[table of contents]

Statutes from Leviticus

17. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. (Leviticus 3:17)

1. And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 5:1)

“The setting is a court scene, where witnesses are called to testify. One refuses to testify and is declared guilty. There are times when unpleasant duties, ones we would prefer to avoid, must be performed.” 1BC 734

2. Or if a soul touch any unclean things, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3. Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled with, and it must be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. (Leviticus 5:2,3)

“To transgress might lead to epidemics. As a health measure, this principle is still valid.” 1 BC 734

4. Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5. And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing. (Leviticus 5:4,5)

“If one of the contracting parties forgets his promise, which he confirmed by an oath, or deliberately repudiates it, when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.” 1BC 735

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying.
2. If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
3. or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein;
4. Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hat deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found.
5. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. (Leviticus 6:1-5)

“Restitution is a vital part of the program God sets before the man who would be free from the guilt of sin... This will in many cases include restoration...” 1BC 737

23. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, or ox, or of sheep, or of goat.
24. And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. (Leviticus 7:23,24)

26. 7:26.Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowls or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
27. 27.Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:26,27)

9. Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor they sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10. And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.
11. And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 10:9-11)

9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9,10)

Those who take their priesthood seriously should shun all strong drink.

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall yet eat.
4. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof; as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divided not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
6. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
9. These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the water and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11. They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
12. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shell be an abomination unto you.
13. And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
14. And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
15. Every raven after his kind;
16. And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,
17. And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
18. And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
19. And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
20. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
21. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22. Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
23. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
24. And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.
25. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26. The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
27. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.
28. And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29. These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon this earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind.
30. And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail and the mole.
31. These are unclean to you among all that creep whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
32. And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, o sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.
33. And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.
34. Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.
36. Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.
37. And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be unclean.
38. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.
39. And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.
40. And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
41. And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
43. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
44. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
46. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
47. To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. (Leviticus 11:1-47)

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
3. And in the eighth day of the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
5. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three score and six days. (Lev. 12:1-5)

God gave the new mother time off from ordinary labor, and even from attending otherwise required attendance at sanctuary services. In some cultures, girls were not desired as much as boys. God strengthened the bond of love between mother and daughter, commanding more time off be given to the mother to spend with the newly born girl.

It appears that circumcision is no longer an involuntary sign of belonging to the family of the covenant of Abraham, although it may still be good for one’s health to do so.

2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (Galatians 5:2)

But yet, in another sense, circumcision is still with us in a very real and important way:

29. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Rom. 2:29)

51. Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51)

11. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11,12)

2. When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or a bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: (Leviticus 13:2)

Leviticus 13 through 14 has to do with the determination of a communicable disease and the laws of quarantine. Also included are laws of cleansing, clothing, bedding, and other furniture that might be contaminated with bacterial or viral infectious life forms.

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
3. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
4. Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
5. And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6. And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7. And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
8. And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9. And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
10. And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11. And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12. And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13. And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. (Leviticus 15:2-13)

Only a few years ago doctors began to see the light in washing their hands between patients, changing gowns, wearing fresh gloves, and using masks to prevent the spread of virulent organisms.

Long before AIDS and other venereal diseases were understood, the following Levitical health procedures were to be practiced.

16. And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17. And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18. The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even. (Leviticus 15:16-18)

Bacterial growth seems to blossom in a warm environment, and become more sluggish when in a cold environment. Perhaps that is why a person is unclean until evening.

The Bible is correct in saying that the life is in the blood; however, both good and bad organisms swim in the blood stream. Even cancer can metastasize in this manner. Therefore, God was careful to instruct extreme caution when blood is concentrated outside the body.

19. And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
20. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
26. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
27. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
28. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. (Leviticus 15:19-28)

13. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. (Leviticus 17:13,14)

4. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
5. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
6. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:4-6)

From here to verse 19 is a detailed description listing appropriate behavior with one’s kinsmen.

7. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
8. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
9. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
10. The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
11. The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
18. Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
19. Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
20. Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.
21. And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
23. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
24. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: (Leviticus 18:7-24)

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
3. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
4. Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:1-4)

9. And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:9-10)

From whatever is our increase, we should share with the poor and the stranger that have little or nothing of their own. What a beautiful principle!

11. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
13. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (Leviticus 19:11-13)

“Wages are to be paid promptly, as are debts when they fall due.” 1BC 789

The commentary suggests that a previous agreement had been made as to when the worker were to be paid. Or if, on the other hand, the context is still considering the poor and needy, there is additional need to pay the laborer at the end of the first day’s work so he can purchase food.

14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. (Leviticus 19:14-15)

James 2:9 states: “But if ye have respect to persons, Ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” In this text James clearly stays the one who breaks the law regarding respect to persons is a sinner. The law that he is referring to is not found in the ten commandments. It is found in the above Leviticus 19:15 statute. It is repeated in the statutes recorded in Deuteronomy 1:17 and 16:19.

Deuteronomy 1:17 “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great;” In his context James refers to this law as a part of the royal law and adds for a person to fall short in any one of these commandments is “guilty of all.”

16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:16)

“The Jews interpret it (against the blood of they neighbor) to mean that he who sees anyone in danger, as from drowning, robbery, or wild beasts, is duty bound to help; or that if a man happens to witness a crime or an injustice, he is bound to go to the rescue of the individual wronged, either by personal assistance or by bearing testimony in court. 1BC 789

17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
    Rebuke that comes from the lips of one who hates his brother would be biased.
18. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
19. Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
20. And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. (Leviticus 19:17-20)

“Be scourged” in Hebrew means “biggoreth,” which contains the idea that an investigation is to be made with the objective of determining punishment appropriate to the crime. According to 1BC 790, ‘Biggoreth’ applies equally to both.

23. And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
24. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.
25. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:23-25)

God was not requiring starvation. He had already demonstrated that He could provide their needs as He had already done for forty years. Perhaps this statute was given as a health benefit that we do not understand; or perhaps this law was given for the protection of the tree. Regardless of God’s reason, His people would not starve.

26. Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: (Leviticus 19:26)

“Christians, as a rule, pay little attention to this health ordinance, forgetful that it was only on this condition that God originally permitted the use of flesh food (Genesis 9:4). The same restriction was later enjoined upon Gentile Christians (Act 15:20, 29).” BC 1790

26. ...neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. (Leviticus 19:26)

Today this might compare to superstitions such as ‘Friday the 13th’ or the observing of pagan holidays.

27. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. (Leviticus 19:27)

1BC 791 leads us to believe that this was a custom of the heathen showing their devotion to a false god. God’s men were not to imitate the heathen appearance in this regard.

Verse twenty-six refers to heaven religious practices as does verses twenty-eight that follows.

28. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28)

The first part of the text is still done in certain parts of the heathen world. The second part, according to the SDA Commentary, has to do with the marring of the temple of God, which temple ye are. Acts 17:30 says:

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”

29. Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
31. Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:29-32)

It is a sin to mock, or in any way belittle, an elderly person.

33. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
35. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:33-37)

Leviticus 20:2-27 says:

2. Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
3. And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
4. And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
5. Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.

I have conscientiously removed the verses that call for the church to institute the death penalties. Capital punishment can be executed only by the state, not by the church, as it was in the days of the Theocracy.

When judgment is not fair, we have the promise that all such offenses will be made right in the future:

“Dear beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:19,20)

6. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
7. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

These statutes are God’s statutes, not Moses’ statutes. At Sinai, the people became afraid and asked that God speak to them no more, but requested that He speak His commandments to Moses and then afterward Moses would speak God’s statutes to them.

8. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
9. For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11. And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
12. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

Even though the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous, and the truly repentant sinner will stand among the righteous, it is just as true that the wages for the sinner will be eternal death. The principle still stands, and so does the judgment. In the days of Israel, the church carried out the judgment more speedily and thus no one doubted how God looks at such sin. He still looks at sin in the same way.

13. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
14. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
15. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
16. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
17. And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
18. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.
20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
22. Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.
23. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
24. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
25. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
26. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
27. A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:2-27)

The loss of life in the judgment will not lie on God’s hands, but on the hands of the transgressor. The blood of the souls hurt or lost because of his influence and his transgression will be the cause of his death. Their blood shall be upon him.

Leviticus 21:1-15 says:

1. And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:
2. But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother.
3. And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.
4. But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

The following statutes were for the sons of Aaron and the Levitical priesthood. We are now under a different and better priesthood, that of Melchisedec. We are now the royal priesthood, but it is not clear to what extent these particular statutes apply to us.

