Introduction to Leviticus
Introduction: The five major offerings must first be introduced:
Identity of the Five Offerings:
The Levitical sacrificial system had five separate and distinct offerings that could be made to the Lord. These are the five major offerings that are introduced in the first five chapters of Leviticus. They are:
- The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1)
- The Meat Offering (Leviticus 2)
- The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)
- The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)
- The Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5)
Other offerings are mentioned in the Mosaic Law. These other offerings include those made for a vow (called votive), thank offerings, drink offerings, heave offerings, and wave offerings. However, these offerings are usually, if not always, a subset of the five major offerings. For instance, the thank offering is a type of peace offering. These offerings will not be considered in detail in this introduction.
Purpose of the Five Offerings:
The offerings of the law almost require a threefold approach.
- First, they provide a way for the Israelites to make and keep a right relationship with God.
- Second, they are a type of Jesus Christ and a description of His sacrifice for us.
- Third, they are a pattern for our own approach to God. The difference between the Old Testament Israelites and the New Testament saints is the Israelites were to
Survey of the Five Major Offerings:
Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1)
- Only offering to be totally consumed on the altar with nothing eaten by men
- First offering mentioned by name in the Bible (Genesis 8:20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
See All...) - Most common of the offerings mentioned in scripture (197 times)
- Voluntary offering and a sweet savor to the Lord
- Indicates entire surrender
Meat Offering (Leviticus 2)
- Only offering made without the shedding of blood and without an animal sacrifice
- Offering of fine flour; no animal flesh
- Voluntary offering and a sweet savor to the Lord
- Indicates a living sacrifice
Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)
- Only offering in which the offerer could eat of the meat of the sacrifice
- Voluntary offering and a sweet savor to the Lord
- Indicates fellowship or communion
Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)
- Required offering; not a sweet savor
- Dealt with the sinner and the problem of sin
- Indicates payment for the sin nature
Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5)
- Required offering; not a sweet savor
- Dealt with particular sins
- Indicates forgiveness of committed sins
The Five Animals Used in the Offerings: (first mentioned together in Genesis 15:9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
See All...)
- Oxen – service and strength (Proverbs 14:4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
See All...) - Sheep – meekness and purity (Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
See All...) - Goats – sin and judgment (Christ became sin for us)
- Pigeon – poverty (Leviticus 12:8And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
See All...) - Turtledoves – innocence (Psalm 74:19O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
See All...)
The Order of the Five Offerings in Leviticus 1-5
They mark a progression of closeness to God with the first offering mentioned being the closest to God and the last one being the first step in approaching God. This seemingly backwards approach is not unusual in the Bible. God usually begins from His perspective, not ours. He describes the furniture of the most holy place first and then proceeds to the holy place and the courtyard. He creates heaven and then earth (Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
See All...). He lists the three-part nature of man as spirit first, then soul, then body (1 Thesalonians 5:23
See All...).
First, consider the order of the offerings as they point to the sacrifice of Christ.
Burnt Offering | Christ surrendered Himself entirely to God being fully consumed in His commitment (Philippians 2:6-8 [6] Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
[7] Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
[8] Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
See All...) |
Meat Offering | Christ gave Himself as a living sacrifice continually doing the will of the Father (John 4:34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
See All...) |
Peace Offering | Christ made peace with God on the behalf of man (Ephesians 2:13-14 [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
See All...) |
Sin Offering | Christ atoned for our fallen sin nature on the cross and satisfied the wrath of God (Isaiah 53:10-11 [10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
See All...; Hebrews 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. See All...) |
Trespass Offering | Christ paid for our individual sins in His death on the cross (Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
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However, when we come to God, we must do so in reverse order. Notice the following table with the offerings given in reverse order and their symbology explained.
Trespass Offering | We realize the guilt of our sins and our need for forgiveness of these sins in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
See All...) |
Sin Offering | We need a power that can even conquer our sin nature or else we will lose our salvation as soon as we gain it (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
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Peace Offering | We find that through the cross of Christ He opened the way for true fellowship with God (1 John 1:3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
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Meat Offering | Through His obedient life, Christ shows us the way to be a living sacrifice for God (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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Burnt Offering | We find the greatest blessing in being fully consumed in our commitment to God (Philippians 2:17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
See All...) |
The Burnt Offering:
The burnt offering is the first offering specified by name in the Bible. Noah offered burnt offerings when he left the ark (Genesis 8:20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
See All...). Abel’s offering was certainly a burnt offering as well although it is not called such (Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
See All...). The burnt offering is also the most common of the offerings mentioned in scripture and probably the most commonly offered. The table shows the five offerings in rank as to which of them are mentioned most in scripture.
