The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 3: Leviticus

Top Highlights

“But everyone accepted the fact that this basic offering to God was to represent a sacrifice of one’s substance. It was inconceivable to them that one could enter into God’s presence without making a costly sacrifice.” (Page 34)

“Even the high priest is forbidden casual entrance into the presence of God, just as Moses had experienced on Mount Sinai. For those of us who grew up with popular songs such as ‘Have you talked to the Man upstairs?’ or slogans such as ‘God is my co pilot,’ some recovery of the holiness of God which regards access to God’s presence with awe and wonder is of the essence.” (Page 159)

“While the burnt offering was costly to the worshiper, the central meaning of the sacrifice was in the atonement for the sins of the worshiper. The burnt offerings throughout the Old Testament are always linked with the atonement for sin.” (Page 36)

“The title Leviticus is misleading. Far from being a manual for the exclusive use of the priests, the book was much more a guide for the laity—for all of the people—regarding their role in worship.” (Page 17)

“It seems best to hold that the two goats represented a different aspect of the same sacrifice, one the means and the other the results.” (Page 165)