Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • Rest Day + Family Guide (Leviticus 1-6)

    Rest Day + Family Guide (Leviticus 1-6)

    Rest Day

    Each Sunday is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Each Rest Day, we will have an additional element to help you dig deeper. Sometimes it will be extra resources to further your study, a video to watch, or a podcast to listen to. Sometimes we’ll have a verse to commit to memorize to help you hide God’s Word in your heart. 

    If you have kids, our Family Guide will help you discuss what you’re reading and learning with them! It’s a great opportunity for your family to read God’s Word together and review what we read the previous week!

    Read This

    The Bible Project has a helpful blog post titled “Animal Sacrifice? Really?” to help us understand the significance of the sacrificial system that we read about throughout the book of Leviticus. 

    Family Guide

    Check out this week’s Leviticus 1-6 Family Guide!

  • Leviticus 6

    Leviticus 6

    Read Leviticus 6

    6 The Lord said to Moses: 2 “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their careor about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, 3 or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit— 4 when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, 5 or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. 6 And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. 7 In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.”

    The Burnt Offering

    8 The Lord said to Moses: 9 “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. 10 The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar. 11 Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. 12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

    The Grain Offering

    14 “‘These are the regulations for the grain offering: Aaron’s sons are to bring it before the Lord, in front of the altar. 15 The priest is to take a handful of the finest flour and some olive oil, together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 16 Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 17 It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the food offerings presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy. 18 Any male descendant of Aaron may eat it. For all generations to come it is his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.’”

    19 The Lord also said to Moses, 20 “This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to bring to the Lord on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening. 21 It must be prepared with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 22 The son who is to succeed him as anointed priest shall prepare it. It is the Lord’s perpetual share and is to be burned completely. 23 Every grain offering of a priest shall be burned completely; it must not be eaten.”

    The Sin Offering

    24 The Lord said to Moses, 25 “Say to Aaron and his sons: ‘These are the regulations for the sin offering: The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it shall eat it; it is to be eaten in the sanctuary area, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 27 Whatever touches any of the flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in the sanctuary area. 28 The clay pot the meat is cooked in must be broken; but if it is cooked in a bronze pot, the pot is to be scoured and rinsed with water. 29 Any male in a priest’s family may eat it; it is most holy.30 But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten; it must be burned up.

    Go Deeper

    Let’s be honest: We’ve all been confused by the different offerings found here in Leviticus 6, haven’t we? It’s totally understandable, and so too is the question, “Where is God in all of this?” Interestingly enough, God is the only voice (outside of the author briefly) found in this chapter. In verse 1, 8, 19, and 24 we read, “The Lord said to Moses” in some variation. God is talking through this whole chapter! So, what is He saying? What can we learn of Him in this chapter?

    Through God’s constant instruction of Moses in this chapter, we can first see that He is involved in our lives. God didn’t create everything simply to say, “You’re on your own.” No, He was, is, and will continue to be involved in the intricacies of human life for the rest of eternity. He cares that things are done right, not because He is a stickler for rules, but because He knows what is right. He knows what should and shouldn’t be, and He looks to lead us in that way. We can see that He cares for the little details of our lives because He cares about us. In fact, one can even argue that He cares for little details because we are the little details! In the grand scheme of everything, from God’s view, we should basically be insignificant, yet He chooses to love us anyway.

    How does He show this love in this chapter? Well, as many of us know, one of the major effects of sin is that it distances us from God and from those around us. But, in this chapter, we see God creating a way back into a right relationship with Him and others. God cares about the little details; He cares about us. He could simply leave us to our own devices, that would be what we deserve, but He doesn’t. 

    No, instead of leaving us to try and figure out a way to Him on our own, which is something we could never do, He loved the little details enough to step into time, becoming one of the little details Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, and fulfill the way of the Law so that we might follow Him in true human life, the love of God and the love of neighbor.

    Questions

    1. What is one way God has stepped into your life this week?
    2. What is one way you can love someone else in light of this love?
    3. Write out an intentional plan to go and love God through loving your neighbor this week. This can take many forms, so get creative with it!

    Pray This

    Father God,

    Thank You that You are so intentional in our lives. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to step into time and bring us back into right relationship with You simply because You love us. Thank You that You love the little details, even when we can do nothing to deserve it. Help us to love others as You have loved us, because You love us. We Pray this to You, Father, in the name of the Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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  • Leviticus 5

    Leviticus 5

    Read Leviticus 5

    5 “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.

    2 “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering;and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.

