Kodi Maybir blamed seven-year-old Levai's death in May 2013 on a pogo stick accident at the family's home in Oatley, southern Sydney.
Sentenced at the supreme court in New South Wales today, Maybir was told he will serve at least 31-and-a-half years behind bars.
Justice Robert Allan Hulme said Levai's fatal injuries - a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain caused by a blunt trauma - remain a mystery to everyone except Mr Maybir.
Finding dozens and dozens of injuries, including fractures and scars, a post-mortem found the boy had suffered months of mistreatment and cruelty prior to his death.
Picture: Oatley, southern Sydney
Justice Hulme ruled Maybir was prompted by his extreme views on discipline and religion to administer cruel psychological and physical punishments.
In addition to murder, Kodi Maybir - who is also known as Kopri - was also sentenced for ten related child abuse offences.
Quoted in The Guardian, Levai's maternal grandfather Michael James said: "I think it's the punishment he deserved.
"I don't know how anyone can do that to a child. I can't forgive him."