Torah Studies · Study 10
God’s Glory and Our Worship
Connecting the Torah and Jesus
Day Ten · Leviticus 9
Read Leviticus 9 a passage at a time. Discover God’s glory, Jesus our great High Priest, and how we can come near with confidence, gratitude, and reverence.
In this study
Let’s begin together
Let’s pray: Father, help us understand Your Word and see Your goodness. Teach us how Jesus brings us near to You. Give us hearts that trust You, listen carefully, and respond with grateful worship. In Jesus’ name, amen.
In Study 9, we saw Aaron and his sons being set apart to serve as priests. After seven days of preparation, Leviticus 9 describes the eighth day, when Aaron began offering sacrifices for himself and the people. We will read each complete passage alongside its explanation.
Torah means instruction. These commands belonged to God’s covenant with Israel, a relationship with promises and responsibilities. We first listen to what God taught Israel. Then, as followers of Jesus, we turn to the New Testament to understand how these passages connect with Him.
Our main truth: Because Jesus is our great High Priest, we can come near to God with confidence, gratitude, and reverence.
1. God gave His people a promise
Leviticus 9:1-4 King James Version
1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;
2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.
3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;
4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.
Moses called Aaron, his sons, and Israel’s elders together. The elders were leaders of the community. God gave instructions about the offerings and promised to make His presence known to the people that day.
The animals were to be “without blemish,” meaning without a defect. The “meat offering” was a grain offering mixed with oil. These were different offerings with different roles in Israel’s worship. God was teaching the people how to approach Him.
This was a specific promise to Israel for that day. Their response was to trust God and bring what He had commanded. For us, a helpful starting point is the same: listen to what God actually says, and respond to Him with trust.
2. The people gathered before the Lord
Leviticus 9:5-7 King James Version
5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.
6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.
The whole community drew near and stood before the Lord. The tabernacle was the sacred tent where Israel worshiped. This moment involved both the priests who served and the people who gathered.
“Glory” speaks of God’s greatness and majesty being made known. Moses said the people would see the Lord’s glory. God Himself was the center of their gathering. Their attention was directed toward Him.
Moses told Aaron to make atonement. “Atonement” describes God’s provision for dealing with sin and restoring the relationship with Him. Before Aaron offered sacrifices for the people, he needed to bring the offerings appointed for himself.
When I pray or gather to worship, am I giving God my attention?
3. Aaron needed mercy; Jesus brings us mercy
Leviticus 9:8-11 King James Version
8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:
10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.
Aaron brought the sin offering for himself. His sons helped him, and he handled the sacrifice as God had commanded. The phrase “without the camp” means outside the camp. Even the priest who served the people needed God’s mercy.
Leviticus 9:12-14 King James Version
12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.
13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.
14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
Aaron then offered the burnt offering. His sons brought the blood and the parts of the animal, and Aaron carried out the work at the altar. The passage shows careful obedience and shared service. Aaron’s position did not make him free from sin.
Hebrews 4:14-16 King James Version
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews gives us an important connection to Jesus. He is our great High Priest, and He is without sin. Yet He understands human weakness and temptation. We can bring our needs to Him with honesty.
“Hold fast our profession” means keep holding to the faith we confess. To “come boldly” means to approach with confidence because of Jesus. We do not have to hide our need for help. God invites us to receive mercy and grace when we need them.
4. God provided a way for the people
Leviticus 9:15-17 King James Version
15 And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.
16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.
17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
Aaron now brought the people’s sin offering, burnt offering, and grain offering. The instructions cared for the whole community’s relationship with God. The grain offering was added alongside the regular morning burnt offering.
Leviticus 9:18-21 King James Version
18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,
19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:
20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.
The peace offerings followed. Aaron’s sons helped with the blood and the appointed portions. Some portions were burned, and the breasts and right shoulder were presented as a wave offering. Again, the passage says they followed what God had commanded through Moses.
These offerings were part of the way God provided for Israel to worship Him. As we follow the story into the New Testament, Hebrews explains what Jesus has done through His own sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:11-14 King James Version
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus offered Himself without sin and obtained eternal redemption. “Redemption” means being set free at a cost. Our freedom rests on His giving His life for us. His sacrifice reaches our conscience, our inward awareness of right and wrong.
The passage speaks of being cleansed from “dead works,” deeds that belong to sin and death, so that we can serve the living God. Jesus brings forgiveness and a new direction for our lives. We respond to His mercy by learning to serve Him.
