Torah Portion Summary
The title “Leviticus” is derived from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) version of the Torah. The book of Leviticus is predominantly concerned with Levitical rituals. An older Hebrew name for the book was “The Laws of the Priesthood,” but in Judaism today, it is referred to by the name Vayikra, which means “And He called.” Vayikra is the first Hebrew word of the book, which begins by saying, “And the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from inside the tent of meeting” (Leviticus 1:1).
Leviticus describes the sacrificial service and the duties of the priests. It also introduces ritual purity, the biblical diet, the calendar of appointed times, laws of holiness, and laws relating to redemption, vows and tithes. In addition, Leviticus discourses on ethical instruction and holiness. The twenty-fourth reading from the Torah is eponymous with the Hebrew name of the book it introduces: Vayikra. This portion introduces the sacrificial service and describes five different types of sacrifices.
Haftarh Portion Summary
The Haftarah for Vayikra primarily concerns the problem of idolatry. Israel, God's chosen nation, had turned from the sacrificial worship ordained by the LORD to mere idols made of wood and of stone. Nonetheless, God is faithful to Israel and will forgive and restore them to Himself.
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
The readings from the Brit Chadashah concern the superiority of the sacrifice of the Mashiach as the "once for all" sacrifice for sin. Instead of daily sacrifices and offerings, the Mashiach came to fulfill the will of God by becoming obedient to all that the Law required and by offering Himself up as the ultimate Sacrificial Victim, truly without spot or blemish.
"When he said, 'You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings' (these are offered according to the Torah), then he added, 'Behold, I have come to do your will.' He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:8). "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14).
Moreover, just as the blood of the sin offering was brought into the Holy Place by the anointed High Priest, so Yeshua presented His own blood in the Holy Place made without hands, and then "suffered outside the camp":
"We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:10-15)
One of the roles of our beloved Mashiach Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is that of Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) who offered true kapparah [atonement] for our sins by offering His own blood in the Holy of Holies made without hands. As it is written in the letter of Hebrews:
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. (Hebrews 3:1-2)