    7 “‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely, 9 and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

    11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.’”

    The Guilt Offering

    14 The Lord said to Moses: 15 “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. 16 They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

    17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.”

    Go Deeper

    In Leviticus 5, the Lord continues with the instructions for laws of sin offerings and the steps required for the Israelites to receive atonement for their sins. It’s important to note that the phrase “and he is unaware of it” appears multiple times within these instructions. Unintentional sins are still sin and require sacrifice and atonement.

    Leviticus 5:1 specifies that someone who withholds evidence from a public hearing and they fail to come forward with truth about the matter has sinned. This teaches us that sins of omission require the same sacrifice as sins of commission. A sin of omission is failing to do what we are supposed to do (i.e. turning a blind eye to someone in need). A sin of commission is when you do something God has ordered you not to do (i.e. lying/cheating/vulgar language). In God’s eyes, it is just as sinful to avoid doing the right thing, as it is to pursue doing what is wrong.

    It’s easy to read through these laws and think that they are pointless or unreasonable. Just a long list of “don’ts” from a God telling the Israelites what they can and can’t do. God’s desire, though, is to return mankind to the perfection that he created in the Garden of Eden and each of these warnings were for man’s benefit. By following these laws and sacrificing when they disobeyed them, the Israelites were removing the unclean parts of their lives and thus removing the distance between them and God. It is out of God’s loving kindness that he graciously gave each of these laws so that the Israelites could be protected from disease, from harm, and from their own sinful nature.

    God continues to display his love and grace in the fact that he also details out substitutes for the various sacrifices. In verses 7-13 we see that God meets his people where they are. If they couldn’t afford an unblemished lamb, they could bring two pigeons or turtledoves. If they couldn’t afford two turtledoves or pigeons, then they could bring flour. God cared more about the Israelites’ obedience than about what they had to offer.

    Now when we recognize our sin against God, we can turn directly to him, acknowledge that sin and ask for his cleansing. Just like God showed his grace and kindness to the Israelites, he displays that same grace and kindness in his provision of the ultimate sacrifice he provided for us in Jesus. He meets us where we are and all he asks for in return is our obedience.

    Questions

    1. God doesn’t differentiate between unintentional and intentional sin. Do you? Why or why not?
    2. Spend some time contemplating the difference between sins of omission and sins of commission. Is there one that you think you struggle with more?
    3. God provides substitutes for the various sacrifices for those that couldn’t afford them. What does this tell us about the character of God?

    Keep Digging

    Learn more about the difference between a sin of omission and sin of commission by reading this article from BibleAsk.com.

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  • Leviticus 4

    Leviticus 4

    Read Leviticus 4

    The Sin Offering

    4 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—

    3 “‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. 4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. 5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and carry it into the tent of meeting. 6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the Lord, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary. 7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, 9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys— 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines— 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it there in a wood fire on the ash heap.

    13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the Lord seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar, 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the community, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the campand burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.

    22 “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord. It is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.

    27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect.29 They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

    32 “‘If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect. 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

    Go Deeper

    Leviticus 4 discusses the duties of the priest, the Israelites, a leader, and any member of the community when they sin and must perform a sin offering. Moses received instructions from God in the tent of meeting for the offerings mentioned in Leviticus because in the Old Covenant only priests were able to enter the holiest parts of the temple to sacrifice an animal. Priests, also known as Levites, could enter the temple to make a sacrifice because at that time God was separated from mankind due to sin. The sin originates from the fall in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Knowing the root of our sin explains the laws that God gave Moses for the animal sacrifices, such as the sin offering.

    The first twelve verses of Leviticus 4 walk through the details of how a priest is to make an animal sacrifice for a sin offering before God. Priests performed a separate ritual of cleansing for their sin, which shows the important role of sacrifices in the temple. The Levitical priest had great accountability before the Lord and was judged accordingly to a stricter measure. As the chapter continues the next audience is the “whole Israelite community.” Their directions for the sin offering were like a priest, but they had more people involved in the sacrifice. 

    The priest and Israelites both used a bull and the “anointed priest” in both atonements was in charge of the placement of the blood from the bull. A leader and any member of the community are explained in the remainder of Leviticus 4. The atonement for their sin is now a goat. A male goat is used for a leader’s sin and a female goat is used for the sin of a person in the Israelite community. The distinction between animals is not the focal point of this chapter, but it is the atonement of every person’s sin by the blood of an animal. Every purpose behind an offering is a foreshadowing of the good that is to come. What do you think is the good that is to come? Read verse 3 closely and ask yourself what the “young bull” is representing?

