Skip to content

Growing in Grace

"Watch your life and doctrine closely"

Menu
  • Recommended Reading
  • About
  • Writers’ Guild
  • Contact
Menu
Reading through the book of Leviticus; what does Leviticus mean? Why is Leviticus so hard to read?

Reading Through Leviticus

Posted on March 6, 2023March 3, 2023 by James Williams

By this time of the year, many well-meaning New Year’s resolutions to read through the Bible in a year have derailed. Most make it through the familiar stories in Genesis. The miracles and sheer power of God on display makes reading through Exodus a breeze. However, many would-be travelers have fallen off the reading wagon traversing through the bumpy details of Leviticus.

It’s not a matter of questioning the inspiration of Leviticus. The words in Leviticus are just as inspired as the red letters in Matthew. But, we all can agree that “Let your light so shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16),” seems more applicable than, “And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel” (Lev. 16:19).

Reading such specific details chapter after chapter can be difficult since we do not have to sprinkle the blood, do all the washings, and eat the right animals. Because we don’t need to accomplish many of these tasks, reading about them can feel tedious.

Perhaps that’s the point.

Leviticus shows us the preparations and sacrifices the people of God needed to accomplish to atone for their sin and worship God rightly. It seems overwhelming to read task after task, washing after washing, and sacrifice after sacrifice. But, that’s just a picture of what it takes for sinners to be worthy to approach a Holy God. Even then, it wasn’t a sufficient atonement to cleanse the people of their uncleanness: “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near” (Heb. 10:1).

Jesus teaches in Matthew 5: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (v. 17). All the requirements we read about in Leviticus can seem overwhelming, but thankfully Christ has completed them perfectly on our behalf. Because all these things have been fulfilled in Christ, we can draw near to God.

As you read through all the requirements in Leviticus, thank God that he has sent his Son to accomplish all these things on our behalf. Thank God that you can approach him without slaughtering a goat or washing a certain way. We can approach him whenever we need his grace and mercy, and we don’t have to wait for a certain day or go to a certain place.  We need no other mediator than Christ himself and he is always with his people.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

With the access to God you have because of Christ, are you drawing near to God this week?

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to receive all new posts:

About Me:

My name is James Williams and I serve as one of the pastors at FBC Atlanta, TX. I love preaching, writing, reading, growing vegetables, and running. My wife, Jenny, and I have four children and are actively involved in foster care. Read More…

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
Instagram

Check out the audio blog:

Reading Through Leviticus

Many well-meaning Bible reading plans have derailed in Leviticus. Why does Leviticus feels tedious to us?

Blog: www.growingingrace.blog

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter!

I pray this episode served you well! Please consider leaving a rating on Apple Podcasts as this will help others find the podcast, and please share on social media!

Reading Through Leviticus
Reading Through Leviticus
March 9, 2023
I’ll See You in Heaven
February 21, 2023
Doubts and Questions in the Christian Life
January 19, 2023
Driven By Awe: Missions
November 14, 2022
Driven by Awe: Faithful Endurance
September 27, 2022
Driven By Awe: Fighting Sin
September 8, 2022
Driven by Awe: Humility
August 22, 2022
Driven by Awe
August 3, 2022
God Is Everywhere, Why Should I Go To Church?
May 29, 2022
Thinning the Peaches
May 16, 2022
Search Results placeholder

Subscribe:

RSS
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
Instagram
  • Book Reviews
  • Christian Living
  • Devotional
  • Driven by Awe
  • Foster/Adoption
  • History
  • Links
  • Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • Poetry
  • Theology
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing

Recent Sermons: Revelation 12- The Great Accuser

https://www.growingingrace.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Revelation-12.m4a

Psalm 91- Fear and Foolishness

https://www.growingingrace.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Psalm-91-Fear-and-Foolishness.m4a
©2023 Growing in Grace | Built using WordPress and Responsive Blogily theme by Superb