Week 9: Leviticus Chapters 16 to 27

Week 8 Recap (Leviticus 1–15)..

This week we stepped into Leviticus and began to see how a redeemed people learn to live with a holy God in their midst. Chapters 1–7 introduced the offerings, showing how Israel could worship, seek forgiveness, and walk in restored relationship with God. Chapters 8–10 established the priesthood and reminded us that approaching God is sacred and must be done with reverence. Then in chapters 11–15, holiness moved into everyday life through the clean and unclean laws, teaching Israel that belonging to God touches even ordinary rhythms—food, health, and community life. Together, these chapters show God forming a people who live with constant awareness of His presence, while pointing us today to Jesus, our perfect sacrifice and High Priest.

Looking Ahead: Week 9 (Leviticus 16–27)..

If the first half of Leviticus teaches how to approach a holy God, the next section reveals how to live as a holy people in ongoing relationship with Him.

Week 9 begins with Leviticus 16, the Day of Atonement—the central moment of the book. Here we see the high priest enter the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement for the sins of the nation. This chapter becomes a key lens through which we understand God’s provision for forgiveness and restoration, ultimately pointing forward to Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.

From chapters 17–25, the focus shifts to what is often called the “Holiness Code.” God teaches Israel how holiness shapes worship, relationships, justice, sexuality, compassion for the poor, and rhythms of rest like the Sabbath and Jubilee. Holiness is shown not merely as ritual purity but as a way of life that reflects God’s character.

The book then moves toward covenant blessings, warnings, and dedication in chapters 26–27, reminding Israel that life with God involves both promise and responsibility. Obedience leads to flourishing in His presence, while turning away brings consequences—but always with the hope of restoration.

As we move into Week 9, we’ll see the heart of Leviticus come into sharper focus:
God is not only making His people clean—He is forming them into a community that reflects His holiness, justice, and mercy in the world.

Having learned in Week 8 how to draw near to God, we now step into what it means to live daily as His people, sustained by atonement, shaped by holiness, and invited into deeper relationship with Him.

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Leviticus Chapters 16 & 17

The Way Into God’s Presence..

At the center of Leviticus stands one of the most significant moments in all of the Old Testament: the Day of Atonement(Leviticus 16). Everything before it prepares for this day; everything after it flows from it. If the earlier chapters teach Israel about sacrifice, priesthood, and holiness, Leviticus 16–17shows how a sinful people can continue living with a holy God in their midst without being consumed.

These chapters reveal something essential about God’s character:
He is holy beyond measure, yet deeply committed to making a way for His people to come near.

Holiness Lived Before a Holy God..

Leviticus 18–20 marks a decisive shift in the book. If the earlier chapters taught Israel how to approach a holy God in the tabernacle, these chapters show how to live as a holy people in the world. Atonement has been made; God’s presence dwells among them. Now the question becomes: What does life look like for a people who belong to the Lord?

Holiness moves from altar to everyday life—from ritual to relationships, from sacrifice to society. Often called the “Holiness Code,” these chapters reveal that holiness is not merely ceremonial correctness but a way of life shaped by God’s character. After centuries in Egypt and on the verge of entering Canaan, Israel must be re-formed. Redemption is not only rescue from oppression; it is the reshaping of desire, behavior, justice, and worship.

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Close-up of hands praying on a Holy Bible, symbolizing faith and spirituality.

Leviticus Chapters 21 & 22

Honouring God’s Holiness in Those Who Draw Near…

Leviticus 21–22 continues the unfolding vision of holiness in Israel’s life, but now the focus narrows to the priests—those entrusted with serving near God’s presence. If Leviticus 16–20 showed how a holy people can approach God and live in holiness, these chapters ask a more specific question:

How should those who minister before a holy God live?

At first glance, these chapters may feel overly detailed or even severe. They speak about priestly conduct, physical wholeness, and the acceptability of offerings. Yet beneath the instructions is a deeply pastoral and theological concern:
God is teaching His people that His holiness is not abstract. It is real, weighty, and worthy of honor—especially among those who represent Him.

Leviticus Chapters 23 to 25

Sacred Time, Sacred Rest, and Trusting God’s Provision..

Leviticus 23–25 shifts the focus from sacred space and sacred people to sacred time and sacred rhythms. If earlier chapters taught Israel how to approach a holy God and live as a holy people, these chapters teach them how to order their time, work, land, and rest around God’s presence.

After generations in Egypt—where life revolved around relentless labor and survival—God now re-forms Israel into a people whose calendars, economies, and hopes are shaped by Him. Holiness is no longer only about sacrifice or priesthood. It is about how time is kept, how rest is practiced, and how life is lived in trust.

At the heart of these chapters is a simple but profound truth:
Time itself belongs to God.

A close-up of a wooden hourglass with blue sand on a wooden desk, symbolizing time and patience.

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Leviticus Chapters 26 & 27

Covenant, Consequence, and the Call to Belong..

As Leviticus draws to its close, chapters 26–27 gather everything the Lord has spoken—from sacrifices and priesthood to justice, worship, and holy rhythms—and press it into one searching question:

What does it mean to live in covenant with a holy God who desires to dwell among His people?

These chapters are not merely a conclusion; they are a threshold. They prepare Israel to move from Sinai toward the wilderness journey of Book of Numbers, and ultimately toward the promises first given in Book of Genesis. What we see here is the heart of God laid bare—His longing not simply for obedience, but for communion.