Leviticus is tough going. Our one-chapter-a-day reading program from the Pentateuch has produced many days when we’ve had to supplement our reading with a Psalm or a story from the gospels. (I’m going through Mark since the other three gospels are already included in our reading plan.) But there are lessons. Here’s one from Leviticus 17 that spurred me into some New Testament cross-referencing.

Leviticus 17 is a tough chapter on blood sacrifice and not eating blood. It starts as if every animal slaughtered must be brought to the Tabernacle. But later, it sounds as if the prohibition is against a “sacrifice” to anyone but God.

They must no longer offer their sacrifices to goat-demons – a kind of religious orgy. (Leviticus 17.7, MSG)

Paul picks up on this theme when talking about eating food offered to idols:

Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1 Corinthians 10.18 – 20, ESV)

Paul is clearly referring to the same idea that’s in Leviticus 17 but seems to be quoting Deuteronomy:

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. (Deuteronomy 32.17, ESV)

All this led me to the very strong finish to the Apostle John’s first letter (not the Gospel of John but 1 John). Here it is, bulleted and simplified for clarity:

We know that…

• Everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
• We know that we are from God, and
• The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
• The Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that…
  • we may know him who is true; and
  • we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.
  • He is the true God and eternal life.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5.18 – 21, ESV)

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Easier said than done, especially when “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Stay tuned.