The priests were held to a higher calling than the laity, and they, with their families, were called to a higher awareness of holiness, and therefore subject to more severe judgment for sins and/or the higher honor that comes with holy living.

5. They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
6. They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.
7. They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
8. Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.
9. And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

The son or daughter is to realize that their actions do reflect on the parents and either honor or dishonor the parents. This statute especially applied to the children of a father in the sacred ministry and was applied when the child was old enough to be willfully involved in adult sin.

Verse 10-15 applied only to the high priest. None of us are in that category, but should one read these verses they will impress the reader that the higher the calling the higher the responsibilities, a good principle for those who aspire to be among the 144,000 to remember!

10. And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
11. Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;
12. Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
13. And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
14. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
15. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

The preceding statutes centered around the priesthood. The children of the priest born from a woman as described in verse 14 could not serve in the sanctuary. Also, God demanded that He be served by men in good physical condition.

As the lamb without blemish typified Christ, so the priest without blemish was to officiate in the sanctuary.

All of God’s sheep have been blemished with sin, but the ideal priest in the sanctuary was to appear unblemished as was the Passover lamb.

The priesthood and God’s people were to recognize they were a special people before God. The stranger, that is an unnaturalized person among the Hebrews, might bring an offering, but not approach the altar as would an Israelite. The priest received the offering and offered it for him. To the Christian church Peter said, “Ye are an holy nation.” In other words, we are special to God.

The Statutes for God's Feasts.

Leviticus 23:1-8 says:

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

God is about to list His feasts – not Moses’ feasts, though Moses certainly honored them. One purpose of the Seventh-day Sabbath is to bring honor to God as our Creator. Also, differing from all of His other feasts, is the fact that it was to be observed at the end of each week. All His other feasts are to be kept only once each year.

4. These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
5. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.
6. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
7. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
8. ... in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

 [Dotted areas have to do with sacrifices and oblations.]

Leviticus 23:9-11 says:

9. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
11. And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a Sabbath. The following day, which would be the 16th day of the first month, was the day that the wave sheaf was to be waved.

Leviticus 23:14-16 and 21 says:

14. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

The wave sheaf, or first fruits, of the harvest represented Christ who is the first fruits of the resurrection. Jesus arose on the very day the first fruits were waved. Another first resurrection is found in Daniel 12:2. Also, the 144,000 are called first fruits in Revelation 14:1-5. Obviously, ‘firstfruits’ has more than one application.

15. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
16. Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days ...

This special fiftieth day had two customary names, the Feast of Weeks and Pentecost. Among the oblations offered on that day were two loaves of ‘unleavened’ bread. Some believe these two loaves represented both the children of Israel and Gentile converts.

Both contained the leaven of sin, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Both loaves waved before the Lord were to be accepted by Him. The blood sacrifices on that day typified the right of God to accept both loaves.

21.And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. (Leviticus 23:1-21)

This concludes the annual spring feasts and
Their three defined Sabbaths.

Next are outlined the fall feasts that all take place in one month – the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:24-44 says:

24. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
25. Ye shall do no servile work therein ...
26. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
28. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
29. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Affliction of soul is associated with fasting. See Psalms 35:15; Acts 27:9; SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 2 p. 106, 107; “Solemn fast-day observed on Tishri One,” SDA BC Vo. 9, p. 61:1.

30. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
33. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
37. These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
38. Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
39. Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
40. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
41. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
42. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43. That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
44. And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

“It is well to remember how God has led us in times past. It is well to bring to mind His providences, for we are sometimes prone to complain at the way He leads us today. Is it not well to think of the many blessings God has bestowed upon us, and the wonderful way He has guided our lives? To do so would make us more appreciative and thankful. And thankfulness is a vital part of religion.” 1BC 806

This concludes the fall feasts and their four defined Sabbaths.

We all keep fifty-two Sabbaths each year. Those who choose to keep these seven additional annual Sabbaths should not cause an offense to those who choose to keep only 52 of God’s feast days. (Leviticus 23:1-3, 44)

Leviticus 24:15-20 says:

15. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
16. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.

Stoning is the executive judgment for blasphemy. Stoning by God Himself has taken place in the past (Joshua 10:11), and will take place again in the future (Revelation 16:21).

