Numbers - Chapter 1 We have read through the first three books of the Old Testament and have met with Jesus in every chapter. We now move to the book of Numbers. This book gets its name from the two censuses carried out, recorded in this chapter and in chapter 26. In the first
Leviticus - Chapter 27 In this chapter we read that a tithe from everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Jesus refers to this in Matthew 23, making it clear that the tithes are required, but are
Leviticus - Chapter 26 In this chapter we see many blessings promised if the people are obedient, and many punishments if the people are disobedient. In verse 3 God says "if you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will ....." and he then lists all the good things
Leviticus - Chapter 25 In this chapter we are told of the Year of Jubilee - the fiftieth year: Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you. This is a year when slaves will be set free. It was the year
Leviticus - Chapter 24 This chapter contains a verse which is quoted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Verses 17 - 20 say: ‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. ‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor,
Leviticus - Chapter 23 In this chapter we have details of the various feasts of the Lord - all of which point to Jesus. The first one mentioned is the Sabbath: Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no
Leviticus - Chapter 22 Once again the rules are laid down on what animals are and what animals are not acceptable as sacrifices. In verse 21 it says: whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it
Leviticus - Chapter 21 In this chapter we read the rules for the priests. The priests must not make themselves unclean and must themselves be without any defect. In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 7, we read a description of Jesus as our high priest, fulfilling all the conditions in Leviticus 21: "
Leviticus - Chapter 20 This chapter again deals with various laws which have already been set out, but this time with details of the punishment for breaking the laws - usually with the death penalty. In verse 10, for example, it says: If a many commits adultery with another man's wife -
Leviticus - Chapter 19 In this chapter there are numerous laws covering a wide range of subjects. One very brief law is set out in verse 16. It says: "Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour's life. I am the Lord." Throughout Jesus' ministry on earth he healed
Leviticus - Chapter 18 This chapter contains God's laws about personal relationships. The seventh of the ten commandments said "you shall not commit adultery". In this chapter there are a lot more details about how God's people were to live. Jesus addressed this subject in his Sermon on
Leviticus - Chapter 17 This chapter is about the significance of blood, and in verse 11 we read: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for
Leviticus - Chapter 16 This chapter sets out the procedures for the Day 0f Atonement: Yom Kippur. The offerings made on this day each year are all pointing ahead to the final offering of Jesus on the cross. The two goats - one sacrificed as a sin offering and the other a scapegoat, taking
Leviticus - Chapter 15 In this chapter there are regulations about bodily discharges which cause uncleanness. In verse 25 it says "‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the
Leviticus - Chapter 14 In this chapter we see the regulations for the ceremonial cleansing of a person who has been healed of an infectious skin disease. There is a very long process over many days, involving various offerings (including a sin offering; a guilt offering; and a grain offering). In Chapter 13 we
Leviticus - Chapter 13 In this chapter there are regulations concerning a person with an infectious skin disease. Where the priest confirms that the person has this disease the person is unclean: "Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their
Leviticus - Chapter 12 This chapter sets out the rules for purification after childbirth. On the eight day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait 33 days to be purified from her bleeding. When the time of purification is completed, the woman must bring a one-year-old lamb for a burnt
Leviticus - Chapter 11 This chapter sets out the clean animals (which may be eaten) and the unclean animals (which may not be eaten). In setting out these rules God is making it clear that he wants his chosen people to be clean and set aside for him. He says (in verses 43 to
Leviticus - Chapter 10 In the previous chapter fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the offering - and all the people shouted for joy. In this chapter Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons, did not follow God's instructions. They put fire in their ceremonial
Leviticus - Chapter 9 Moses tells Aaron that today the Lord will appear to the people. And so the people gathered before the Lord and made their offerings to him. At the end of the day Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again,
Leviticus - Chapter 8 After all the preparations it is now time to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests. The first act was carried out by Moses: Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. At the start of Jesus ministry we see the same thing happen (in Matthew
Leviticus - Chapter 7 We learn some more rules about the Fellowship Offering in this chapter. "If you bring an offering to fulfill a vow or as a voluntary offering, the meat must be eaten on the same day the sacrifice is offered, but whatever is left over may be eaten on the
Leviticus - Chapter 6 In this chapter there is a very strange link between the burnt offering and the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have already noted that the burnt offering foretells the death of Jesus. But we also need to remember that Jesus is not only the sacrifice on our behalf; he
Leviticus - Chapter 5 In this Chapter we have the last of the five offerings - the Guilt Offering. This offering is different because it includes restitution. The person affected by the sin will receive compensation - including more than they lost (a 20% addition). Once again the offering will include the sacrifice of
Leviticus - Chapter 4 In this chapter we read about the fourth offering - the Sin Offering. This is a required atonement for unintentional sins, for the confession of sins, for the forgiveness of sins and for the cleansing from defilement. Part of the offering is burnt within the Tabernacle. But the rest is