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SERVANTS' MINISTRY
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Gospel in Leviticus?
Chapter 1
Moses and his Third Book . . . What is the Gospel? He shows the many ways in which it is presented: (1). Natural Symbols of Christ. (2). The value of Types in conveying instruction. (3). Nature and Revelation.
Moses was a very special man, a one in a million miraculous man, of whom there have been just a few. There is only One other Man who could be compared to him, and that would be Christ Jesus our Saviour, whom Moses so much resembled. Christ Jesus and Moses stand out in the records of the past, like two tremendous mountains, wide and high, where earth and heaven touch; where the human connects with the divine. They head the two great dispensations of God so far. All that the Heavenly Father has delivered to us so far, is contained in the Law and the Gospel; and the Law was "given by Moses," and the Gospel "came by Jesus Christ." About one-third of the Old Testament was written by this remarkable man, Moses. It was through him that inspiration first broke forth in a steady and continued stream to write. Moses was, and remains, the great Lawgiver and Historian of the world.
The Book of Leviticus is the third in the order of Moses’ inspired writings. It is a Book which treats the offices, rites, services and feasts of the Hebrew religion, as given in the responsibility of the priests . . . the sons of Levi. The Talmudists called it "The Law of the Priests" and "The Law of the Offerings. Both these titles correctly describe it.
That Moses was really the writer of this Book can hardly be doubted. If what it contains to be true, as all those best qualified to judge have never questioned, it is impossible to suppose that anyone but Moses could have written it. Nehemiah, Luke, the writer of Second Chronicles, and other inspired penmen, refer to it as a genuine production of him whose name it bears, as well as a direct statement from God. And if it be a history at all, it must be received as inspired. It contains little else than God's own utterances. It is more entirely made up of the very words of the LORD God than any other book of the Bible. God Himself speaks in every chapter, and in nearly every verse. Moses sits, hears and writes, and he writes what the LORD speaks.
Many consider Leviticus simply as the record of an obsolete economy, unsuitable for our times, which contains little or nothing of practical value to us. Few have ever heard a chapter read, or even a Text taken, from this amazing part of Scripture! It usually is passed by, even by Christians, as of no account! Because of this, I want to comment on this Book and show that it does have a place in our lives today! It is far more than a collection of interests for the historian, it is a book of impressive, inspiring, evangelical instruction. Christ Himself says: John 5:46-47 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (KJV)
The whole Letter to the Hebrews is one outstanding argument for Christianity, which was extracted from the rites and services of the Levitical economy. Because of this dear one, Leviticus must be taken, as the teaching of the New Testament, because its outlines and characteristics are contained in this ancient Book. The matter may be somewhat veiled in type and symbol, but there is just as much Gospel in Leviticus as there is in Daniel, Ezekiel or Isaiah. This very obsolete Law of the priests and offerings, as I hope to make clear in my comments, contains a Gospel instruction as pure and divine as that which dropped from the apostles lips, or is written in apostolic records. Christ Himself and all His mediatorial doings, from first to last, are the fulfilment and accompaniment of the laws written in Leviticus. Mat. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (KJV) . . . If you open the Book of Leviticus ANYWHERE, you will find something about the LORD Jesus. He is its Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the Ending.
The Gospel according to Leviticus, is like the third book of the New Testament is called "The Gospel according to Luke." The one tells of Jesus and redemption through Him, just as the other; and if we do not find it overflow with clear and beautiful evangelical instruction, it is because we are not paying attention.
What is the Gospel? Is it a particular set form of words? NO! It is not. The Gospel is God declaring a plan of mercy to sinners. It is God revealing His grace to fallen man. It is His Promise of forgiveness and eternal life through the intercession of Jesus Christ. So, whatever announces Christ as the Redeemer, and holds forth forgiveness and salvation through Him, includes the Gospel. The Gospel tells the Savior's history, simply and only because it is an account of our Redeemer. Christ is proposed and given to the believing and obedient in all His saving effectiveness. The Gospel represents the Scriptural Promises of forgiveness and mercy, in contrast with the demands of the Law; dear one, the Gospel is God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
Man is fallen and depraved. It is upon this truth that the Gospel starts, and the Gospel is exceptional and unique. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)
All consciousness bears witness to it. A man is a fool not to believe it, not to believe God (1 John 5:10-13). God’s curse of condemnation stands written against those who refuse to believe God! John 3:18-19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (KJV) Death and decay are on us all, and cling to us as part of ourself, and we cannot cut loose from them. Eternity, as far as our own strength goes, can bring us only sorrow and despair. But dear one, God comes to us in this desperate estate and extends, through Christ, an eternal deliverance. For darkness, He offers to give us light. For sin, He holds out to us the One and Only Way of an effectual cleansing (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). God, through His Son promises us a full reprieve. In the Gospel, He offers to save us. Restoration is now proclaimed from the Heavens as the portion of those who will receive it through Christ Jesus. It is, indeed, Good news - - - glad tidings of great joy.