    Reading this through the lens of the Gospel, the “young bull” is representing Jesus. Jesus is the Savior who the people of Israel were expectantly waiting for because He put to death the law and gave every sinner the freedom of life in Him if they chose to believe that he died on the cross for their sins and rose so that they may have eternal life. We have this same gift of Salvation if we chose to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Levites and every Israelite in Leviticus 4 were living hundreds of years before the coming of Jesus, so their only form of sanctification and salvation at the time was an animal sacrifice. When Jesus came to save the Jew and Gentile from their sin, He came upright, holy, and sinless. An animal could never equate to the righteousness that Jesus displayed while he walked this earth until the point of his death on the cross and resurrection.

    In Leviticus 4, a sin offering provided temporary forgiveness for their sins, but it was not until Jesus came that sins could be fully and eternally forgiven. The priest stood as the mediator between God and an Israelite in this passage. This was a result of the fall in the Garden of Eden because God, who is sinless, could not live among sin with us. We know that Leviticus 4 points towards the coming of Jesus as the Savior of the world who would reconcile the Israelites to God without the need for a priest. The sin offering in this passage reveals the forgiveness that God extends to us and provides hope for the eternal salvation we, as believers, have in Jesus. Our eternal hope in Jesus is seen in Leviticus 4 through Jesus as the animal who would come as the mediator between our sin and a perfect God and who invites us to live in Heaven with Him for eternity.

    Questions

    1. How would you describe Jesus in light of how he has shown up in your life?
    2. Do you believe Jesus paid the ultimate price for your sins when he died on the cross and rose again?
    3. If your answer was “yes” to the question above, how are you living your life free of the law and in freedom of the eternal life you have in Jesus? If “no,” then what is holding you back from believing and following Jesus?

    By the Way

    Hebrews 9:13-14 is a cross reference to Leviticus 4:3. The sin offering mentioned in Leviticus is symbolic of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sins. Hebrews outlines the same sin offering that is instructed in Leviticus by mentioning that the animal sacrifices show an external cleanliness, but Jesus would purify the heart through “the blood of Christ.” These two passages reveal how the only true form of salvation is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that saved us from every sin. Rejoice today in the hope we have in Jesus whose death and resurrection has us set free from the law of animal sacrifices and has given us new life in Christ.

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  • Leviticus 3

    Leviticus 3

    Read Leviticus 3

    The Fellowship Offering

    3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

    6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb, you are to present it before the Lord, 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.

    12 “‘If your offering is a goat, you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.

    17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”

    Go Deeper

    Another day, another set of instructions regarding sacrifices to God. As we have read in the previous two chapters, God has a very specific set of guidelines and expectations for the Israelites to follow. This offering (known as a “peace” or “fellowship” offering, depending on your translation of scripture) was meant to symbolize the importance of the personal relationship between God and the individual sinner. This type of offering was voluntary and was meant to celebrate a restored fellowship (or peace) between God and man. As we read this passage, this should serve as a reminder to us that fellowship with God is not something that we should ever take for granted but instead is something that we should celebrate and express our gratitude for daily!

    As we dive into the specifics of the sacrifice, there are a couple of important things for us to take note of. First, the sacrificed animal was to be “without defect” (v. 1, v. 6). Other translations might say “without blemish.” The point was simple: God wanted the sacrificed animal in the peace offering to be spotless; God wanted the best that the person had to offer. Later on in the passage, there are instructions about what to do with the specific parts of the animals (specifically the fat and the blood). The final verse in this chapter makes it clear: the fat and the blood are God’s. But why? Pastor and commentator David Guzik of the Enduring Word commentary describes it this way:

    “There was a spiritual significance to this command relevant to the peace offering. We enjoy peace with God by giving Him the best and our energy (represented by the fat), and by giving Him our lives (represented by the blood).”

    As followers of Jesus, there are several reminders in this passage that we should keep in mind as we go about our days. First, this passage is a reminder of what 1 Peter 1:19 tells us: Jesus was the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. His willingness to be the sacrificial lamb on our behalf two thousand years ago allows us to have fellowship with God today. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    It also reminds us that each and every day, we are to give God the very best that we have. We want to do all things in our lives to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17) and live as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) in a way that helps everyone follow Jesus. We want to show others what peace with God looks like. We want to show others what it’s like to find fellowship with the God who created everything around us. As we go about our days today, let’s be people that celebrate the goodness of God.

