How does Leviticus 15:15 highlight the importance of ritual purity in worship? “and the priest shall offer them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD because of his discharge.” The Setting and Flow of Leviticus 15 - The chapter lays out God-given procedures for dealing with bodily discharges. - Each scenario ends with a clear path to re-enter worship through washing, waiting, and sacrifice. - Verse 15 summarizes the climax of the process: the worshiper’s return to God’s presence. What Verse 15 Shows About Ritual Purity - Atonement is indispensable: impurity is not only physical but moral; it requires a sin offering. - Whole-hearted dedication is required: the burnt offering represents total surrender to God. - Mediation is God-ordained: the priest acts on God’s terms, underscoring that purity is granted, not self-achieved. - Worship hinges on holiness: re-entry into corporate worship happens only after God’s standards are met. - God’s presence is central: “before the LORD” stresses that every act of cleansing is aimed at communion with Him. Why Ritual Purity Matters in Worship—Timeless Principles • God is holy (Isaiah 6:3); His people must approach in holiness. • Impurity disrupts fellowship (Psalm 24:3-4). • Sacrifice foreshadows Christ’s once-for-all offering (Hebrews 9:13-14). • External acts teach internal truths: purity laws remind believers that sin defiles the heart (Mark 7:20-23). Practical Takeaways for Today - Guard the heart before entering worship; confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9). - Depend on Christ, the true High Priest, for cleansing (Hebrews 4:14-16). - Value corporate worship as a privilege granted through purity, not a casual routine (Hebrews 10:19-22). - Remember that God still calls His people to be “a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). Supporting Passages • Leviticus 16:30 — “On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” • Psalm 24:3-4 — “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? … he who has clean hands and a pure heart.” • Hebrews 9:13-14 — Christ’s blood cleanses the conscience, fulfilling the picture in Leviticus. Leviticus 15:15 therefore underscores that worship is never casual; purity, provided on God’s terms, is the doorway into His holy presence. |
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