Pastor’s Corner

We’ve come to what seems to be an end of an era. Preaching through the book of Leviticus has been a great reminder for me that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable … that the men (and women) of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Leviticus is such a linchpin of a book, unfolding God’s redemptive plan ultimately in Christ.

Scott Reed in an article from Ligonier ministries summed it up this way:

When humanity fell in the garden, our relationship with God was fatally broken in a way that had implications for the whole of human existence. In order to enter into God’s presence, we now need to be made clean, ceremonially appropriate for the presence of God. God’s holiness is to be matched by human cleanness. Therefore, Leviticus instructs that the holiest places of the tabernacle are reserved for those who have been specially prepared for the work; the priests, and ultimately the high priest (Leviticus 1:1-5). The sacrificial system reflects the ways in which humanity’s relationship with God has been terribly altered. Each sacrifice illustrates a different way in which God desires to be restored to His people through the work of redemption. The burnt offering (Leviticus 1:2-17, 6:6-13) which includes the burning up of the whole animal, provides for the covering over or atonement of human sin before God. The grain offering (Leviticus 2:1-16, 6:14-23) is associated with a gift or tribute, like those given to a king to ensure an alliance. The peace offering (Leviticus 3:1-17, 7:11-12) involves the sacramental sharing of a meal between the worshiper and the priests, reflecting a mended relationship. The purification of sin offering highlights the pollution or the defilement of sin for the believer and the need for purification. The reparation offering (Leviticus 5:14-16, 7:1-10) foregrounds the need for a debt to be repaid to God so that the divine and human relationship can be made whole.

Each of these five sacrifices highlights a different aspect of God’s plan for redemption for humanity. Our attention is often drawn to the passages about the need for atonement – both in the burnt sacrifice and in the Day of Atonement instructions laid out so clearly in Leviticus 16:1-34, but Christian worship can be deepened by an understanding of the rich ways in which Christ restores us before God, making a way for us to enter His presence. Our sins are atoned for, our alliance with the King is restored, we share a hospitable meal between friends, the defilement is purified, and our debt is repaid in the person and work of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. We can rejoice that our High Priest is at work to accomplish all these blessings of redemption.