4-5 LSB)
What offering should the guilty person make before a priest?
Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your assessment, as a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt. (Leviticus 6:6-7 NASB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the burnt offering?
The Lord said to Moses: “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.’” (Leviticus 6:8-10 NIV)
Could the priests allow the fire to go out on the altar of sacrifice?
Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:11-13 NKJV)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the grain offering?
These are the instructions regarding the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must present this offering to the Lord in front of the altar. The priest on duty will take from the grain offering a handful of the choice flour moistened with olive oil, together with all the frankincense. He will burn this representative portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Leviticus 6:14-16 NLT)
Could it be baked with yeast? Did the priests eat of it, as their portion?
It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass [guilt] offering. Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:17-18 WEB)
What were the regulations regarding ordination after Aaron’s death or retirement?
The Lord said to Moses, This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the Lord on the day of his anointment: one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular grain offering, half in the morning and half in the evening. It must be prepared on a griddle with oil. You must bring it thoroughly mixed up and must present it as a grain offering of crumbled pieces as a soothing smell to the Lord. The priest who is anointed from among Aaron’s sons to succeed him will prepare the offering as a permanent portion for the Lord. It will be completely burned as a complete offering. Every priestly grain offering must be a complete offering; it must not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:19-23 CEB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the sin offering?
The Lord told Moses how the priests from Aaron's family were to offer the sacrifice for sin: This sacrifice is very sacred, and the animal must be killed in my presence at the north side of the bronze altar. The priest who offers this sacrifice must eat it in the sacred courtyard of the sacred tent, and anyone or anything that touches the meat will be holy. If any of the animal's blood is splattered on the clothes of the priest, they must be washed in a holy place. If the meat was cooked in a clay pot, the pot must be destroyed, but if it was cooked in a bronze pot, the pot must be scrubbed and rinsed with water. (Leviticus 6:24-28 CEV)
Who may eat of the sin offering made for a priest?
Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire. (Leviticus 6:29-30 ESV)
Are these offerings still in effect under the new covenant?
After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10 HCSB)
Is there something more important than all the offerings and sacrifices that even a scribe recognized?
To love him [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 ISV)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? You decide!
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