Come, Follow Me · Week 18 · April 27–May 3

Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19

This Week's Reading

This week's reading in Exodus and Leviticus details the construction of the Tabernacle, the laws of sacrifice for atonement, and profound instructions on holiness and love. These texts teach that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of these types; He is the true High Priest who entered the Holy Place once for all to make perfect redemption Hebrews 9:12. The offerings described point to His voluntary sacrifice, while the commandments regarding purity and neighborly love reflect His character. Through these ancient rituals, we see a pattern that finds its complete meaning in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Key Passages

Exodus 35:20–29 The people brought every offering with a willing heart, demonstrating that true service to God comes from a spirit ready to give freely for His work and holy garments.
Leviticus 1:9–11 The priest burns the entire animal on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, symbolizing total consecration and an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
Leviticus 4:26–35 When common people sin through ignorance, they bring a female goat or lamb to make atonement, showing that forgiveness is available to all who repent and follow God's commandments.
Leviticus 16:2–11 Aaron enters the holy place only once a year with specific offerings, illustrating the solemnity of approaching God and pointing forward to Christ as our eternal High Priest.
Leviticus 19:18–20 The Lord commands us not to bear grudges but to love our neighbor as ourselves, establishing a standard of purity and compassion that defines His people.

Questions to Ponder

How does the concept of offering with a "willing heart" change your perspective on personal service or tithing this week?
In what ways do you see Jesus Christ fulfilling the role of the High Priest who makes atonement for our sins?
How can you practically apply the command to love your neighbor as yourself in your daily interactions today?
What does it mean to keep God's statutes regarding purity, and how does that reflect His holiness in your life?

A Thought to Take Home

These ancient laws were not merely rules but shadows of the greater reality found in Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed every commandment for us. By studying these scriptures, we are reminded that our salvation depends entirely on His grace and that our response should be a heart willing to serve Him with joy. As you reflect on these passages, may you feel a deep desire to draw closer to the Savior and live out His teachings of love and purity in your own life.

Further study

Exodus 35:20–29 Leviticus 1:9–11 Leviticus 4:26–35 Leviticus 16:2–11 Leviticus 19:18–20

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This guide was prepared with AI from the scriptures and checked against the text; it can still make mistakes. For the Church's own guidance, read the official Come, Follow Me manual for this week. Nephite Atlas is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Key passages

Exodus 35:20–29

²⁰And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. ²¹And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. ²²And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. ²³And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. ²⁴Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. ²⁵And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. ²⁶And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. ²⁷And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; ²⁸And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. ²⁹The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Leviticus 1:9–11

⁹But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. ¹⁰And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. ¹¹And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

Leviticus 4:26–35

²⁶And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. ²⁷And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; ²⁸Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. ²⁹And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. ³⁰And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. ³¹And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. ³²And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. ³³And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. ³⁴And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: ³⁵And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 16:2–11

²And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. ³Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. ⁴He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. ⁵And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. ⁶And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. ⁷And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. ⁸And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. ⁹And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. ¹⁰But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. ¹¹And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:

Leviticus 19:18–20

¹⁸Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. ¹⁹Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. ²⁰And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.