Burnt Offering | 197 |
Meat Offering | 123 |
Sin Offering | 119 |
Peace Offering | 43 |
Trespass Offering | 36 |
- THE BRINGING OF THE BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1:1-3 [1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
[3] If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - According to the Word of the Lord (Leviticus 1:1And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
See All...) - As a continuation of the earlier books of the law
- Leviticus 1:1And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
See All... – “And the Lord” - The conjunction, “And,” indicates a continuation
- Leviticus is a continuation of the law of Moses
- The Lord called unto Moses
- The Lord spoke to Moses many times
- The seven-word verse, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” is found 72 times in the Bible; all in Exodus, Leviticus, or Numbers.
- Many other times a slightly different wording is used
- However, the times that the Lord called unto Moses are limited
- The Lord called unto Moses out of the burning bush (Exodus 3:4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
See All...) – this was the call of Moses to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt - The Lord called unto Moses out of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
See All..., 20) – this is on the occasion of the giving of the Ten Commandments - The Lord called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud (Exodus 24:16And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
See All...) – this is when Moses entered the top of Mount Sinai in order to receive the remainder of the law - The Lord called unto Moses out of the tabernacle of the congregation (Leviticus 1:1And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
See All...) – this is when the Lord gives the sacrificial system of atonement to Moses - God spoke to Moses out of the tabernacle of the congregation
- This could not be done until the tabernacle was completed and set up according to the command of the Lord (Exodus 40:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
See All..., 16-17, 33-35) - It was through the tabernacle that the Lord dwelled among the children of Israel (Exodus 25:8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
See All...; Exodus 29:44-45 [44] And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. [45] And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
See All...; Leviticus 26:11And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
See All...; Ezekiel 37:27-28 [27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
See All...; Revelation 21:3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
See All...) - The Lord spoke to Moses from between the two cherubim that stood over the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:20-22 [20] And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
[21] And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
[22] And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
See All...; Numbers 7:89And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.
See All...) - Unto the Lord (Leviticus 1:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
See All...) - They had to bring the offering to the place where God had chosen to put His name (Deuteronomy 12:5-6 [5] But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
[6] And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
See All...) - To bring their offering to the priests was to bring it to the Lord
- The burnt offering was especially offered unto the Lord because all of it was burned to Him (Leviticus 22:18Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;
See All...) - Of the Herd and of the Flock (Leviticus 1:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
See All...) - We are to bring of what we have (2 Corinthians 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
See All...) - The word cattle is often used in scripture in a generic sense. When used this way, as here, it refers to cows, goats, and sheep (Genesis 1:24-25 [24] And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
[25] And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
See All...) - Of the herd and of the flock
- Herd of cows
- Flock of sheep or goats
- Application: Christ came as a man; as one of us (Romans 8:3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
See All...; Hebrews 2:14-18 [14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. [16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
See All...) - A Male (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - Some offerings could be made with either male or female animals (Leviticus 3:1And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
See All...) - However, the burnt offering, which so clearly pictured the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, had to be a male; so also the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
See All...) - Without Blemish (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - A blemish is a mark that mars the appearance; any flaw, defect, or shortcoming
- A blemish on the offering would make the offering unacceptable (Leviticus 22:19-21 [19] Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
[20] But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
[21] And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
See All...; Deuteronomy 15:21And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
See All...; Deuteronomy 17:1Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
See All...) - Jesus Christ came as a Lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
See All...); this refers to His lack of sin or fault - He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See All...) - He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
See All...) - He did not sin (1 Peter 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
See All...) - No sin was in Him (1 John 3:5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
See All...) - But He bore the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
See All...) - And He was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See All...) - Offered of His Own Voluntary Will (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - This offering was made freely; not by compulsion (Exodus 35:5Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
See All...) - God wants us to offer ourselves voluntarily to Him (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 8:12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
See All...) - Christ offered Himself voluntarily as a sacrifice (Psalm 40:8I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
See All...; John 10:17-18 [17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
See All...; Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
See All...) - At the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - The door of the congregation was the closest to the presence of God that the common Israelite could come
- The entrance of the door was covered with a hanging (Exodus 36:37And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
See All...) - Blue
- Purple
- Scarlet
- Fine-twined linen [white]
- The typology of the door
- It was a place of consecration (Exodus 29:4And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
See All..., 9) - It was a place of hearing God’s words (Exodus 29:42This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
See All...) - It was a place to seek God (Exodus 33:7-8 [7] And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
[8] And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
See All...) - It was a place of worship (Exodus 33:9-10 [9] And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
[10] And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
See All...) - It was a place of cleansing (Exodus 40:12And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
See All...) - It was a place of offering (Exodus 40:29And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
See All...) - It was a place of sacrifice (Leviticus 3:2And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
See All...) - It was a place of assembly (Leviticus 8:3And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
See All...) - THE BRINGING OF THE BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1:4-9 [4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
[5] And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
[7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
[8] And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[9] But 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.
