Don’t get lost in the detail! Scholars have spent their entire lives researching and understanding this book about the laws of Israel. These laws are primarily about the worship and government of Israel. But if you will read them with a wider angle lens, you will see revealed the holiness of God. This is the primary purpose of the ordering of their worship. In these pages we learn just how very holy this God, Jehovah, is. And by contrast we learn just how sinful and need of his mercy we are. You notice I said, “we” and not “they.” The bible reveals a holy God and sinful humankind. They are us!
The animals used as sacrifices for sin are to be “without defect.” Other translations say “without spot or blemish.” This is a very consistent theme. The sacrifice for sin must be perfect. The grain offering is without yeast, which represents contamination. This perfect sacrifice is a very important part of the teaching about who God is. God is holy and requires holiness from his people. But humankind is sinful–we disobeyed God. That requires punishment. But God in his love, from the first sin committed, has provided a way for our broken relationship to be restored. The sin offering is a tutorial in God’s provision for our sin. Galatians 3:22-25 says that the law was a “tutor” to teach us that we are sinners and that we need a savior. The perfect, without defect sacrifices of Leviticus are a tutorial preparing us for the coming of Christ who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus, who knew no sin (without defect), became sin for us (defected), so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).
As you read through Leviticus, use a wide angle lens. In this view is revealed a holy and loving God who is trying to teach us. In Leviticus God is seen rescuing a weak and sinful people. Like a parent who grounds a child to protect them from harm, God places limitations on us, not out of capriciousness, but out of love and mercy. Just like a rebellious child, we resist. And just like a loving parent, he persists. Thank God!