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Torah readings

Torah reading Vayikra (ויקרא): Leviticus 1:1-6:7

What on Earth is the point of all the detailed instructions in the third book of the Bible, Leviticus? What’s with all the butchering of animals and proportioning grains, oils and incense to burn, roast, wave, sprinkle, etc. around the tent home of the God of Israel? Many fall asleep as their through-the-Bible reading plans reach Leviticus, are turned off by the seemingly senseless gore or breathe a sigh of relief that “all that changed at the Cross.”

But the exclusionary design of the Tabernacle design and its rituals and the repugnance of so much spilled animal blood is key to seeing the big picture. For those who long to be in the Presence of the loving Creator and learn His lessons — what works long-term — this 50,000-foot view of the LORD at work reveals what’s “under the hood,” what’s the not-so-secret ingredients to the “recipe” of moving from an Earth off course to a new Earth where peace reigns.

The Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“and He called”), covering Lev. 1:1–6:7, starts the journey toward understanding the heart and thoughts of the Father and His Christ, Yeshua.

Readings

  • Leviticus 1:1–6:7
  • Isaiah 43:21–44:23
  • Hebrews 10:1–18

Shabbat Zachor (Sabbath of Remembrance)

Reflecting on the spirit of Amalek’s enduring attacks against the people of Adonai.

  • Deuteronomy 25:17–19
  • 1Samuel 15:2–34
  • 1Peter 4:12–5:11

What are the offerings in the Torah?

Here’s a primer on the offerings found in the Bible.

Studies

Oil palette knife–style digital painting created by ChatGPT. At the center stands a small golden altar of incense, richly textured in gold tones, with thick, glowing smoke rising upward. The incense transforms into radiant streams of light that form small, compassionate scenes: one figure feeding a poor person and another comforting an elderly man, symbolizing acts of mercy. The upper portion of the image opens into a brilliant, holy light, rendered in luminous golds and whites. Below, in deep shadow, lie broken and dim symbols representing sin. The composition uses dramatic chiaroscuro with deep purples and golds throughout. Overlaid text reads: “Do my actions really matter to God? What the Bible says about sin, sacrifice and change (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 7; John 9).” A Hallel.info watermark is visible on the image.

Do my actions really matter to God? What the Bible says about sin, sacrifice and change (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 7; John 9)

Many believers quietly wonder, “If Jesus paid for my sins, do my daily choices still matter?” This study walks through Leviticus 4, Ezekiel 18, the Gospels, and apostle John’s first letter to show how God weighs our actions, why some prayers go unheard, and why the end of our stories matters more than the past. Discover the biblical difference between intentional and unintentional sin, why “lawlessness” is so serious, and how real repentance changes both your life and your relationship with God.
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This digital painting in an oil palette knife style, created with ChatGPT, shows an ancient Israelite man standing at the entrance of the Mishkan (tabernacle), placing his hand on the head of a sheep for a shelamim (peace) offering. The man’s internal organs—his heart, kidneys and liver—glow visibly through his torso, symbolizing his inner life and conscience. Warm golden light from the altar and the Shekhinah fills the background, with the tabernacle structure and rising smoke visible behind him. Overlaid text reads, “Can I really change inside? What the Bible says about a new heart & clean conscience (Leviticus 3; James 1).”

Can I really change inside? What the Bible says about a new heart and clean conscience (Leviticus 3; James 1)

The peace offering in Leviticus 3 is a powerful picture of how God restores relationship with humanity. So why does Scripture talk about kidneys, heart, liver, fat and “inward parts”? In this study, we explore how the Bible uses these to describe our conscience, desires, and inner struggles — and how the offerings, from peace to sin to Yom Kippur, point to Yeshua (Jesus), Who brings true peace with God.
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Tree of Knowledge & Haman's gallows: Esther show us how to overcome our desire to replace God. Artwork shows a fruit tree on the left side of the image.

Tree of Knowledge and Haman’s gallows: Esther shows us how to overcome our desire to replace God

Bible prophecy often talks about widespread persecution against the people of God in the “latter days.” But that seems so far removed from today’s society, where we have global human rights watchdog groups, U.S. First Amendment protections for religious freedom, the International Court of Justice and the United Nations. This study of the Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“and He called,” Levicus 1:1–6:7) plus readings for the Sabbath of Remembrance (Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1Samuel 15:2–34; 1Peter 4:12–5:11) and the Book of Esther reminds us why we keep seeing outbreaks of perplexing violence throughout history, in spite of attempts to legislate away evil.
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'He who has an ear to hear': Listen as Messiah speaks through Israel's Tabernacle offerings (Leviticus 1-7; Hebrews 10; Psalm 40). A lamb stands in a grassy field.