In Leviticus, the ceremonial system records a plan executed to set forth the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The Gospel receives a kind of living, expressive display where it treats the slaying of goats and calves, of meats and drinks, and various washings, all ordained by God, that in these things men might have a noticeable presentation of the Offering of Him who was "delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification" (Rom.4:25). It presents a solemn ritual of blood and bloodshed, "imposed until the time of reformation" (Heb.9:10), but meant to be "a figure" (Heb.9:9) complete and lively, of those better things which have since been revealed in Jesus Christ. It is only another of those "divers manners" (Heb.1:1) in which God has chosen to deliver to us an idea of the need, nature, application and effects of "the common salvation" (Jude 3) of which the prophets prophesied, and the apostles wrote. If we view salvation in this light, it is far from being repulsive and the Book of Leviticus instantly gathers around it a beautiful awareness, and becomes seen with happiness, which enlightens and inspires every focused Christian heart. Leviticus is like a torch given by God, which is lit by His sacred fires, to illuminate Redemption, and give light to the storeroom of His grace, of which the Holy prophets searched and inquired, when they spoke beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.
WHY should we go back to these ancient types, when we have everything so plain in the writings of Gospel writers and prophets? Why stop to look a dim picture when we have the original? Why linger in the twilight when we have the perfect day? Dear one, so much of the light which makes up the brilliance of Gospel, comes from these ancient Books. Had it not been for them, bit by bit preparing us for a more intense light, and opening our mind for moral and spiritual ideas, we would have no day at all. We need to see what those old Books have to say! We cannot understand the New Testament if we do not know what the Old Testament is saying to us. The language of evangelists and apostles, which we now think so plain, is all derived and molded from these ancient rites, and proceeds basically upon ideas generated by them, and without them, it would be very obscure, and, in some things, absolutely impossible to understand. So, these distinctive rites hold a place in the economy of revelation, from which they cannot be spared. Rom. 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (KJV)
Instead of putting these Old Books aside, like we do the toys of childhood, it is our duty to God and to ourselves, and should be our delight, to give them a share of our attention, and to do what we can to trace out their glorious meaning. They are there for a reason! To help us understand our awesome God!
Consider the increased light of a picture. We all have felt the added force imparted to truth by its being set forth in well-chosen images? Who has not often been more touched, moved and convinced by the simple parables of Jesus, than by all the eloquence and immense reasonings of Paul? Things are certainly not unclear and difficult because it is symbolic. Quite the opposite, there is nothing which so interests and impresses us. Pictures and images help us simplify truth, and open our mind to receive it with more freely, and write it with greater vividness upon our heart. Similarities have more virtue and power with them than simple words, and lead our understanding further into the marrow and spiritual understanding of the thing, than all the words that can be imagined. There is not a better or mightier thing, to make a man understand with all, than a symbol or parable; for they make us quick-witted, and place wisdom in us, and make it abide there, while bare words simply go in one ear and out the other. But when we have something in the shape of pictures, parables, symbols, fables, fictions, or stories, we are much more likely to understand and have it reach our hearts, than by any other form of words.
It is generally agreed that the delivery and arrangement of the Levitical system, as contained in this Book, took about one month. Forty days had been previously occupied in directing Moses how to make the tabernacle; here, at least thirty more are added in directing him how to arrange its services; and yet only six days were employed upon the Great Work of Creation. This may seem a strange, yet it tells us a very important Truth. Redemption is the most glorious of God's Works, and is deserving of the most attention. It is of more importance for man to have his sins forgiven and his soul saved, than to have a fine world to die in, and be lost forever. It is more important for us to understand the laws of grace than the laws of nature. God has devoted only six days, and two chapters of His Word to the Creation, while He has devoted a multitude of days and so much more to Redemption.
God hath spoken to us from the Heavens, so mercifully spoken to us, so that we might be saved; and while we do not refuse to listen to Him in His Works, let us always give Him respectful and reverent attention to Him in His Words. Dear one, the Gospel most certainly can be found in Leviticus.
Moses clearly brings the GOSPEL in the Book of Leviticus! He brings us a crystal clear picture of Jesus!
Is the Gospel in the Book of Leviticus? YES, it is!!!
Leviticus
Leviticus, intro . . Leviticus, Ch.1 . . Leviticus Ch.2 . . Leviticus, Ch.3 . . Leviticus, Ch.4 . . Leviticus Ch.5 . . Leviticus Ch.6 . . Leviticus Ch.7 . . . Leviticus Ch.8 . . Leviticus Ch.9 . . Leviticus Ch.10 . . Leviticus Ch.11 . . Leviticus Ch.12 . . Leviticus Ch.13 . . . Home Page
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