Leviticus: Seedbed of NT Theology

[smokydot]

In the letter to the Hebrews, the NT presents many prefigures of Christ in the Levitical laws of the OT.

In fact, understood in the light of the letter to the Hebrews, Leviticus of the OT becomes a veritable seedbed, and the plumbline of NT theology.
But those seeds are buried in the details. . .and are to store up your heart, not just your head.
It would help if you read first the chapter presented in Leviticus. . .and then reviewed the post.

So starting from the beginning of Leviticus with the sacrifices, we find very specific regulations to insure an accurate picture of "what was to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.

Chapter 1:The five steps of a sacrifice present many prefigures regarding the sacrifice of Christ:

1) presentation of sacrifice at door to be examined for defect by the priest (Lev 1:3).
------Christ presented himself for sacrifice - entry into Jerusalem (Lk 9:51)
------examined by the priests - Jn 18:12-13, 19-24; Mt 26:57-65, 21:23-27

2) laying on of hands, confessing the sin - sin laid on the animal, died in sinner's place (Lev 1:4)
------principle of substitutionary atonement

3) sinner slayed the animal on north side of the altar - Christ died north of city (Lev 1:5)
------to show personal responsibility for its death, sinner judged his own sin (1 Co:11:31)
------to show agreement with righteous judgment of God on sin; i.e., death (Ro 6:23)
------shows how sin is to be dealt with in our own lives - we are to judge it (1 Co 11:31) and slay it (cut it off) - Mk 9:43-48

4) blood applied to all sides of altar (which was defiled by sin laid on it) - Christ's blood cleanses all sin - 1 Jn 1:7 (Lev 1:5)
------blood of Christ is applied in the NT by faith, trusting in the work of Christ on the cross

5) burning of sacrifice - a) devoted to God, exclusively for God's use and glory (Lev 1:8-10)
------b) sacrifice to justice--satisfying God's justice, appeasing God's wrath on sin, and thereby reconciling man to God

PERSONAL APPLICATION: The sacrificial ceremony reveals a principle of holiness.
As the sinner slayed the animal in judgment of sin and then cut it up, so we are to judge our own sin (1 Co 11:31) and slay it (cut it off) - Mk 9:43-48.

-- - - BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: We must deal radically with our sin (Mt 5:29-30).

to be con't.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

 

[angellous_evangellous]

To smoky: thanks for starting this thread so these ideas don't derail other threads.

To all other readers: Please note that this is not normative Christian theology. We can't keep people from embarrassing themselves: where the OP is not anti-Semetic it's profoundly irrational.

 

[outhouse]

Smokey you stand alone, you always have. Most of your post are so against the grain no one generally see's it like you. Im at the opposite side of the spectrum but I keep an open mind and research most of what I post.

I dont see eye to eye with Angellous and have different opinion's but he has done the homework you lack. He understands the real history not a perceived one with a large helping of wishfull thinking.

To all other readers: Please note that this is not normative Christian theology. We can't keep people from embarrassing themselves: where the OP is not anti-Semetic it's profoundly irrational.

I even find this correct

 

[dmgdnooc]

Well, encouragement from me, I think that you have made a good enough beginning and am interested to read more.
Particularly in how you will refer these things back to Hebrews.
I assume that you are headed back that way in due course.
　

 

[angellous_evangellous]

:banghead3

 

[dmgdnooc]

:banghead3

:rainbow1:

 

[angellous_evangellous]

:rainbow1:

:foryou:

 

[dmgdnooc]

Oooo.
Thanks I'll just go get a vase.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

*kicks dmgdnooc in the pants*

 

[dmgdnooc]

'dmgdnooc lols and takes phone book out of pants'

 

[fallingblood]

smokydot- Maybe taking an entry level course on the OT would help. Or maybe talking to a Rabbi could help.

Your points are really stretching it. Honestly, I could take the Harry Potter series and get the same connections here.

The priests never examined Jesus. If they had, they would have rejected him as a sacrifice. He was not sinless. He disrespected his mother, which was a sin. That in itself shows that he could not have been used as an actual sacrifice.

More so, the sacrifice was not meant to suffer. Jesus obviously suffered, and was horribly blemished. A very poor sacrifice he would have made.

Finally, the priests supposedly found him guilty of blasphemy. So from their view, Jesus was not a good sacrifice at all.

