Summary
We find Bonar’s Leviticus an unusually warm and spiritually alert guide to a book many of us struggle to preach. He helps us see structure, purpose, and repeated themes, while keeping our focus on the Lord’s holiness and His gracious provision for sinners.
This is not a volume that turns Leviticus into a set of mere rituals. It helps us handle sacrifice, priesthood, and purity in a way that supports gospel preaching, and it repeatedly draws our attention to the spiritual meaning the text itself presses upon God’s people.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this commentary because it helps us preach Leviticus with confidence and reverence. It keeps us close to the text, but it also helps us speak to the heart, which is often where sermons on Leviticus either become dry or become fanciful.
We also benefit from Bonar’s Christ centred instincts. He treats the sacrificial system as God given preparation for the gospel, and he helps us make connections that arise from the book’s own logic and purpose.
For pastors, it is a steady companion when we want a devotional and doctrinal depth that still serves careful exposition.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend this as a strong mid level resource for preaching and teaching Leviticus, especially when we want help combining careful explanation with warm application. Pair it with a modern technical work for detailed questions, but keep Bonar close for spiritual tone and gospel clarity.
As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.
Andrew Bonar
Andrew Bonar was a Scottish minister of the nineteenth century, shaped by evangelical piety and a warm, Reformed instinct.
He is remembered as a pastor and preacher who helped ordinary believers read Scripture with seriousness, tenderness, and a strong sense of Christ’s saving work. Bonar’s writing is often most compelling where the text presses holiness and worship, because he keeps the conscience engaged while pointing to grace rather than moral effort.
He remains valued for devotional warmth joined to theological sobriety, with application that feels like shepherding rather than scolding. Recommended titles include Leviticus in the Geneva Series, his Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, and his devotional writings on the Psalms.
Theological Perspective: Reformed