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MESSAGE SUMMARY
God is concerned for the details of our worship, our health, and our very lives. As demonstrated through the profane fire of Nadab and Abihu, our worship must be based on sacrifice. And, the dietary restrictions show us God wants us to be good stewards of our bodies. As we consider our text, let's remember that while we are no longer under the Law, there are principles here that, when applied, lead to an acceptable worship of God and a powerful witness to the world.
STUDY GUIDE
Leviticus 11-13
"For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your
God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:45).
PREVIEW: In Leviticus 11-13, the children of Israel are told what animals
they can and cannot eat, what to do after a child is born, and given laws
concerning leprosy. All these were written for our learning (see Romans
15:4) and we will discover lessons from these instructions.
Leviticus Outline:
Foods Permitted and Forbidden - Read Leviticus 11:1-23Unclean Animals - Read Leviticus 11:24-47
The Ritual After Childbirth - Read Leviticus 12:1-8
The Law Concerning Leprosy - Read Leviticus 13:1-46
The Law Concerning Leprous Garments - Read Leviticus 13:47-59
Foods Permitted and Forbidden - Read Leviticus 11:1-
23
1. God instructed his children regarding the animals that they were
allowed to eat. Describe the two required characteristics of the
animals they were permitted to consume (vv. 1-3).
2. There were two requirements an animal must meet before it could
be consumed. List the animals that met only one of the
requirements (vv. 4-8).
3. The Hebrew word for chewing the cud is essentially the same word
translated “meditation.” Jesus has made us clean (1 John 1:7).
Upon what are we to chew, or meditate? (See Psalm 1:1-3, 119:15,
and 97-99, and Joshua 1:8.)
4. Animals that had cloven hooves were distinct in the visible
appearance of their divided hoof; it marked their walk. How should
our walk be visibly distinct from the world? (See Philippians 1:27,
Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 1:10, and 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.)
5. Two characteristics are given of things in the water that may be
eaten. What are they (vv. 9-12)?
6. God lists creatures from among the birds that were to be considered
unclean (vv. 13-19). What word is used twice to describe the
unclean birds that were not to be eaten?
7. What distinction is made of insects that caused them to be labeled
as an abomination (v. 20)?
8. What distinction is made of insects that caused them to be labeled
as an edible (v. 21)?
Unclean Animals - Read Leviticus 11:24-47
9. The concept of being unclean till evening not only prohibited
participation in worship but also restricted movement within
society. What action(s) caused a person to become unclean (vv. 24-
28)?
10. That which is clean (pure) cannot make that which is unclean
(impure) clean. The unclean always makes the clean unclean and
not vice versa. Jesus made us clean (John 13:7-11, 15:3, and 1 John
1:7). What actions might defile us, making us unclean? (See
Matthew 15:11, Ephesians 5:7-12, and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.)
11. Creeping things that defiled a person are listed (vv. 29-30). In what
two ways might these creeping things defile a person or an object
(vv.31-32)?
12. How did an object that was defiled by a creeping thing become
clean (v. 32)?
13. What was to be done with earthen vessels that became unclean (vv.
33-35)?
14. Because we are referred to as earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7),
God in His love must break us when there is uncleanness found in
us—not to punish us, for Christ bore all of our punishment on the
Cross—but to purify us. How might God “break” us? (See Proverbs
3:11-12, Hebrews 12:5-8, and Revelation 3:19.)
15. An exception is listed that allows an object to remain clean if
touched by a carcass of a creeping thing. What is that exception (v.
36)?
16. The children of God were not to make themselves “abominable,”
“unclean,” and “defiled” by creeping things (v. 43). Rather, what
were they to do unto themselves (vv. 44-45)?
17. How are we to do the same unto ourselves? (See Matthew 5:48, 1
Thessalonians 4:7, and 1 Peter 1:15-16.)
The Ritual After Childbirth - Read Leviticus 12:1-8
18. How long was a woman unclean after having a male child (v. 2)?
How long was she to remain in purification (v. 4)?
19. When was the male child to be circumcised (v. 3)?
20. How long was a woman unclean after having a female child? How
long was she to remain in purification (v. 5)?
21. What was the woman to do when the days of her purification were
over (v. 6)?
22. If the woman was not able to afford the prescribed offering for her
purification, what alternative, more financially affordable options
were made available (v. 8)?
23. Which option did Mary take after having Jesus (Luke 2:22-24)?
The Law Concerning Leprosy - Read Leviticus 13:1-46
24. If a person had a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, where was he to
be taken (v. 2)?
25. What evidence was to be looked for to determine if the person was
to be pronounced unclean (v. 3)?
26. If the person was examined and found clean, what was the process
the person experienced to ensure they were indeed clean (vv. 4-6)?
27. How would the priest determine if the person’s scab was indeed
leprosy (vv. 7-8)?
28. The Hebrew word used for leprosy is saraath. It refers to disfiguring
skin diseases, including leprosy (Hansen's disease). Leprosy was and
still is an incurable disease, although medication can arrest the
development of it. Types or models are often used throughout
Scripture to illustrate points. In the Bible, leprosy is a type of sin:
loathsome, spreading, and incurable, gradually rotting away the
flesh, slowly deadening the nerve endings, and eventually leading
to death (see Isaiah 1:5-6). The rabbis strongly believed that leprosy
was a direct judgment from God. In fact, the word leprosy means
“smitten.” Lepers were excluded from the community and were
required to cry out as others approached them. What were they
required to cry out? (See Leviticus 13:45-46).
29. If the priest examined a person who obviously had leprosy all over
the skin, in what instance could the priest pronounce him clean (vv.
12-13)
30. What was the indicator to the priest that the person was still
unclean, although he was obviously covered in leprosy (vv. 14-16)?
31. If a person had some type of other skin issue, such as a boil, burn or
a scale (vv. 18-37) and it continued to spread, it would result in the
person being pronounced unclean. Since leprosy is a type of sin in
the Bible, how might we recognize an unrepentant sin in a person’s
life? (See 1 John 3:6,9, 2:4, 4:8, 5:18, and 2 Peter 2:22.)
32. How long was a person unclean once he was initially pronounced
unclean because of leprosy (v. 46)?
The Law Concerning Leprous Garments - Read
Leviticus 13:47-59
33. What was done to a garment that was found to contain active
leprosy (vv. 47-52)?
34. How could a garment that contained a leprous plague be
pronounced clean (vv. 53-58)?
35. Read Matthew 8:1-4. What did the leper do to become clean from
his leprosy? How is that a picture of what all sinners need to do to
be pronounced clean from their sin (leprosy)? (See also 1 John 1:8-
10.)
DETAILED NOTES
Figures referenced: Yousuf Karsh, Charles H. Spurgeon
Cross references: 2 Samuel 6, Nehemiah 3, Psalm 1, John 6:53, Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 5:18-19
Topic: Diet
Keywords: food, priest, Nadab, Abihu,
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