I think showing that your first point fails brings all of the other into question. I would show what the other ones are flawed as well, but honestly, they make little sense. For instance, burning of sacrifice? Jesus was never burned. That would make him not a sacrifice. Another example, the blood of a sacrifice being placed on all sides of alter has what to do with the blood of Jesus cleansing all? They are unrelated, as most of your examples are.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

smokydot- Maybe taking an entry level course on the OT would help. Or maybe talking to a Rabbi could help.

Your points are really stretching it. Honestly, I could take the Harry Potter series and get the same connections here.

The priests never examined Jesus. If they had, they would have rejected him as a sacrifice. He was not sinless. He disrespected his mother, which was a sin. That in itself shows that he could not have been used as an actual sacrifice.

More so, the sacrifice was not meant to suffer. Jesus obviously suffered, and was horribly blemished. A very poor sacrifice he would have made.

Finally, the priests supposedly found him guilty of blasphemy. So from their view, Jesus was not a good sacrifice at all.

I think showing that your first point fails brings all of the other into question. I would show what the other ones are flawed as well, but honestly, they make little sense. For instance, burning of sacrifice? Jesus was never burned. That would make him not a sacrifice. Another example, the blood of a sacrifice being placed on all sides of alter has what to do with the blood of Jesus cleansing all? They are unrelated, as most of your examples are.

*and make sure that the person teaching the OT course is not an evangelical Christian*

Otherwise, smoky will get worse instead of better.

He's too anti-Semetic for a talk with a rabbi. Maybe attending a lecture by a rabbi at a community center would be good.

Best thing would be to take a OT course at a local community college.

 

[smokydot]

Introduction:
Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumbline of NT theology, because in it are so many "patterns (prefigures) of the things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details. . .and are to store up your heart, not just your head.
These OT prefigures fill out the picture of Christ's nature and work, as well as the nature of sin, the nature of holiness, and the nature of grace.
So it would help to read the chapter first in Leviticus, and then review the post.
________________________

Following are those found in chp 1.

SYMBOLS: in sacrificial regulations of Chp 1

1. altar - prefigure (picture) of Christ (Lev 1:5)
-------sinless, holy - altar is holy, sanctifies gifts (Mt 23:19, Ex 29:37) as Christ sanctifies us
-------sin-bearer, defiled - defiled sin-bearing altar must be cleansed by blood of the sacrifice, as we must be cleansed by blood of Christ

2. aroma pleasing to God (Lev 1:9) - because it is an act of total consecration

3. priest (Lev 6:10) - prefigure of Christ
-------white linen - symbolizes righteousness (purity) of Christ

4. ashes (Lev 6:10) - prefigure of sacrificed body of Christ

5. east side of altar (Lev 1:16, 6:10) - points to Christ
-------Morning Star (sun) - 2 Pe 1:19, Rev 22:16
-------his star in the east - Mt 2:2
-------Star of Jacob - Nu 24:17
-------see Ex 27:13; Nu 2:3, 3:28; 2Sam 23:4; S of S 6:10; Eze 10:19, 11:23, 43:1-4, 17, 44:1-3; Mal 4:2; Mt 24:27; Lk 1:78; Rev 2:28, 7:2

6. placed in clean place (Lev 6:11) - Christ buried in undefiled tomb (Jn 19:41)

7. skin given to priest to clothe himself (Lev 7:8), as sign of reconciliation
-------in the garden, the sacrificial animal was stripped of its skin and given to man to clothe himself, as a sign of reconciliation
-------prefigure of Christ: as the animal was stripped of its skin so that man (priest) might be clothed in it, so Christ (the sacrifice) was stripped of his righteousness
and made sin for us, that we might be clothed in his righteousness (2 Co 5:21)

8. always accompanied by drink and grain offerings (Nu 15:5, 7) - flesh and bread must go together (Jn 6:51);
bread and wine were also sacrifices (offerings - Nu 15:4, 10, 28:7) prefiguring Christ (Lk 22:19-20)

9. strong wine (Nu 28:7) - power of the blood of Christ to cleanse all sin (1Jn 1:7)

10. wine poured out (Nu 28:7) - Christ's blood was poured out in sacrifice - Mt 26:28
-------drink offering poured out represents death (2 Tim 4:6, Php 2:7)

- - - - BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: As the burnt offering was totally consumed on the altar, so we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way to worship God (in view of what Christ did for us) - Ro 12:1

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We are to love and obey God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the greatest commandment (Mk 12:28-30).

SUMMARY: CHAPTER 1

The whole burnt (holocaust) offering shows us something about:

1. holiness - as the Israelite slayed the animal in judgment of his own sin, and then cut it up, so we are to judge our own sin and cut it off.