See All...) - The Offering was Presented (Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
See All...) - The process of presentation
- Identification
- The offerer identified with the offering
- By putting his hand on the head of the offering (see also Leviticus 3:2And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
See All..., 8, 13; Leviticus 4:4And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
See All..., 24, 29, 33) - The laying on of hands in the Bible usually meant the bestowing of something to another
- Blessing (Genesis 48:14-15 [14] And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
[15] And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
See All...) - Sin (Leviticus 16:21And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
See All...) - Honor (Numbers 27:18-20 [18] And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
[19] And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
[20] And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
See All...; 1 Timothy 6:14-16 [14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: [15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; [16] Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
See All...) - In Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
See All..., the putting of the hand on the head of the offering was a bestowing of responsibility or guilt - The burnt offering was not dealing with specific sins that had been committed
- The burnt offering was an indication that the offerer wanted to give himself to God and be acceptable unto Him
- The laying on of the hand indicated a desire that the offering take the place of the offerer (see the same kind of transferal in Numbers 8:10-11 [10] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
[11] And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
See All..., 14-18) - Imputation – Substitution
- The offering took the place of the offering
- It was accepted in his place – “accepted for him”
- Because the imputation of God’s righteousness without the law is witnessed by the law and the prophets. (Romans 3:21-22 [21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
[22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
See All...) - By the law (Deuteronomy 7:6-9 [6] For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
[7] The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
[8] But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
[9] Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
See All...; Deuteronomy 9:4-6 [4] Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. [5] Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. [6] Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
See All...) - By the prophets (Psalm 35:24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
See All...; Psalm 71:1-3 [1] In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. [2] Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. [3] Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
See All...; Psalm 119:40Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
See All...; Isaiah 45:24-25 [24] Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. [25] In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
See All...; Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
See All...; Isaiah 61:10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
See All...; Jeremiah 23:5-6 [5] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. [6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
See All...; Daniel 9:16O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
See All...) - Atonement
- The offering made atonement for the offerer
- The offerer received the benefit paid for by the offering
- Notes on the atonement
- The words, atonement and atonements , are used 82 times in 70 verses in the Bible.
- 81 references in the Old Testament; 49 times in the book of Leviticus
- Only one reference in the New Testament: Romans 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
See All... - Romans 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
See All... – “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” - This refers to the fulfillment of the type
- The phrase “the atonement” is only used six times in the Bible.
- The five uses in the Old Testament (Exodus 29:33And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
See All...; Exodus 30:16And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
See All...; Leviticus 16:32And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:
See All...; Numbers 5:8But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
See All...; 2 Samuel 21:3Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
See All...) all refer to a particular offering that was made. - The New Testament use (Romans 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
See All...) refers to the final and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This atonement is the one through whom we have “now received” the final and fulfilling atonement. - Commonly used by Bible teachers and preachers in the sense of eternal salvation; this has led to much confusion in Bible study
- Atonement is required for some sorts of defilement – kinds of uncleanness that have nothing to do with personal sin
- For the purifying of a woman who has brought forth a child (Leviticus 12:6-8 [6] And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
[7] Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
[8] And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
See All...) - For the leper who has recovered from his leprosy (Leviticus 14:18-21 [18] And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.
