VAYIKRA (And He Called) Leviticus 1:1–5:26; Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23; Hebrews 9:1–28 “The L-rd called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.” (Lev 1:1) וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד
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Last week, Parasha Pekudei was the final Torah portion in the book of Exodus. This Shabbat, we begin studying the Book of Leviticus. In Hebrew, Leviticus is called Vayikra after its opening word וַיִּקְרָא, which means and He called.
It can be stated with confidence that the book of Vayikra/Leviticus is one of the most important books in the entire Bible! From a Jewish perspective, the book of Leviticus is among the first books studied by a Jewish child. The significance of this book is found within these highly detailed directives where we discover the holiness, the separateness, the distinction, and the utter “otherness” of G-d. We also learn how sin devastates humanity’s relationship with their Creator. We also learn of G-d’s great mercy providing a way to draw near to Him in the sacrifice of atonement. In the opening chapters of the book of Vayikra/Leviticus, it is important to understand to whom this book was written!
This book was written to a covenant people, to those who have joined themselves to the L-rd G-d of Israel, and who by faith have entered into a covenant agreement with G-d. The important point is that salvation was a matter of entering into the covenant of G-d and the khatat korban (קָרְבַּן חַטָּאת, sin offering) was not meant to earn a man’s way into the covenant of G-d or to earn one’s salvation. The covenant of G-d was entered into by faith. Our being in a covenant relationship with G-d and being a covenant people, we are told how we are to live our lives and how we are to approach the L-rd G-d Almighty.
The overall message of Leviticus is sanctification. This book communicates a message of receiving G-d’s forgiveness and acceptance to the one who comes before Him seeking these things according to His Word. One goes before G-d in Teshuvah (Repentance) and what follows is holy living and spiritual growth. Because Israel has been delivered from bondage, brought to the mountain of G-d, enter into a covenant relationship with G-d by faith, they are then purified into a people worthy of their G-d. This is how Moshe describes G-d’s people according to Vayikra 19:2 “You shall be holy, for I the L-rd your G-d am holy.”
This fantastic book on the grace [חסד chesed H2617] and love אהבה ahavah H157] of G-d details for us how the L-rd G-d יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים of Israel wants to be approached, but we must do so on His terms.
What we are being provided here in the opening chapters of the Torah is related to the theme of the holiness of G-d’s people. When we study the Apostolic Writings, we see these themes of holiness being extended to G-d’s people today. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:15-16 cites Vayikra 19:2 when he states “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” דַּבֵּר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
Notice how this is consistent with the Torah in the sense that those who are redeemed by the grace of G-d offer sacrifices unto G-d. Sha’ul wrote one example may be that we offer our bodies as living sacrifices unto G-d. (Romans 12:1) According to the Apostolic Writings, Yeshua offered himself as the perfect sacrifice on our behalf, taking the punishment we deserved, just as we see in the animal sacrifices according to the book of Leviticus. The people of the day placed their trust in G-d and their faith in the sacrifice of atonement. Today we place our trust in G-d and our faith in the sacrifice of atonement, Yeshua the Messiah.
Placing our faith [אמונה emunah] in G-d’s Messiah we enter into a covenant relationship and become G-d’s children. As His children He wants us to reflect His character. He sanctifies us much like he did the nation of Israel as is being described here in the text. In a sense, the sacrifices were a foreshadow of Yeshua the Messiah. They direct us to what was to come, a future expectation of G-d’s chosen one.
The Relevance of Offerings “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man of you brings an offering to the L-RD, you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock. דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אָדָם כִּֽי־יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּן לַֽיהוָה מִן־הַבְּהֵמָה מִן־הַבָּקָר וּמִן־הַצֹּאן תַּקְרִיבוּ אֶת־קָרְבַּנְכֶֽם (Leviticus 1:2)
"If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the L-RD.” אִם־עֹלָה קָרְבָּנוֹ מִן־הַבָּקָר זָכָר תָּמִים יַקְרִיבֶנּוּ אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד יַקְרִיב אֹתוֹ לִרְצֹנוֹ לִפְנֵי יְהוָֽה (Leviticus 1:3)
The Torah portion, Vayikra, presents the laws of korbanot (קָרְבָּנוֹת offerings), including the korban olah (קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה) or burnt offerings. The Hebrew noun olah means goes up because the priest would burn the offerings on the wood of the altar, the aroma would go up to be accepted by the Lord. The Hebrew word korbanot comes from the root word k-r-v (קרב), which means to be close (karov). The sacrifices, once accepted by G-d, restore closeness and intimacy between Him and His people.
