Book of Leviticus
Chapters 11-15
Chapters 11-15 focus on the difference between clean and unclean.
In all of these chapters we find:
1) A practical purpose – health
2) A spiritual principle – holiness
The specific regulations were limited to Israel and were temporary.
The spiritual principles are for everyone and are permanent.
Chapter 11 – Regulations about food
Chapter 12 – Regulations about childbirth
Chapters 13-14 – Regulations about disease (leprosy)
Chapter 15 – Regulations about normal bodily functions
Focus on Chapters 13-14
Chapter 13 – The Condition of Leprosy – a picture of sin
Bible examples of lepers – Miriam, Num. 12:9-13; Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-27; Uzziah,
2 Chr. 26:16-21; Matt. 8:1-4; Luke 17:11-19. Leprosy is known today as “Hansen’s Disease.”
1) It is hard to detect at first – The priest must examine a person to be sure. If a person thought he had leprosy, he was required to go to the priest for an examination.
2) It is painless – In fact, leprosy caused a person to not feel pain. Loss of skin or limbs was often due to injury or infection because a person didn’t feel any pain. Isn’t that just like sin? It has been said that “the chains of sin are too light to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”
3) It is deeper than the skin – 13:3 – The phrase “deeper than the skin” is found ten times in this passage. Sin appears on the outside because we have a sin nature on the inside. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
4) It spreads gradually – 13:7-8 – The problem with small sins is they don’t stay small..
5) It destroys the body and brings death – Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6) It defiles and causes separation – 13:46 – Lepers were required to call out, “Unclean, unclean.” They were excluded from normal society and were not allowed in the temple.
7) It is fit for the fire – 13:52
8) It is incurable apart from God
Chapter 14 – The Cleansing of the Leper – a picture of salvation
Only God can cure leprosy and sin. If a person had been healed, he needed to be cleansed.
1) The leper could not cure or cleanse himself
2) The priest was the only person to provide cleansing – 14:1-3 – The priest went to the leper outside the camp. Jesus died outside the camp (Heb. 13:10-13)
3) The sacrifice points to the blood of Christ – 14:4-7
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4) The two birds represent Christ’s death and resurrection
One of the birds was killed and the other bird was released to fly away. Notice that the priest took the living bird and dipped it in the blood of the dead bird, and then turned it loose. What a vivid picture of Christ’s resurrection. He died for our sins and was raised again, and (spiritually speaking) took the blood back to heaven that we might be cleansed from our sins.
5) The cleansed leper was treated like a priest – 14:11-18
Notice that the cleansed leper was treated just like a priest. Compare this to Lev. 8:22-24 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
God has made us kings and priests through the blood of Christ.
6) The cleansing of the leper’s home reveals the need for a clean environment – 14:33-53 - We are “in the world” but not “of the world.”
John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
If a Christian is to live the way God expects he must be careful about his habits, his friends, his environment, the things he sees, and all those things that affect his life.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Book of Leviticus
Chapters 11-15
Chapters 11-15 focus on the difference between______and______.
In all of these chapters we find:
1) A practical purpose – ______
2) A spiritual principle – ______
Chapter 11 – Regulations about______
Chapter 12 – Regulations about______
Chapters 13-14 – Regulations about______
Chapter 15 – Regulations about______
Focus on Chapters 13-14
Chapter 13 – The Condition of Leprosy – a picture of______
Bible examples of lepers – Miriam, Num. 12:9-13; Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-27; Uzziah,
2 Chr. 26:16-21; Matt. 8:1-4; Luke 17:11-19
1) It is______
2) It is______
3) It is______
4) It______
5) It______
6) It______
7) It is______
8) It is______
Chapter 14 – The Cleansing of the Leper – a picture of______
1) The leper______
2) The priest was______
3) The sacrifice points to______
4) The two birds represent______
5) The cleansed leper______
6) The cleansing of the leper’s home reveals______