    Questions

    1. What details stuck out to you in today’s reading? Why?
    2. Do you take the time to celebrate the fact that you have fellowship or peace with God? If not, what is a way you can celebrate that today?
    3. How can you show the people around you today what it looks like to have peace with God?

    Did You Know?

    There are parallels between this offering and when we take communion. Dr. Thomas Constable, a retired DTS professor, made this note:

    “There are several similarities between this offering and the Lord’s Supper: Both celebrations commemorate a covenant, both involve rededication to God, and both feature blood.”

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  • Leviticus 2

    Leviticus 2

    Read Leviticus 2

    The Grain Offering

    2 “‘When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it 2 and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

    4 “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with olive oil. 5 If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. 6 Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil. 8 Bring the grain offering made of these things to the Lord; present it to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. 9 He shall take out the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.

    11 “‘Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in a food offering presented to the Lord. 12 You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

    14 “‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. 15 Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering. 16 The priest shall burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all the incense, as a food offering presented to the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    In Leviticus 2, we find God’s regulations regarding the grain offering. On its face, it looks relatively similar to the blood offering discussed in the prior chapter but digging deeper gives us fresh insight as to the significance behind the grain offering.

    In our culture, finding a bag of finely sifted flour is as easy as checking a box online for grocery delivery. But let’s consider the setting within which this offering is occurring. In Leviticus, the Children of Israel are not living in the promised land (Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey). They are in the midst of a 40-year stint in the wilderness and desert. A place so inhospitable to crops that God had to provide manna from Heaven daily as sustenance for his people to simply survive. And while it is understood that the Israelites left Egypt with herds of animals that they could graze throughout their journey, the opportunity to actually plow and sow a wheat field much less reap a harvest must have been almost non-existent. This, added to the wandering nature of God’s pillar of fire, made putting down literal and figurative roots a problem.

    As such, a wheat or barley offering must have carried much more significance in how precious a commodity was being laid on the altar. In contrast to the sin sacrifice of the animal, there was not a stipulation on the grain offering as to how much should be offered. There was only a stipulation that it be finely ground. There was no transference of sin by the placing on of hands for atonement. In short, the grain offering was much more of a gesture of gratitude to God rather than a sacrifice for sin. It was not to cover over failures, but was, rather, to express thankfulness to God as a first-fruits gift from the heart. For it to be pleasing to God, it needed to be finely ground. Manually grinding wheat with a millstone was a laborious process. Five cups of flour could take up to an hour to grind by hand. It was an act of love, an act of service, a product of intention and care to honor a most holy God. It was a precious commodity crafted with diligent intention to lavish on a deserving God.

    As we read Leviticus 2 through the lens of the Good News of Jesus, this all makes more sense. God knew how that painful crushing of an offering would foreshadow the redemption and reunification of God to man through Christ’s sacrifice. 

    Questions

    1. What most stuck out to you about this passage as you read it? 
    2. In what ways is your giving to God dutiful instead of lavish?
    3. If you were to evaluate your driving force for sacrifice to Him, is it primarily driven by obedience or by gratitude?

    By the Way

    Read Isaiah 53 for a description of the suffering servant and look at the corollaries between our offering to God and His offering for us.

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  • Leviticus 1 + Preview

    Leviticus 1 + Preview

    Leviticus Introduction

    The book of Leviticus picks up where Exodus leaves off. As a refresher, God had delivered His people out of slavery and established a covenant with them (known as the Mosaic Covenant). As is common throughout scripture, God’s people ultimately rebelled and broke the covenant, splintering their relationship with God. Because of Israel’s sin, they were cut off from being in the presence of God. Not even Moses, their leader, could enter into the tent where God’s presence was. 

    Leviticus, at its most basic level, is a collection of instructions given from God to Moses that Moses then passed on to priests with the intention of instructing the Israelites how to live in relation to a holy God. Sin, as it always does, had caused destruction and harm. The book of Leviticus outlines how the Israelites could live holy (or set apart) lives.

    As we read this book, it is important to note a couple of things. First, we’ll see time and time again that the details matter to God. He gave Moses and the Israelites specific instructions and He cared about the small details in Leviticus in the same way that He cares about the seemingly small details of our lives today. Second, because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we get to read this book through the lens of the Gospel. We have a different access to God than the Israelites had back then. Praise God! But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pay attention to this book. 

