Bible Study Seattle

Many view the book of Leviticus as tedious. Why do we have to read about these very specific rules about sacrificing animals? Didn’t Jesus do away with the Law at the cross?

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:13-17

In case there’s any dispute, Jesus clarifies:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus said all of the Law must be fulfilled. That hasn’t happened yet. That means that not just the Ten Commandments, but the ceremonial Law also is still in effect. Eventually it will not be needed – when death itself has been defeated. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

Many Christians don’t realize what’s to come. Large parts of the Old Testament are not preached in church. You rarely hear about the 1,000-year reign of Christ in church because they don’t know what the purpose of it is. Ezekiel 40-48 tells us that the Temple will be rebuilt, even bigger than Solomon’s Temple. Animal sacrifice will resume. This is not to replace Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, but to point people to Christ – especially those who never heard the gospel in their lifetimes. People will come back from the dead to hear this.

“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.  If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.  If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.  This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.  Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 14:16-20

Why will they come to Jerusalem to sacrifice? “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14

Those that obey God’s ceremonial and moral Laws will have the right to eat from the tress of life to live forever!