Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7422 ritual

The regulations governing Jewish religious life and worship, especially sacrifices, ritual cleanliness and food laws. By the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ these rituals have been fulfilled and play no part in the new covenant.

The purpose of ritual sacrifices

To atone for sin

Leviticus 5:12-13 See also Exodus 29:38-43; Leviticus 1:3-13; Leviticus 4:1-3,13-14,20-23,26-28,31-35; Leviticus 5:13; Leviticus 6:1-7; Leviticus 7:1-7; Leviticus 16:1-34

To maintain fellowship between God and his people

Leviticus 3:1-5; Leviticus 7:11-15 The offering was part burnt and part eaten in a fellowship meal and expressed covenant relationship with God.

To express worship and gratitude to God

The grain offering was the only bloodless offering but it accompanied the other offerings and was burnt whole to express gratitude to God for the harvest and for particular blessings:

Leviticus 2:1-3,8-16; Leviticus 6:14-23; Leviticus 7:9-10; Leviticus 9:4; Numbers 6:14-17; Numbers 28:3-13

Rituals for purification from ritual uncleanness

Childbirth

Luke 2:22-24 See also Leviticus 12:1-8

Unclean diseases

Mark 1:40-44 pp Matthew 8:2-4 pp Luke 5:12-14 See also Leviticus 14:2-7

Unclean discharges

Leviticus 15:32-33

Touching dead bodies

Numbers 19:11-13

Rituals relating to food

Clean and unclean foods

Leviticus 11:1-2 See also Leviticus 11:44-47

The eating of blood is forbidden

Genesis 9:4-5; Leviticus 17:11-12; Acts 15:20

Rituals relating to the priesthood

Leviticus 8:30 See also Exodus 29:1-9

Rituals relating to the place of worship

2 Chronicles 29:4-5 See also Leviticus 16:15-20; 1 Kings 8:62-63 pp 2 Chronicles 7:4-5; Ezra 6:16-17

Rituals relating to special days

Festivals

Leviticus 23:37

The Sabbath

Exodus 31:12-17; Matthew 12:2 pp Mark 2:24 pp Luke 6:2

The initiation ritual of circumcision

Genesis 17:10-14

Ritual only has meaning when accompanied by obedience

Romans 2:25 See also Isaiah 1:11-17; Matthew 15:16-20 pp Mark 7:18-23; Matthew 23:25; Romans 2:28-29; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Corinthians 8:8

Rituals of the old covenant are fulfilled by Jesus Christ

Colossians 2:17 See also Mark 2:27-28; Colossians 2:11; Hebrews 10:1-3,8-10

Old covenant rituals are abolished under the new covenant

Hebrews 9:10 See also Mark 7:19; Acts 10:9-15; Romans 7:6; Romans 14:14,20; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:13-16

See also

2333  Christ, attitude to OT
7314  blood
7328  ceremonies
7334  circumcision
7340  clean and unclean
7402  offerings
7412  priesthood
7416  purification
7424  ritual law
7426  ritual washing
7435  sacrifice, in OT
8324  purity