    Dr. Chuck Swindoll, a pastor and scholar, said this about the book of Leviticus: 

    “Today’s readers are often put off by the book’s lists of laws regarding diet, sacrifice, and social behavior. But within these highly detailed directives we discover the holiness—the separateness, distinction, and utter “otherness”—of God. And we learn how sin devastates humanity’s relationship with their Creator.”

    As you read this book, take good notes. Read closely and carefully, paying special attention to the sequence of events that are unfolding before you. Get to know the characters in these stories. What does each chapter in this book teach you about God’s character? What does it teach you about humanity? What are the implications for you today? These are the questions we’ll be seeking answers to.

    Read Leviticus 1

    The Burnt Offering

    1 The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

    3 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. 4 You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. 5 You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6 You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 9 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

    10 “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, you are to offer a male without defect. 11 You are to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 12 You are to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 13 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

    14 “‘If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon. 15 The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 He is to remove the crop and the feathers and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes are. 17 He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

    Go Deeper

    Leviticus is a difficult, complex book with a bunch of laws that don’t seem to apply to Christians today. Didn’t Jesus free us from the Law? What does it matter? If we keep in mind that all of Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), that God looks to show us who He is through all of what we know as the Bible, then there must be something here for us, right?

    We might not have burnt sacrifices needed for atonement anymore, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, but we do still see the character of God showing through in this chapter. Notice that God gives His people options on what animals to bring as their offering (v. 2), “When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.” This doesn’t seem like a huge detail to us now, so far removed from the burnt offerings, but this is very significant. Giving up an animal in a herding culture would’ve been financially huge for many, some weren’t even wealthy enough to have a flock. Notice, however, that the LORD says they can bring a sacrifice from the herd (cattle), the flock (sheep or goats), or they could bring a burnt offering of birds.

    What does this tell us about God and His character? It tells us that, even all the way back in Leviticus, God was interested in letting all who desired a relationship with Him to come to Him. The invitation was open to whoever would bring their offering in obedience. God’s character has not changed from then to now; He is the same God in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament and beyond. The entirety of Scripture points to this fact! God has always offered His grace to every human; we see it here in Leviticus, we see Paul write about this (while quoting the prophet Joel) in Romans 10:13, “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

    Jesus is the offering now; He stands as our offering to God and He shows that God is offering us Himself. Let us not refuse this offer.

    Questions

    1. When was the last time you thought or reflected on Jesus as our offering before God? Take some time this week and write down some thoughts on what this means for your life. 
    2. Is there something in your life that you feel is keeping you from accepting Jesus as the offer? What is it? If you have a trusted Christian in your life to discuss this with, set up a time to meet with them.
    3. What is one way this week that you can seek to draw nearer to God? Set aside a time or two and do it!

    Watch This

    For a preview of what’s to come as we read through Leviticus together, check out this video from The Bible Project.

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  • Rest Day + Family Guide (Exodus 35-40)

    Rest Day + Family Guide (Exodus 35-40)

    Rest Day

    Each Sunday is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Each Rest Day, we will have an additional element to help you dig deeper. Sometimes it will be extra resources to further your study, a video to watch, or a podcast to listen to. Sometimes we’ll have a verse to commit to memorize to help you hide God’s Word in your heart. 

    If you have kids, our Family Guide will help you discuss what you’re reading and learning with them! It’s a great opportunity for your family to read God’s Word together and review what we read the previous week!

    Listen to This

    Listen to this five minute podcast from Pastor David Platt based on Exodus 40 about following God’s guidance! 

    Family Guide

    Check out this week’s Exodus 35-40 Family Guide!

  • Exodus 40

    Exodus 40

    Read Exodus 40

    Setting Up the Tabernacle

    1 Then the Lord said to Moses: 2 “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 3 Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

    6 “Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; 7 place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 8 Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.

    9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 10 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. 11 Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

    12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.

    17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. 18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts.19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him.

    20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.

    22 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain 23 and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

    24 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

    26 Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded him.

    28 Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded him.

    30 He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. 32 They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

    The Glory of the Lord

    34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

    36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

    Go Deeper

    What an ending to Exodus! Almost exactly a year from their freedom from Egypt, the tabernacle is ready. But, before we jump to the end, let’s sit with anticipation for a few moments. Remember where we started? A group of slaves without a way out. A people with no leader. Darkness, misery, and oppression. Enter, a reluctant leader who asks for another to be sent in his place. Then, a story ensues of supernatural deliverance, disobedience, forgiveness, provision, instructions, obedience, faithfulness, and ultimately the preparation of the tabernacle for God’s presence. 

