RPG Adults
THE PURPOSE OF LEVITICAL LAWS
MONDAY, APRIL 1
Leviticus 1
Hebrews 10:1
“Speak unto the children of Israel,
and say unto them, If any man of you
bring an offering unto the LORD…”
THE PURPOSE OF LEVITICAL LAWS
The LORD gave to His people three types of laws. They were: the Moral Laws which are summarised in the Ten Commandments; the Civil Laws to regulate the conduct of the people of Israel inside the Land of Promise; and the Levitical Laws. Incorporated into the Civil Laws were the restitutions and punishments for both victims and culprits respectively. For example, if someone stole a sheep, killed it and was caught, he had to pay four sheep to the victim. If it was an ox, he had to pay five oxen. It is not the same for the Moral Laws.
The Moral Laws were given by God to show sinners that they are great sinners against God. For example, sinners did not know that it was a sin to covet. God has given to man the 10th Commandment, “Thou shalt not covet…” (Exod 20:17). Now whenever man covets, his conscience is pricked. He might not have actually sinned against the person whose thing he coveted, but he has already sinned against God. Through the Ten Commandments, sinners will now know that when they steal it is also a sin against God and not just against man. This applies to dishonouring father or mother, adultery, killing, and bearing a false witness. The Moral Laws were given to drive sinners to seek the Saviour because they are very much aware of their great sins before God. But there is no restitution or way to repent and reconcile their relationship with God given within the Moral Laws, unlike the Civil Laws. That is where the Levitical Laws come in.
The Levitical Laws were given by God to help His people mend their broken relationship and fellowship with Him. The Moral Laws condemned but the Levitical Laws restored and taught the people of God what they must do when they could not approach God, e.g. what was unclean and how to be clean again so that they could live in holiness. In the Book of Leviticus is found the system of sacrifices that sinners must offer to have their sins forgiven. All the offerings mentioned in Leviticus are types of Christ.
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 1:4
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for salvation made possible throughout all generations even before Christ came. Amen.