Kelli Trujillo Supporter Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician

While Leviticus has value for us since it’s one of the books of the Bible, we are no longer spiritually obligated to observe the laws outlined in Leviticus, except for those that have to do with our duty to serve God with moral character. While Jesus walked the earth as a God-man, He set the stage for the New Covenant, which would be confirmed by the shedding of His blood. In many instances Jesus actually broke some of the laws under the Old Covenant that we read about in Leviticus and other OT books, and He taught His followers about why He was doing so and what they should do instead. Here are some examples:

Matthew 15:11 What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.

Mark 17:15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.

Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? “But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. “But if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect..

Jesus spoke of His intention to establish the New Covenant in Matthew 26:28: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

From a practical standpoint, many arguments can be made to support some of the ritualistic laws, such as avoiding consumption of creatures that were considered unclean and condemning a house that was pronounced unclean due to a mold infestation. However, whether or not we observe these laws will have no bearing on our spiritual growth or standing as Christians.

October 27 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report