    God commanded every detail about the tabernacle’s construction and purpose. Moses had delivered every word to the Israelites. All instructions had been given and carried out and now… the anticipation of glory. Not any glory, no. Shekinah glory. The glory of the One and only God, His divine presence.

    Imagine the emotions of the Hebrews. Awe and wonder. Accomplishment and purpose. They worked diligently to finish the work God commanded them to do. The Israelites had moments of failure and disobedience over the course of their year of freedom, but God is faithful to His Word, not ours. And since He deemed the tabernacle as acceptable and holy, He did what He promised. He filled the dwelling place with His glory. 

    Exodus doesn’t end with a description of how beautiful the tabernacle is or the materials in it. We couldn’t comprehend it if it did. Exodus ends with a description of how its purpose was fulfilled. The tabernacle was built so that God could dwell among the Israelites. God in their midst. The only God of His kind. The only religion where God comes down to the people. 

    Because God can’t stay away from His people. He is with us. He loves us with an everlasting love—a never stopping, unbreaking, never giving up, always and forever love. Let’s be people who are beautiful dwelling places of the Holy Spirit. People who fulfill the purpose for which we were made—to love God and love others. 

    Questions
    1. What do you think the first year of freedom was like for the Israelites? For Moses? 
    2. What do you learn from the Israelites? From Moses?
    3. How do others know you are set apart for God?
    Watch This

    Now that we’re at the conclusion of Exodus, re-watch this video from The Bible Project about the back half of Exodus! 

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  • Exodus 39

    Exodus 39

    Read Exodus 39

    The Priestly Garments

    1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    The Ephod

    2 They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen—the work of skilled hands. 4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 5 Its skillfully woven waistband was like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. 7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    The Breastpiece

    8 They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 9 It was square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. 10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 11 the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 12 the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; 13 the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. 14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

    15 For the breastpiece they made braided chains of pure gold, like a rope.16 They made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the rings to two of the corners of the breastpiece. 17 They fastened the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, 18 and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. 19 They made two gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. 20 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 21 They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod—as the Lord commanded Moses.

    Other Priestly Garments

    22 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver— 23 with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. 24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. 25 And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. 26 The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    27 For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen—the work of a weaver— 28 and the turban of fine linen, the linen caps and the undergarments of finely twisted linen. 29 The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn—the work of an embroiderer—as the Lord commanded Moses.

    30 They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: holy to the Lord. 31 Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the Lord commanded Moses.

    Moses Inspects the Tabernacle

    32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 34 the covering of ram skins dyed red and the covering of another durable leather and the shielding curtain; 35 the ark of the covenant law with its poles and the atonement cover; 36 the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 37 the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the olive oil for the light; 38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; 39 the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; 40 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; 41 and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests.

    42 The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

    Go Deeper

    So much of our reading over the past couple of weeks has been focused on instructions and details and in Exodus 39 (finally) the work is done! While the beginning of Exodus 39 describes the garments worn by the priests, by the end of this chapter we see that the tabernacle is completed. Not only is it completed, the passage tells us something else: it was done just as the Lord commanded (v. 32 & 42).

    There are a couple of lessons we can learn from this chapter. First, it’s really important for us to do whatever it is that the Lord commands us to do. Too often we let pride get in the way. We decide we know best. We look for workarounds and loopholes. God has given us both scripture and the Holy Spirit to serve as a guide for us. Think about that! James 1:22 tells us that it’s not enough to simply hear the word–we have to do what it says. The last 39 chapters in Exodus have shown us the importance of not wandering or straying away from what God has instructed and here, at the culmination of the construction of the tabernacle, the Israelites nailed it. 

    The second principle we can pull from this chapter is that God is honored by excellence. The construction of the tabernacle wasn’t thrown together with duct tape and shoestring–it was a masterpiece. When we work hard and do things with excellence with our hearts in the right place, God receives the glory in that. Proverbs 22:29 says that someone skilled in their work will stand before kings. When we do things with excellence and we’re faithful with the skills and abilities God has entrusted to us, He entrusts us with even more. This is a theme we see repeated continuously throughout scripture and the Israelites are yet another example of that. 

    Questions
    1. What does Exodus 39 teach you about God’s character?
    2. Have there been times that you have been more of a hearer of the word than a doer? How can you make sure you are someone who lives out what you say you believe?
    3. When was the last time you honored God with excellence?
    Did You Know?

    The end of the creation narrative ends with a blessing (Genesis 1:28), and so does the end of the tabernacle construction (Exodus 39:43). The text tells us that Moses blessed them as a result of a job well done.

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