Dictionary of Bible Themes – 7424 ritual law
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7424 ritual law

7424 ritual law

The rules and regulations regarding the conduct of the priests and people of Israel in approaching God, especially in worship. They were to be holy as God is holy. The perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is seen by NT writers as fulfilling this demand for holiness and obedience.

The ritual law and the priesthood

The priests were to be careful to obey God’s commandments Lev 22:9 See also Lev 10:10; Lev 22:3

The priests had to avoid ceremonial uncleanness Contact with the dead caused uncleanness and was forbidden to the high priest: Lev 21:1-3,11; Nu 19:11,14
Lev 21:16-23 No-one with a physical defect could serve as a priest; Lev 22:20-25 The sacrifices offered by the priests also had to be without defect.

The ritual law and the people of Israel

The people were called to holiness Lev 19:2; Lev 20:26 See also Lev 11:44-45; Lev 20:7; Lev 21:8; Lev 22:32

The ritual law stipulated what they could eat Lev 11:46-47 See also Ge 7:2; Ge 8:20; Lev 11:1-23 pp Dt 14:3-20; Dt 14:21

The ritual law regarding childbirth Lev 12:1-5; Lk 2:22-24

Jesus Christ’s obedience and perfect sacrifice on the cross fulfilled the demands of the ritual law

Heb 10:8-10 See also Eph 2:15; Col 2:14; Heb 7:11,18,27; Heb 10:1-3,11-14

See also

1065God, holiness of
2057Christ, obedience
2306Christ, high priest
2530Christ, death of
5185stomach
5194touch
5375law
7340clean and unclean
7402offerings
7422ritual
7426ritual washing
7434sacrifice
7550Pharisees
7766priests
8269holiness, separation from worldly

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