- - - - - - - - -We must deal radically with our sin.

2. nature of Christ - both holy and defiled, as the altar
- - - - - - - - - - - - - without defect, as the animal sacrifice - pure, pefect, sinless (Jn 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15, 7:26)

3. work of Christ:

---a) fragrant offering pleasing to God - as the aroma of the sacrifices

---b) buried in an undefiled tomb - as ashes placed in a clean place

---c) sin bearer, stripped of his righteousness - as the sacrificial animal was stripped of its skin

---d) would give his body as a sacrifice on the cross for the life of the world - as the bread was sacrificed on the altar (Nu 15:4)

---e) his blood would be poured out on the cross in sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin - as the wine offering was poured out in sacrifice (Nu 28:7)

 

[Levite]

SYMBOLS: in sacrifices of Chp 1

1. altar - prefigure (picture) of Christ (Lev 1:5)
-------sinless, holy - altar is holy, sanctifies gifts (Mt 23:19, Ex 29:37) as Christ sanctifies us
-------sin-bearer, defiled - defiled sin-bearing altar must be cleansed by blood of the sacrifice, as we must be cleansed by blood of Christ

2. aroma pleasing to God (Lev 1:9) - because it is an act of total consecration

3. priest (Lev 6:10) - prefigure of Christ
-------white linen - symbolizes righteousness (purity) of Christ

4. ashes (Lev 6:10) - prefigure of sacrificed body of Christ

5. east side of altar (Lev 1:16, 6:10) - points to Christ
-------Morning Star (sun) - 2 Pe 1:19, Rev 22:16
-------his star in the east - Mt 2:2
-------Star of Jacob - Nu 24:17
-------see Ex 27:13; Nu 2:3, 3:28; 2Sam 23:4; S of S 6:10; Eze 10:19, 11:23, 43:1-4, 17, 44:1-3; Mal 4:2; Mt 24:27; Lk 1:78; Rev 2:28, 7:2

6. placed in clean place (Lev 6:11) - Christ buried in undefiled tomb (Jn 19:41)

7. skin given to priest to clothe himself (Lev 7:8), as sign of reconciliation
-------in the garden, the sacrificial animal was stripped of its skin and given to man to clothe himself, as a sign of reconciliation
-------prefigure of Christ: as the animal was stripped of its skin so that man (priest) might be clothed in it, so Christ (the sacrifice) was stripped of his righteousness
and made sin for us, that we might be clothed in his righteousness (2 Co 5:21)

8. always accompanied by drink and grain offerings (Nu 15:5, 7) - flesh and bread must go together (Jn 6:51);
bread and wine were also sacrifices (offerings - Nu 15:4, 10, 28:7) prefiguring Christ (Lk 22:19-20)

9. strong wine (Nu 28:7) - power of the blood of Christ to cleanse all sin

10. wine poured out (Nu 28:7) - Christ's blood was poured out in sacrifice - Mt 26:28
-------symbol of sacrificial living, drink offering poured out represents death (2 Tim 4:6, Php 2:7)

APPLICATION: The regulations for the sacrificial animal reveal the nature of Christ - without defect, pure, perfect, sinless (Jn 8:46, 2 Co 5:21, Heb 4:15, 7:26).

The burnt offering reveals another principle of holiness.
As the burnt offering was totally consumed on the altar, so we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way to worship God (in view of what Christ did for us) - Ro 12:1

PRINCIPLE: We are to love and obey God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the greatest commandment (Mk 12:28-30).

SUMMARY: CHAPTER 1
The whole burnt (holocaust) offering shows us something about:

1. holiness - as the Israelite slayed the animal in judgment of his own sin, and then cut it up, so we are to judge our own sin and cut it off.

- - - - - - - - -We must deal radically with our sin.

2. nature of Christ - both holy and defiled, as the altar
- - - - - - - - - - - - - without defect, as the animal sacrifice

3. work of Christ:

---a) fragrant offering pleasing to God - as the aroma of the sacrifices

---b) buried in an undefiled tomb - as ashes placed in a clean place

---c) sin bearer, stripped of his righteousness - as the sacrificial animal was stripped of its skin

---d) would give his body as a sacrifice on the cross for the life of the world - as the bread was sacrificed on the altar (Nu 15:4)

---e) his blood would be poured out on the cross in sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin - as the wine offering was poured out in sacrifice (Nu 28:7)

:areyoucra

 

[smokydot]

Introduction:
Leviticus can be called the seedbed and plumbline of NT theology, because in it are so many "patterns (prefigures) of things to come" (Heb 10:1) in Christ.
But the seeds are buried in the details. . .and are for the storing up of your heart, not just your head.
These OT prefigures fill out the picture of Christ's nature and work, as well as the nature of sin, the nature of holiness, and the nature of grace.
It is helpful to read the chapter in Leviticus first, then review the post.
____________________

In chp 2 of Leviticus are the regulations for the grain offering (sacrifice) of fine flour, which was the sacrifice for the poor (Lev 5:11),
and which accompanied all burnt and fellowship offerings (Nu 5:8-10).

