Throughout the book of hebrews we see jesus referred to as the great high priest. Aaron is the picture of that great high priest, jesus christ our lord. Commentary on the book of leviticus by matthew henry old. Hitherto moses had told the people what they must do. Note, there may be a deep sense of affliction even where there is a sincere resignation to the will of god in the affliction. And he put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash. The whole service of the day is committed to the high priest. They must not defile themselves, no, nor for the high priest himself, unless thus akin to them.
Harrisons leviticus was on the shelf so i thought i would use it as a companion through a biblical book that is notoriously thought of us as dull, plodding, and irrelevant. A high priest so invested is known as merubbeh begadim. You go through genesis in fine style, learning about abraham and isaac and jacob and all the things that happened to them. One day a year, the high priest made a sacrifice for all of israel, sacrificing one goat for their sins and sending another symbolically into the wilderness. We have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens. The book of leviticus is designed to teach us three major principles. In this excellent commentary on leviticus, gordon wenham takes with equal seriousness both the plain, original meaning of the text and its abiding theological value. Their great high priest the romans consecrate, his silken vest in gabine cincture bound. Leviticus 16 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The high priest had to offer a sin offering not only for the sins of the whole congregation, but also for himself leviticus 4.
See this significant ceremony explained in the note on exodus 29. Leviticus commentary matthew henry commentary on the. He is the great prophet, like unto whom the messiah will be deut. The story of leviticus picks up where exodus left off. Leviticus 8 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. The name leviticus is taken from the septuagint, identifying the section of the pentateuch which we call leviticus.
We call the book leviticus, from the septuagint, because it contains the laws and ordinances of the levitical priesthood as it is called, hebrews 7. Leviticus 4 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. We had before divers laws concerning sinofferings for particular persons, and to be offered upon particular occasions. More insights from your bible study get started with logos bible.
We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens. In the book of leviticus, as in all of the bible, god is teaching us truth about ourselves. Let us recollect with gratitude that our great high priest cannot be hindered by any thing from the discharge of his office. Aug 02, 2008 he was a high priest taken from among men, and could not put off natural affection when he put on the holy garments. Gain insight into israels history in the book of leviticus. Now the lord called to moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, a. Jesus serves as the great atoning high priest, although not by entering into the. Unto the children of israel thou shalt speak, leviticus 9. Leviticus chapter 16 matthew henry complete commentary. Leviticus is thus a work of towering spirituality, which through the various sacrificial rituals points the reader unerringly to the atoning death of jesus, our great high priest.
Understanding the significance of jesus christs role as our great high priest will allow. Read leviticus 16 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. His focus is on the relevance of leviticus for todays christian. As such the book of hebrews was originally intended to bring a hebrew audience to that. Jesus was a high priest after the order of melchizedek hebrews 5. Study the bible online using commentary on leviticus and more. The hebrew word for the book is wayiqraa, which, according to strongs a primitive root definition comes from qara, and which has the sense of calling a person by name.
The high priest and, obviously, his descendants were all sinners. Only the high priest could enter and, before doing so, he was required to make a sacrifice for himself. In chapter 10, however, aaron is installed as the high priest, and he very much comes into his own. Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary. At the center of the book of leviticus is the day of atonement. He has, by his one great sacrifice for sin, forever put away all the sins of all his people isa. Taking psalm 110 as his guide, the author of hebrews argues that the messiah was destined to be a priest according to the order of melchizedek heb. In the new testament, jesus is identified as the great high priest hebrews. I am the lord 3 say unto them, whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the. It is a carefully arranged reference manual for the levitical priests.
Why was the high priest such an important position in the old covenant. Leviticus 8 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. The sin offering for the high priest and his household vv. To illustrate this law, the conduct of the high priest is adduced as the first instance, to show when and how this exalted functionary is to bring the sin offering in. Calmet remarks that the consecration of the high priest among the romans bore a considerable resemblance to the consecration of the jewish high priest. The reason we are so broken is that we are involved in a broken race. Leviticus is a remarkable book, as the contents are considered in the light of the new testament. Read leviticus commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. When the high priest entered into the holy of holies and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy seat the sins of the entire nation for the previous year were forgiven by god. Let us also remember, that the lord requires us to. Harrison illuminates these ideas within their old testament context, thus providing the needed background for their new testament development. Let us recollect with gratitude that our great high priest cannot be hindered by any thing from the discharge of his.
In this way the high priest was cleansed and could then go on to offer the cleansing sacrifices for the people leviticus 16. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of leviticus. The sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat in the holy of holies, foreshadowing the sacrifice of jesus christ and his ministry as our great high priest. The levites were principally charged with these institutions, both to do their part and to teach the people theirs. The priests of nehemiahs day seem opposed to reform, whereas leviticus magnifies the office of high priest.