Truth heartfelt repentance is the anecdote for sin, but blasphemy is a most serious offense and under certain circumstances may not be forgiven.

Matthew 21:31 says, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

17. And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
18. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
19. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20. Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. (Leviticus 24:15-20)

Leviticus 25:1-46:

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.
3. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;
4. But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
5. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.
6. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee.
7. And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.
   The food that grew on its own was to be used for eating, but this special year’s growth was not to be sold nor stored.
8. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
9. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
10. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
11. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.
12. For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.
13. In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
14. And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:
15. According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee:
16. According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee.
17. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.

Verse 10 was in reference to purchased slaves. They were people who sold themselves to a farmer for a certain price. The money could be used by the indentured servant to pay debts or for the care of his family. Such ‘slaves’ were to go free the year of the Jubilee.

In Israel, the land was divided among the tribes, and each family had its own portion within the tribal territory. This could be sold if necessary, but must be returned to its original owner on the year of the Jubilee. Perhaps this is prophetic of the earth made new when each of us will have our inheritance given to us forever.

Such a program today would eliminate the rich from getting exceedingly rich and the poor from remaining exceedingly poor. Perhaps the true Jubilee dates remain obscure because of the hundreds of years that it has been neglected. A truly great blessing has been lost to the people of Israel and the nations of the world as well.

Diverse students and authors over the years have made reasonable and dedicated attempts to date the Jubilees, but with diversity of opinion. Ellen White speaks of such a Jubilee in the future, but no date is given.

“...when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. Then commenced the jubilee, when the land should rest.” EW 34,35

18. Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.
19. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.
20. And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:
21. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.
22. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.
23. The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

Verse 23 was a promise from God to the children of Israel. Their land was not to go to another people. If they would keep His statutes, their territorial inheritance would last forever. God held title to the land, the Israelites were stewards.

One might wonder if our possessions might be more secure if we would honor God’s commandments and His statutes.

24. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
25. If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.
26. And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it;
27. Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.
28. But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.

Much of the rest of the chapter has to do with the decreasing value of sold property. The first year after the year of Jubilee is when the property had its greatest value. The property then decreased in value every year until the next Jubilee 49 years later. At that time it reverted back to its original family ownership.

This program eliminated both speculation and inflation of property. These two concepts, speculation and inflation, have been the ruin of governments both small and great.

29. And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.
30. And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile.

Today, many sales agreements include a thirty-day return. If the purchaser is unhappy with the product, or in some cases merely changes in his mind, he may bring the item back to the seller and demand a full refund.

This statute allowed a full year’s grace to the seller of a home. He had the right to purchase it back. The new owner could not refuse to take back the purchase price and return the property. However, this statute would only protect the seller for one year. After which it protected the purchaser. Since the rest of the chapter is based on this Jubilee concept, I will only include a few special verses that teach vital moral principals.

36. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.
37. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

The church member was not to make a profit on the money loaned, or items sold, to another church member.

45. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
46. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. (Leviticus 25:1 46)

Church members were to deal with one another as God deals with them, which is with an unnatural bond of grace and consideration above and beyond the norm.

Leviticus 26:1-2 says:

1. Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
2. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

The rest of chapter twenty-six describes the wonderful blessings that would follow those who would keep the statutes, and the curses that would follow those who would not. Then toward the close of the chapter the willingness of God to forgive the repentant transgressor is presented. I would strongly urge the student to read the entire chapter.

Leviticus 27:1-2 says:

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

Leviticus chapter 27 has to do with vows of a voluntary nature. If a vow is made, it must be kept. However, sometimes the vow becomes too big a burden for the person who made it. In this chapter God sets a value on such vows in order for the one who made the vow to redeem it. Simply put, a price was placed on his vow allowing him to ‘buy’ it back.

Most of us have made vows to God. Some of us have not always kept our part of the vow. God does not require us to make vows, but once made He expects us to keep them.

A fictitious example would be: “Lord, if you help me lose twenty pounds, I promise I’ll never eat a piece of chocolate again.” If a price was $160.00 was place on that vow, would you pay that amount for the right to eat a piece of chocolate again? Maybe, but you would probably hesitate and be more cautious in making future vows.

Some vows were not redeemable at any price (1BC 817, 818 explains them thoroughly).

END OF LEVITICAL STATUTES

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