The Old Testament is the story of the Old Covenant (“testament” means “covenant”) between God and his people. At the same time, the Old Testament foretells the coming of a new covenant and a coming prophet, priest, and king. For many reasons, a solid understanding of the Old Testament is crucial for understanding the New Testament. If you have found the Old Testament confusing, irrelevant, or boring, or if you desire to take your understanding of the Old Testament to a new level, we recommend you start with the first lesson in our Genesis series, Introduction to the O.T., Pt. 1 – Why Study the Old Testament?
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was to be commemorated each year, involving specific tasks by the High Priest and fasting by the people. Here we learn about washings, the mercy seat, scapegoats, sin and burnt offerings. Understanding these details will help us appreciate what Jesus, our High Priest, did on the cross to atone
Blood is prominent in the book of Leviticus, and throughout Scripture. Why did the Lord always prohibit His people from drinking blood? Why was blood such an important part of the sacrificial system? And why did Jesus tell His followers that they must ‘drink His blood’ in order to have life? In this lesson we
In this second lesson from the Wisdom of Sirach, we take a deep dive into the topic of money. Specifically, Sirach has much to say about the danger of putting our trust in wealth, rather than in God -- and how foolish this is. We look at both good and bad examples of reliance of
One of the most valuable benefits of diligent Old Testament study is how this brings New Testament teaching to life. Such is the case with the book of Hebrews, illuminated by the Old Testament books of Exodus and Leviticus. We now take a short break from our study through Leviticus to reap our reward! Once
Do you ever feel like you need more wisdom? When life deals us daunting and overwhelming challenges, we often feel unequipped for what lies before us. Sirach has much to say about obtaining God's wisdom. While this wisdom is available to all, will we take the difficult path to obtain it, as did the great
[WARNING: THIS LESSON IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN] This chapter addresses three very disturbing topics: incest, bestiality and homosexual intimate relations. The Law of Moses strictly prohibited God’s people from engaging in these practices. However, do all those prohibitions still apply today, under the new covenant? In this lesson we boldly explore what the
Psalm 110 is quoted or alluded to at least twenty times in the New Testament. Why was this Psalm so important to Jesus and the New Testament writers? We attempt to unlock three riddles in this Psalm that confounded the Jews, yet help us understand the Christ's identity, His coming rule, and our ultimate victory
Deep in the text of Leviticus we now encounter the very heart of the Old Testament, the famous call to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus said that this was one of the two Old Testament commandments upon which hang “all the Law and the Prophets. In this lesson we explore how this simple command
The Second Greatest Commandment (Leviticus 19:1-19) View Lesson
The Second Greatest Commandment (Leviticus 19:1-19) View Lesson
The Bible tells us to honor the elderly and seek out their wisdom. In contrast, the world seeks to avoid even looking old! -- and casts the elderly aside as useless. In this lesson, we examine how the Ancient of Days feels about the elderly, as well as the role He expects them to play
Rise Before the Gray-Haired Man (Leviticus 19:20-37) View Lesson
Rise Before the Gray-Haired Man (Leviticus 19:20-37) View Lesson
Many people, even Christians, are profoundly uneasy with the concept of God punishing people in the Old Testament. In this lesson we consider how the Lord treated sin in the past, and how He does today. Are all sins the same in His eyes, or are some worse? What does it mean in 1 John 5 about