Tracing the relationship between the actual book of leviticus and its rabbinic commentary, jacob neusner asks how the rabbis who stand behind the text make use of leviticus and how, through their comments on it, they make intelligible and comprehensible statements of their own. This is the first place in the bible where this title is introduced. See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation. As i make my way through the bible in a year, i am not simply working through the scripture text but i am also reading associated notes and commentary. Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary on. Here are five glimpses of jesus christ in the book of leviticus.
Obviously we first need to start with the meaning of atonement. Jesus was a high priest, but not after the order of aaron. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. One could translate the verb offers, but this becomes awkward and, in fact, inaccurate in some passages. Leviticus chapter 22 kjv king james version 1 and the lord spake unto moses, saying. Translation with introduction and commentary new york. The central section of hebrews is dominated by the theme of jesus as our great high priest.
The clothing of the priests ive largely covered in the commentary in exodus. Leviticus 27 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. The household of the high priest was included because the office was inherited. This book explores how the sacrificial rituals and. Moses provisional priestly role seems to come to an end here. An eminent nineteenthcentury writer once described leviticus quite correctly as the seedbed of new testament theology, for in this book is to be found the basis. This unique commentary explores how each chapter of leviticus finds its fulfillment in jesus christ and the present worship life of the church.
This volume in the old testament library series focuses on the book of leviticus. Best commentaries and books on leviticus logos bible software. That is, we never would have been permitted into the holy of holies, had we been part of israel. Enduring word bible commentary leviticus chapter 21. Consecration of the priesthood leviticus 810 the material in this chapter is closely related to exodus 28 and exodus 29, where the divine instructions were given for the making of the garments of the high priest and the priests under him, and for a number of the items mentioned in connection with the ceremonies here recorded.
An eminent nineteenthcentury writer once described. This book is about as dull as anything possibly could be to the average christian and you wont find very many classes or individuals reading and studying the book of leviticus. The book of hebrews has much to say about christ as our great high. Nature of leviticus authorship and date unity of leviticus purpose of the book theology of leviticus leviticus and the new testament the hebrew text analysis the sacrifices of leviticus commentary probable plan of the tabernacle the high priests breastpiece the feasts of leviticus and other old testament calendars. That place where god manifested his special presence must not be. Because the high priest held the leadership position, one of his roles was overseeing the responsibilities of all the subordinate priests 2 chronicles 19. In the latter and more degenerate ages of the jewish church they had a set form of confession prepared for the high priest, but god here prescribed none. Leviticus chapter 9 matthew henry complete commentary. Yet the great climax of this book can be clearly seen in leviticus 16 where god gives the instructions for making atonement for sin on the great day of atonement yom kippur. Read leviticus 4 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. When a high priest died, all those confined to the cities of refuge for accidently causing the death of another person were granted freedom numbers 35. New living translation the high priest has the highest rank of all the priests. That was gods anointing of the great high priest by a symbol of the holy spirit, the.
God invites israel to live in close proximity to his holy presence. As our high priest he enables us to come before the throne of god. Though there is a friend that is nearer than a brother, yet the priests. Our compassionate high priest seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, jesus the son of god, let us hold fast our confession. Leviticus chapter 16 matthew henry complete commentary on. May 07, 2008 as i make my way through the bible in a year, i am not simply working through the scripture text but i am also reading associated notes and commentary. Even though aaron was the first high priest mentioned in the book of exodus, louis ginzberg in legends of the jews noted that in legends the first man that assumed the title of high priest of god is enoch, who was succeeded by methuselah, lamech, noah, shem, melchizedek, abraham, isaac and levi. The high priest, the one among his brothers who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair become unkempt or tear his clothes. Nature of leviticus authorship and date unity of leviticus purpose of the book theology of leviticus leviticus and the new testament the hebrew text analysis the sacrifices of leviticus commentary probable plan of the tabernacle the high priest s breastpiece the feasts of leviticus and other old testament calendars. Otherwise he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. The contributors are scholars of international standing. His sacrifice is what provides cleansing for our sins. Best commentaries and books on leviticus logos bible. God determines to heal mans brokenness and to make man whole again.
The aaronic priesthood is just being formally established in leviticus chapter 8. Leviticus means concerning the levites and as the work of the ancient levites is explained so the prophesied work of the great and divine high priest is being explained. Also the tithe laws indicated about a ratio of 10 levites to one priest in leviticus, but ezra 8. Christ is both our priest and our sinatoning sacrifice, the lamb of god who has taken away our sins. Now that he was to speak from them to god in the sacrifices the. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of old testament study through commentaries and general surveys.