February 1, 2022: Day 24 – Leviticus 1-4 and Hebrews 1-2

So we get into the part of the Bible that often if people are reading straight through it they would get bogged down here and give up the challenge.  Leviticus is a difficult book to make it all the way through simply because it is filled with these laws and sacrifices and antiquated rules that we simply cannot relate to because we do not take part in them anymore.  I am grateful that this challenge has us read Hebrews, because the two do go together.  Let’s look at Leviticus and then how Hebrews complements this book of the Bible.

So the traveling tabernacle is built and now God gives Moses the directions on what the people are supposed to do when they bring an offering to the Lord.  The first chapter covers an offering from livestock and the second chapter covers an offering from grain.  The third chapter covers an offering that is presented out of thanksgiving, or well-being.  The final chapter we read this morning is for an offering for sin that takes place without the individual or the community knowing that it was a sin when it was committed.  So if there is unintentional sin then this is also covered.  We now move to Hebrews.

The primary theme of Hebrews is that Jesus is our high priest.  Not only is he the high priest, but we shall see later as well, he is the offering himself that is presented once and for all for our sins.  As Leviticus presents the Hebrew people with the how to in order to present sacrifices correctly, Hebrews describes to us Jesus who is the final, once and for all sacrifice that when he was presented covered all of our sins, past, present, and future.  

Look at vs.10 and following where we read that God made Jesus the “pioneer” of our salvation and perfect through sufferings.  Look at vs.17 and following and take it under consideration: Jesus had to become like us in every respect sot hat he might be a merciful and faithful Savior in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people (remember Leviticus).  Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.  Take comfort in these words.