It is our iniquities and sins that separate us from G-d and prevent us from establishing or maintaining a close relationship with Him. “But your iniquities have separated you from your G-d; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) כִּי אִם־עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶם הָיוּ מַבְדִּלִים בֵּינֵכֶם לְבֵין אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם וְחַטֹּֽאותֵיכֶם הִסְתִּירוּ פָנִים מִכֶּם מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ
Although some New Covenant Believers consider the laws in Leviticus irrelevant and obsolete, they remain relevant and are indeed extremely important. For instance, without them we cannot grasp the concept of blood sacrifice to atone for sin. That core concept in G-d’s plan for redemption helps us rightly understand the sacrificial death of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Attempting to understand Yeshua’s death on the Roman execution stake without comprehending the blood sacrifices is like trying to build a house without a foundation. The home may last for a time but will not withstand the fierce storms without that solid base. Likewise, we must have a solid foundation in the Word of G-d to rightly understand the Word of G-d, as well as successfully navigate through the storms of life.
For some people, a guilty conscience over past sins causes them to be alienated from G-d, despite having received forgiveness. The blood sacrifice of Yeshua, however, was shed to restore us to right relationship with G-d and to completely cleanse us of any trace of a guilty conscience: “How much more will the blood of Messiah who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to G-d, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living G-d?” (Heb 9:14)
Despite this, some followers of Yeshua still struggle with guilt and condemnation, even though the Word of G-d promises that those who are in the Messiah are free: “There is therefore no condemnation to those in Yeshua the Messiah who do not walk in the flesh.” (Romans 8:1) Just as the blood of the lamb had to be applied to the doorposts of our homes in Egypt, so must the blood of Yeshua be applied to our hearts, by faith, to wash us clean from every trace of guilty conscience and shame over our past sins. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22)
The pure waters refer to the mikvah, the ritual water immersion, which is symbolic of our new spiritual birth. Only when our hearts have been cleaned (sprinkled with the blood of Yeshua) and our bodies immersed in the mikvah, can we have this full assurance of faith that allows us to draw near to G-d. A guilty conscience over our past will separate us from intimacy with G-d, as well as with other Believers in the Body of Messiah. Once we have drawn near to G-d (Hebrews 10:22), we are to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Instead of isolating ourselves, we are exhorted to meet with others where we can encourage others and be encouraged. (Heb 10:24–25) Since each of us has been given the "ministry of reconciliation," (2 Cor 5:18) we should be agents of healing and restoration through Messiah Yeshua. (Gal 6:1-2)
The Blood of Sprinkling “He shall slay the young bull before the L-RD; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer up the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting.” (Leviticus 1:5) וְשָׁחַט אֶת־בֶּן הַבָּקָר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְהִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַֽכֹּֽהֲנִים אֶת־הַדָּם וְזָרְקוּ אֶת־הַדָּם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב אֲשֶׁר־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד
The Cohen HaGadol not only sprinkled the blood around the altar, he dipped his finger in it and sprinkled it seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil. (Leviticus 4:17)
Some suggest that, likewise, the blood of Yeshua, who was the Cohen HaGadol of the New Covenant, was also sprinkled before the Lord seven times: 1. Yeshua perspired drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed to the Father: “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44)
2. He was struck in the face until it was “marred beyond recognition” (Isaiah 52:14)
3. His back was scourged with a whip (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:26)
4. The soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head (John 19:2)
5. They plucked out His beard (Isaiah 50:6)
6. They pierced His hands and feet (Ps 22:16; Lk 24:39; John 20:27)
7. They pierced His side with a spear and blood and water came out (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34)
Satanic Counterfeit Animal rights activists are likely appalled to read of all the sacrifices that the Torah requires. Some people, even Believers, are uncomfortable with the whole idea of blood sacrifices. One of the reasons is our natural human aversion to blood. Another reason is because of the association with evil satanic rituals. Satanism observes its own system of blood sacrifices to the powers of darkness. As well, hasatan often attempts to twist and pervert the Word of G-d, using it for his own evil purposes. Luke 4 gives us an example of how he did this with Yeshua when He was tested in the wilderness where hasatan misleads by substituting wicked counterfeits for the holy things of G-od, such as blood sacrifices. People of various pagan religions have practiced the ritual killing of animals to appease their false gods. Many cultures used animal sacrifice in purification ceremonies. Some of these include (in addition to the Hebrews): Greeks, Romans, Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs and Yoruba.
