The name of this book means “pertaining to the Levites.” Exodus and Leviticus were guidebooks for the priests in their ministry. Israel today has neither priesthood nor temple, so the nation cannot obey these laws (Hos. 3:4), but Leviticus has great value to the Christian. It illustrates the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and stresses the importance of a life of separation and obedience.
书名之意即是“关乎利未人的”。出埃及记和利未记皆是祭司在事工上的指南。今日的以色列既无祭司也无圣殿，所以无法遵守这些律法（何3:4），但利未记仍对基督徒而言有很大的价值。它勾画的是耶稣基督在十字架上的工作，也强调了分别为圣与顺服生活的重要性。
The book emphasizes sacrifice (chaps. 1-10), for man must deal with his sins if he expects to have fellowship with a holy God. These five sacrifices are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and portray His perfect life and atoning work on the cross (Heb. 10:1–14).
本书着重于献祭（1-10章），因为人必须正视自己的罪，才可与圣洁的神相通。这五种祭都在耶稣基督里成就了，从而彰显了祂完全的生命以及十字架上救赎之工（来10:1-14）。
Leviticus also emphasizes separation (chaps. 11–24), for a redeemed people should walk in God’s holy will. These various laws touch on many aspects of everyday life and illustrate the principles of holy living that God’s children should follow today.
利未记也强调了分别为圣的生活（11-24章），因蒙救赎之人当行在神的旨意里。这些法律涉及到了日常生活的各层面，也表明了神儿女今日当遵从的原则，以过圣洁的生活。
Finally, since God anticipated the nation’s entrance into the Promised Land, He gave them some rules for success (chaps. 25–27). The land was theirs because of God’s covenant, but they could enjoy it only if they obeyed God’s will. Obedience by faith always brings blessing.
最后，神既然预知以色列必踏入应许之地，所以祂赐给百姓一些成功之道（25-27章）。因着神所立的约，这地必属以色列，但他们若想享受这等福分，他们必须遵行神的旨意。信靠顺服之人必蒙福。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- The Burnt Offering is so called because it required that the animal be completely consumed by the fire. (1:9). The laying of hands, a symbolic gesture, pictures the transfer of sin to the sacrificial animal and was likely done with a prayer of repentance and request for forgiveness (cf. Ps 51:18, 19). And the purpose is to make atonement on his behalf. (Lev 1:4). This was a substitutionary sacrifice that prefigured the ultimate substitute – Jesus Christ (cf. Is 53; see note on 2Co 5:21). Let’s thank God for the solution to our sins.
所谓燔祭是因为祭司必须把供物全烧在坛上（1:9）。在供物上按手是一个象征性的表现，意味罪已转移至供物上，且伴同忏悔的祷告寻求宽恕（诗51:18,19）。其目的是要代人赎罪（利1:4）。燔祭预示了日后最终的赎罪祭—耶稣基督（参见赛53；见附注林后5:21）。让我们感谢神为我们的罪所赐下了解决方案。
- The killing and butchering of the sacrificial animals after laying of hands gives a vivid and dramatic visual of the consequences of sin (cf. v. 6). Do you see the horrific nature of sins? Therefore, Paul teaches us to put to death the deeds of the body. (Rom 8:13) Let’s pray that the Lord shows us how horrific our sins are and that we will butcher the sins in our lives.
按手之后，祭司必须宰杀供物，将皮剥去，切成块子（参见第6节）；这画面贴切地反映了罪的后果。你看见罪恶的可恶性吗？所以，保罗教导我们要治死身体的恶行（罗8:13）。让我们祈祷，求神让我们得见罪的可恶，愿意斩断自己生命中的罪。
- The priest had to collect the blood in a basin and then offer it to God as a sacrifice to indicate that a life had been taken. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. (Lev 1:5) Let’s thank God for we were once far off but have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:13)
祭司把血收进盆里，然后将它献上给神，以示一条生命已被牺牲。之后，祭司也把血洒在会幕门口及坛的周围（利1:5）。让我们感谢神，因从前我们是远离神的人，如今却借着基督的宝血得以亲近了（弗2:13）。