‘He who has an ear to hear’: Listen as Messiah speaks through Israel’s Tabernacle offerings (Leviticus 1–7; Hebrews 10; Psalm 40)

The Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“and He called,” Lev. 1:1–6:7) picks up immediately after God moved into the newly constructed Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–38), ancient Israel’s tent shrine for the LORD. But the question then was, “Now what happens after God enters the Tabernacle and everyone must get out, for their own safety?” To answer this and to help understand the seemingly strange and rather grotesque imagery of the sacrifices in the Leviticus, approach the book as one would a parable, like one tackles the parables of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).
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Let's make God in our own image? How idol hands are the devil's workshop (Isaiah 43:21-44:23)

Let’s make God in our own image? How idol hands are the devil’s workshop (Isaiah 43:21–44:23)

There’s a domain that is ours and a domain that is not ours. And we need to respect those boundaries to live in harmony. When our relationship with God is damaged, we have to listen and obey when God tells us where we went wrong and how to repent and make it right. That is, if our goal is fellowship with Him. In this exploration of the parallel passage to the Torah reading ויקרא Vayikra (“and He called,” Lev. 1:1–6:7), we discover how the whole goal of the Dwelling Place’s being with mankind, whether it was in the Garden of Eden, the…
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How our lives can become a ‘soothing aroma to the LORD’ (Leviticus 1–5)

How our lives can become a ‘soothing aroma to the LORD’ (Leviticus 1–5)

The Creator of the heavens and the Earth wants to live among humankind, but there humankind is too attached with the muck-and-mire ways of this world. Heaven’s solution is acted out in the imagery and ceremony of Israel’s Tabernacle and in the work of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus). Discover in the Torah reading ויקרא Vayikra (“and He called,” Leviticus 1:1-6:7) how our heart’s cry determines whether we are a “soothing aroma” as Heaven transforms us.
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‘We have such a high priest’: Sacrifice of praise and a bridled tongue (Leviticus 1–5)

Why does the New Testament have such a large discussion about the Israel’s high priest and the offerings of the Tabernacle (Hebrews 4–14) in connection with Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ)? In the Torah reading ויקרא Vayikra/Vayiqra (“and He called”), covering Lev. 1:1–6:7, we have the “what” and “why” the various qorbanot (“offerings” aka “sacrifices”) in the Tabernacle services that were revealed to all the children of Israel. In the next Torah reading, God reveals to the Levites and priests how the sacrifices are to be processed and presented to HaShem (the Name). Heaven has communicated this through the Torah, Prophets and…
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Leviticus 1:1–6:7: Lessons on faith, grace and worship from Tabernacle offerings

Many think that the Tabernacle and Temple services were about works that pay for entrance into the Father’s presence and that the regimens of faith — prayer and repentance — made the Tabernacle obsolete. But what the Bible actually teaches about the Tabernacle is quite different from this common view. God’s presence can’t abide with impurity, and the book of Vayiqra (Leviticus) shows us God’s prescription to make us pure and ready to live in His presence. The animal and grain קרבנות qorbanot (offerings/sacrifices) described in the Torah reading ויקרא Vayikra/Vayiqra (“and He called,” Leviticus 1:1-6:7) were symbolic of the supplicant’s…
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"The National Sin Offering," 1890 Holman Bible

Entering God’s Presence via the sacrifice of a contrite heart (Leviticus 1:1–6:7)

None of the sacrifices or offerings of the Tabernacle or Temple of ancient Israel (recorded in Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayiqra/Vayikra, Lev. 1:1–6:7) apply to us today, yet all of them apply to us today. That paradox comes to us because forgiveness for diverging from the Creator’s plan has always come to mankind the same way: the old way of life must die. Offerings of blood and food never accomplished that — and never were meant to. So then, what’s the deal with all the detailed instructions in the Bible about killing animals, pouring and sprinkling blood, burning carcasses and bringing in…
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Getting back into the LORD’s presence (Leviticus 1:1–6:7)

Ever been homesick? Or finally woken up to the reality, “There’s no place like home!” The Torah reading ויקרא Vayiqra/Vayikra (“and he called,” Leviticus 1:1–6:7) flows from the end of the second book of the Pentateuch (Exodus 40:35), which ends with the exclusion of Moshe and everyone else from God’s Presence in the newly dedicated Tabernacle. The third book of the Pentateuch gives us God’s instructions for how we return to His Presence. The entire book of Leviticus, called Vayiqra in Hebrew, teaches that true worship is not about entering a building but entering God’s Presence every day of our lives.
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A digital collage-style illustration visually representing the burnt, grain, and peace offerings described in Leviticus 1–3. The left panel depicts a burning altar with stacked wood and flames, symbolizing the burnt offering. The center panel features a stylized stack of flat, circular breads and loaves, representing the grain offering, with an ornate archway in the background. The right panel shows a joyful group of people gathered around a table with food, symbolizing the peace offering as a shared meal. The title "Meanings of the Burnt, Grain, and Peace Offerings (Leviticus 1–3)" is prominently displayed in bold, red text at the top. The bottom left corner features the website "hallel.info."

Meanings of the burnt, grain and peace offerings (Leviticus 1–3)

The entire book of Leviticus is about the function of Israel’s high priest. Yeshua (Jesus) is our High Priest, and as we study Leviticus, we learn more about what Yeshua is doing for us in God’s presence. Leviticus 1-3 starts with instructions about how to give free will offerings to God. These are not offerings of punishment but offerings of gratitude and love of God. We also learn how the High Priest prepares and gives these offerings to God. We can see the New Testament fulfillment in Yeshua as we read through Hebrews 5.
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