The flour offering (sacrifice) is a prefigure of Christ, the Bread of Life (Jn 6:32-35), our complete provision (Php 4:19).

SYMBOLS: (in the regulations)

1. oil poured on flour (Lev 2:1) - Spirit poured on Christ without measure (Jn 3:34)

2. incense put on flour (Lev 2:2) - prayer, intercession of Christ (Heb 7:25)

3. rest of flour most holy (Lev 2:3) - whatever touches will become holy (Lev 6:18)
-------to lay hold of (touch) Christ in faith and obedience is to become holy

4. flour sacrifice of sinner eaten by priest in a holy place, courtyard (Lev 6:16)
-------received sin of people into themselves (fed on them) - Lev 10:17
-------prefigure of Christ as priest and sin-bearer receiving our sin (2Co 5:21)

5. flour offerings of priests not eaten by priests, but burned on the altar (Lev 6:23)
-------sin of priest must also be transferred to sin-bearer - altar (Christ), where the altar (fire) must eat up their offerings

6. flour without yeast (Lev 2:4) - symbol of sin, which grows in our life just as yeast grows in bread

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Just as a little yeast will affect the whole loaf (Gal 5:9), so a little sin will ruin a whole life (1Co 5:6-8)

7. no honey on the altar (Lev 2:11) - pleasure (sweetness)
--------have no pleasure (honey) in sin (sacrifices)

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Do not take pleasure in sin; and do not mix your pleasure with sin.

8. flour seasoned with salt (Lev 2:13) - grace
-------salt penetrates - grace penetrates to the level of our heart and motives, changing them
-------salt retards corruption - grace transforms our corruption
-------salt aids healing - grace heals our sin (1Pe 2:24; see 2Kgs 2:20-22)
-------salt makes the untasty tasty and acceptable - we are unacceptable to God without his grace

-------NT examples of salt as grace:

-------Col 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace (no corruption), seasoned with salt (which retards corruption)."

-------Mt 5:13 - "You are the salt of the earth (and the decaying earth needs salt). But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

If the professing church (salt), loses its saltiness (holiness), it will no longer be good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled on by the world.

-------Mk 9:50 - ". . .Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other."
Grace retards our corruptions (the source of our conflicts - Jas 4:1) and makes us peaceable.

-------Mk 9:49 - "Everyone will be salted (sanctified) with fire (of refining)."

PERSONAL APPLICATION: We must let God's grace penetrate every aspect of our lives, preserving us from evil, healing our sin and shortcomings,
and making us pleasing to God (Ro 14:17-18; 2Co 5:9, Eph 5:8-10; Col 1:10.

- - - -BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE: Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

SUMMARY: Chp 2

The grain offering shows us something about:

1. nature of Christ - Holy Spirit would be poured out on Christ without measure, as the oil was poured on the flour sacrifice

2. work of Christ - would be our sin-bearer, taking our sin on himself, as the

-------priest - who ate the grain offerings, taking their sin into himself

-------altar - consumed the grain offerings for the priests, taking their sin onto itself

3. nature of sin - is in the heart, where it grows hidden like yeast, and will permeate our whole life if it is not dealt with radically (Mk 9:43-48)

4. nature of grace - is like salt, which penetrates our hearts to the level of our sin and corruption, transforming us there into the image of Christ

5. holiness - as the grain sacrifices were seasoned with salt, so our lives are to be seasoned with grace to retard our corruption and sin, because

- - - - - - - - - -without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

 

[outhouse]

whats your real point???

 

[fallingblood]

whats your real point???

Basically to spam this forum with his close-minded beliefs.

 

[smokydot]

Well, encouragement from me, I think that you have made a good enough beginning and am interested to read more.
Particularly in how you will refer these things back to Hebrews.
I assume that you are headed back that way in due course.

Well, you can start here for a taste of Hebrews ---> http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2320006-post527.html.

I don't know that I will repeat all of the references above in my presentation of Leviticus.

 

[Breathe]

Can't make heads nor tails of smokydot's posts...