As an animal lover, the Leviticus passages were so hard to read! I can’t imagine having to go through that to worship the Lord! Thank God for the New Covenant
The gruesome imagery in the reading from Leviticus is naturally a turn off for me. So I asked my pastor why the God of the Old Testament is so harsh and unforgiving while the God of the New Testament is full of grace and compassion. She told me that The Old Testament and New Testament are equally violent and heartbreaking. In the Old Testament is the violence is scattered over thousands of years as sinners are killed and animals are sacrifices as burnt offerings. In the New Testament all of the bloodshed and violence is poured out in one moment when Jesus took the cross and took the entire weight of our sin in a single and final act. He was the ultimate sacrifice to end all other earthly sacrifices. This really helped me to understand that God doesn’t change at all between the Old and New Testament. It’s just that in the New Testament Jesus took it ALL and eliminated our need to provide burnt sacrifices forever.
I love this. My pastor actually did a sermon along those lines last week. He talked about how the people used a scapegoat to cleanse them of their sins, and that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross eliminated the need for all other sacrifices. But, I was actually thinking along the same lines as you as I read this but of Leviticus. Thank you for reminding me!
Oh thank you for this insight!! I truly believe God led me to your comment, even a year later, because I have been so overwhelmed and grossed out by all the rules of Exodus & gore of Leviticus. I will look at these chapters differently now! Jesus took it all, all our punishments at once. It’s almost too much to think about but He was the spotless lamb, the last sacrifice. Wow. Thank you for asking your pastor about this, & sharing your heart here.
I too struggle with these readings. I have a hard time getting past the brutality of it and then thinking of the smell and appearance of the blood on the side of the altar as days go past. I pray for understanding and the strength to continue through these passages. Reading other posts and seeing I’m not the only one to question this helps and appreciate learning more about the Jewish faith regarding these things.
Not my favorite either, but reading the comments above really helped me understand and look at things in a way that I wouldn’t see them on my own. Praying that God reveals things to you!
I truly am struggling with the passages on animal sacrifice. I just don’t get it. Spraying blood over things and tearing them apart and… I just don’t understand why God would want that and how it brought him glory. I hate questioning the Bible because I believe it is the living word of God but this just seems so carnal. I pray the Lord will help me to understand
As an animal lover, the Leviticus passages were so hard to read! I can’t imagine having to go through that to worship the Lord! Thank God for the New Covenant
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The gruesome imagery in the reading from Leviticus is naturally a turn off for me. So I asked my pastor why the God of the Old Testament is so harsh and unforgiving while the God of the New Testament is full of grace and compassion. She told me that The Old Testament and New Testament are equally violent and heartbreaking. In the Old Testament is the violence is scattered over thousands of years as sinners are killed and animals are sacrifices as burnt offerings. In the New Testament all of the bloodshed and violence is poured out in one moment when Jesus took the cross and took the entire weight of our sin in a single and final act. He was the ultimate sacrifice to end all other earthly sacrifices. This really helped me to understand that God doesn’t change at all between the Old and New Testament. It’s just that in the New Testament Jesus took it ALL and eliminated our need to provide burnt sacrifices forever.
That’s such a great interpretation…I never thought of it in that way. Thanks for that!
I love this. My pastor actually did a sermon along those lines last week. He talked about how the people used a scapegoat to cleanse them of their sins, and that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross eliminated the need for all other sacrifices. But, I was actually thinking along the same lines as you as I read this but of Leviticus. Thank you for reminding me!
Oh thank you for this insight!! I truly believe God led me to your comment, even a year later, because I have been so overwhelmed and grossed out by all the rules of Exodus & gore of Leviticus. I will look at these chapters differently now! Jesus took it all, all our punishments at once. It’s almost too much to think about but He was the spotless lamb, the last sacrifice. Wow. Thank you for asking your pastor about this, & sharing your heart here.
I would love a Leviticus study to better understand and appreciate these passages!
Same.
I too struggle with these readings. I have a hard time getting past the brutality of it and then thinking of the smell and appearance of the blood on the side of the altar as days go past. I pray for understanding and the strength to continue through these passages. Reading other posts and seeing I’m not the only one to question this helps and appreciate learning more about the Jewish faith regarding these things.
Many called but few chosen,
I just picture it all in my mind and it all seems so barbaric :( I really hate feeling this way
Not my favorite either, but reading the comments above really helped me understand and look at things in a way that I wouldn’t see them on my own. Praying that God reveals things to you!
if you see it as the shadow of how gruesome our sin is to God and what it costs, it really is a striking type!
I truly am struggling with the passages on animal sacrifice. I just don’t get it. Spraying blood over things and tearing them apart and… I just don’t understand why God would want that and how it brought him glory. I hate questioning the Bible because I believe it is the living word of God but this just seems so carnal. I pray the Lord will help me to understand