5. God made His glory known
Leviticus 9:22-24 King James Version
22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Aaron lifted his hand toward the people and blessed them. Moses and Aaron then entered the tabernacle, came out, and blessed the people. The Lord’s glory appeared to everyone, and fire came from before Him and consumed the offering and fat on the altar.
God fulfilled the promise He had given at the beginning of the chapter. The people shouted and fell facedown. Their response showed amazement and deep respect. The Lord had made His holy presence known among them.
This was a remarkable moment in Israel’s story. We can learn to respond to God with sincere worship. Our confidence in Him rests on His faithfulness, including on quiet days when we do not see something dramatic.
6. Jesus makes the Father known
John 1:14-18 King James Version
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John calls Jesus “the Word.” The Word became flesh, meaning that He became truly human and lived among us. John says they saw His glory, full of grace and truth. In Jesus, God has come near and made Himself known.
The John who gives testimony in verse 15 is John the Baptist. He points people to Jesus as greater than himself. Verse 17 names Moses’ role in giving the law and directs us to the grace and truth that come through Jesus Christ. The Son makes the Father known.
As we study Torah, we are learning about the God who instructed Israel. As we listen to Jesus, we see the Father revealed through His Son. God’s holiness and His kindness both call for our trust and worship.
Hebrews 9:24-28 King James Version
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews says Jesus now appears in God’s presence for us. It compares His finished sacrifice with the repeated sacrifices of Israel’s priesthood. The yearly entrance mentioned here belongs to the Day of Atonement, a different occasion from Aaron’s first day of service in Leviticus 9.
Jesus offered Himself once to bear our sins. He does not need to suffer again and again. The passage also points us toward His return to bring salvation to those waiting for Him. “Without sin” in verse 28 means He will return without coming to bear sin again; His sacrifice has already been offered.
This gives us a firm reason to come near to God. Our hope rests in Jesus, who gave Himself for us and now represents us before the Father. We can trust Him with our past, our needs today, and our future.
7. Respond with joy and reverence
Luke 24:50-53 King James Version
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
After His resurrection, Jesus lifted His hands and blessed His disciples. While blessing them, He was taken into heaven. They worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Their response included ongoing praise to God.
There is a helpful comparison with Leviticus 9: blessing is followed by worship. Aaron blessed Israel, and Jesus blessed His disciples. The New Testament leads us to put our confidence in the risen Jesus, our great High Priest.
Hebrews 12:28-29 King James Version
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
“Reverence” means deep respect. “Godly fear” means taking God’s holiness and authority seriously. Calling God a consuming fire reminds us that He is holy and judges evil. We receive His grace with gratitude and respond by listening and obeying.
Confidence and reverence belong together. Because of Jesus, we can approach God honestly, ask for help, and rejoice in His mercy. Because God is holy, we take His words seriously. Worship can shape how we pray, how we speak, and how we treat people.
Talk about it with friends
1. What did God promise Israel at the beginning of Leviticus 9, and how did He fulfill it?
2. Why did Aaron need an offering for himself? How does Hebrews show that Jesus is different?
3. What do we learn about God’s glory from John’s description of Jesus?
4. Why can we come to God with confidence even when we feel weak or need forgiveness?
5. What would it look like to worship God with both joy and reverence today?
Put it into practice today
Come honestly. Tell God where you need mercy or help. Thank Him that Jesus understands your weakness and is your great High Priest.
Give Him your attention. Read one passage from this study again, slowly. Choose one truth about God to remember during the day. Turn it into a short prayer of thanks.
Let worship become a response. Speak kindly, keep a promise, ask forgiveness where it is needed, or help someone. Offer one ordinary part of your day to God with care.
A verse to remember
Hebrews 4:16 King James Version
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Read this verse aloud. Name one need you can bring to God. Remember that your confidence comes from Jesus and the grace God offers through Him.
Let’s pray together
Father, thank You for making Yourself known and for bringing us near through Jesus. Thank You for His complete sacrifice and His care for us. Help us trust Your promises, receive Your mercy, and worship with gratitude and reverence. Let our words and actions honor You today. Keep our hope firmly in Jesus. In His name, amen.
I love you, my friends. Come near to God through Jesus today, with an honest heart and a thankful spirit.
Scripture and sources
Scripture text was checked against the King James Version published by eBible.org. Complete verses retain the historical wording; editorial footnotes are omitted. Scripture references link to the source chapter.