Is animal sacrifice still practiced today? Not currently in Judaism, as the korbanot cannot be offered without the Temple in Jerusalem. And there has not been a Temple for nearly 2,000 years. However, outside of Judaism, it is practiced. Followers of Santeria (a religion of Caribbean origin) to this day offer up some sacrificial animals to cure the sick or give thanks to their god (Orisa) as part of their ritual activities. There are also some Christians in certain Greek villages who, in a practice called kourbània, sacrifice animals to Orthodox saints.
Human Sacrifice Another Satanic counterfeit to G-d’s sacrificial system is found in some cultures and religions in which human beings were sacrificed as a way of giving their very best to their god. In times of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, or volcanic eruptions, which have historically been understood as evidence of their deity’s anger or displeasure, other cultures have offered up human sacrifice in the hopes of appeasing the wrath of their gods. Even in the West, worshipers of hasatan and his demonic entities have been performing human blood sacrifice since ancient times, so it is likely that this practice continues to this very day, especially within secret communities just outside of mainstream culture.
Judaism, on the other hand, abhors the concept of human sacrifice, because it is abhorrent to G-d, as it is written: “Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your G-d. I am YHVH.” (Leviticus 18:21) וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא־תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ וְלֹא תְחַלֵּל אֶת־שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲנִי יְהוָֽה
It is for this reason that most Jewish people find it so difficult to believe in Yeshua—human sacrifice has always been associated with paganism and is strictly forbidden. The One True G-d completely forbade His people from pagan worship customs and especially the practice of human sacrifice: “You must not worship the L-RD your G-d in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the L-RD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.” (Deuteronomy 12:31) לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂה כֵן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי כָּל־תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא עָשׂוּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם כִּי גַם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיהֶם יִשְׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶֽם
Knowing that G-d detests human sacrifice, especially of a son or daughter at the hand of a parent, the Jewish people naturally assume that our G-d would never allow someone to die a substitutionary death the way animals do. This is a significant stumbling block to receiving salvation through Yeshua the Messiah for the Jewish People. However, the ancient prophet Isaiah revealed that long ago G-d planned to lay all of our sins and iniquities upon the Messiah: But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא־לָֽנוּ (Isaiah 53:5)
"All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the L-RD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” (Isaiah 53:6) כֻּלָּנוּ כַּצֹּאן תָּעִינוּ אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ פָּנִינוּ וַֽיהוָה הִפְגִּיעַ בּוֹ אֵת עֲוֺן כֻּלָּֽנוּ
G-d did not intend for His korbanot to be performed by a people who were determined to live lawless lives. They were never a substitution for living in fellowship with Him and being right-hearted. Likewise, Yeshua’s sacrifice was meant to restore fellowship with our Father upon a person seeking to draw near to Him, sincerely repenting of their sins, and accepting the sacrifice as a free gift on their behalf. The blood of the Lamb of G-d (Yeshua) takes away the sins of those who believe in who He is (John 1:29, 3:18), what He did (1 Cor 15:1-8), turn from their sin (Lk 24:47) and follow Him (John 10:27).
G-d does not delight in the sacrifice but in the right heart of the person who offers it. All of the Hebrew prophets warned the people that offering sacrifices without returning to the principles of righteousness our G-d laid out for us in His Word would be in vain. Ultimately, what G-d requires of each one of us is to practice justice, mercy and humility toward G-d and man. “It has been told to you, O man, what is good, and what the L-RD does require of you: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8) הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם מַה־טּוֹב וּמָֽה־יְהוָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ כִּי אִם־עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם־אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ
And Yeshua, who has set us free from the evil master of sin through His death and resurrection, has given us the power to be just, love mercy, and walk humbly with our G-d. This is ONLY available through the Ruach Elohim which is in us (Rom 8:4), with us (Deut 31:6, 8) and has sealed us until the day of redemption (Eph 4:30)
