Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7404 ordinances

Specific acts of worship commanded by God, sometimes including the sacraments.

The ordinance of Passover and Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:14 See also Exodus 12:17,24,43; Exodus 13:10; Numbers 9:12

The ordinance of the Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16:34 See also Leviticus 16:29,31; Leviticus 23:31

The ordinance of the red-heifer ritual

Numbers 19:2,10,21

Other occasions of worship as ordinances

Leviticus 23:41; Leviticus 24:3; Numbers 31:21; 2 Chronicles 2:4; Psalm 81:4; Ezekiel 46:14

Ordinances associated with the priesthood

The Aaronic priests

Exodus 29:9 See also Exodus 28:43; Exodus 30:21; Leviticus 7:36; Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 10:8

The Levites

Numbers 18:23; 2 Chronicles 8:14

Ordinances in Christian worship

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 pp Matthew 26:26-28 pp Mark 14:22-24 pp Luke 22:17-20 See also Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus Christ's commands to observe baptism and the Lord's Supper makes them ordinances of Christian worship; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:15; Acts 18:8; Acts 22:16

Ordinances were to be permanent

Leviticus 3:17 See also Exodus 27:21; Leviticus 23:14,21

Ordinances were to be obeyed

2 Kings 17:37 See also 1 Samuel 30:25; 2 Kings 17:34; 2 Chronicles 19:10; 2 C 8; Ezekiel 44:24

Ordinances were for Israelites and Gentiles alike

Numbers 15:15 See also Numbers 9:14

God's ordinances are of supreme value

Psalm 19:9

See also

7308  Atonement, Day of
7328  ceremonies
7354  feasts and festivals
7390  Levites
7406  Passover
7766  priests
7903  baptism
7933  Lord's Supper
7957  sacraments
8403  commands