[19] And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:
[20] And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
[21] And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
See All...) - Atonement is often applied to inanimate objects that are incapable of personal guilt or wrongdoing
- The altar (Exodus 29:37Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
See All...; Leviticus 16:18-19 [18] And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. [19] And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
See All...) - A leprous house (Leviticus 14:52-53 [52] And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:
[53] But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.
See All...) - The tabernacle and holy place (Leviticus 16:16And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
See All..., 33) - Atonement is made with various items
- Most commonly with blood (Leviticus 17:11For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
See All...) - With money (Exodus 30:11-16 [11] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[12] When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
[13] This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
[14] Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
[15] The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
[16] And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
See All...) - With an offering of incense (Numbers 16:46-48 [46] And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
[47] And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
[48] And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
See All...) - With the execution of members of the offending family (2 Samuel 21:1-6 [1] Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
[2] And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
[3] Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
[4] And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
[5] And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
[6] Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
See All...) - Atonement as Used in the Bible
- The cleansing of defilement
- The cleansing properties of atonement
- The cleansing of the altar (Exodus 29:36And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.
See All...) - The cleansing of the woman who gave birth (Leviticus 12:8And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
See All...) - The cleansing of the leper (Leviticus 14:19And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:
See All...) - The cleansing of sins (Leviticus 16:30For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
See All...) - Leads to the forgiveness of sins
- Atonement was to be made for their sins (Exodus 32:30And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.
See All...); this was not eternal salvation but the particular sin of making and worshipping the golden calf - Atonement led to forgiveness of particular sins (Leviticus 4:20And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
See All...); compare to the forgiveness the Christian receives as per 1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
See All... - Atonement for their souls required the offering of blood (Leviticus 17:11For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
See All...); this was a type of the coming sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
See All...) - The covering of sin
- Psalm 32:1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
See All... – “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” - Psalm 85:2Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
See All... – “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.” - Isaiah 30:1Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
See All... – “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:” - Ezekiel 21:24Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
See All... – “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.” [This gives the opposite of atonement. Instead of being covered, the sins are discovered; that is, uncovered, so that they will appear before God.] - Purpose of Old Testament atonement – The sin and defilement are covered so that the holy God is not offended by their sins and so He can look upon them and fellowship with them. One of the major purposes of the law was to offer temporal purification for the Jews (Hebrews 9:13-14 [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
See All...) - Israel, as a nation, had a special relationship with God (Deuteronomy 4:7For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
See All...; Deuteronomy 26:16-19 [16] This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. [17] Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: [18] And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; [19] And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.
See All...; Psalm 147:19-20 [19] He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. [20] He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
See All...) - God would meet with Israel and their priests in a special way (Exodus 25:21-22 [21] And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
[22] And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
See All...; Exodus 29:42-44 [42] This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. [43] And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. [44] And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.
See All...; Exodus 30:6And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
See All..., 36; Numbers 17:4And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
See All... [thou (singular)…you (plural)]; cp. Exodus 20:18-21 [18] And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. [19] And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. [20] And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. [21] And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
See All...; Exodus 33:7And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
See All...) - God was to dwell among them (Exodus 25:8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
See All...; Exodus 29:45-46 [45] And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. [46] And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.
See All...; Leviticus 26:11-12 [11] And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. [12] And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
See All...) - As such, there was a great danger of defiling God’s tabernacle among them (Leviticus 15:31Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
See All...; Numbers 19:11-13 [11] He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. [12] He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. [13] Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
See All..., 20) - This explains the special significance of the commands for Israel to be holy (Leviticus 11:44-45 [44] For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[45] For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
See All...; Leviticus 19:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
See All...) - The sacrificial system allowed them to cleanse themselves from their filthiness so that God could continue to dwell among them (Leviticus 1:1-4 [1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
[3] If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
[4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
See All...; Leviticus 4:35And 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.
See All...; Leviticus 16:30For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
See All...; Hebrews 9:13-14 [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
See All...) - They needed the sacrifices so that God would “accept” them (Ezekiel 20:40-41 [40] For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
[41] I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
See All...; Exodus 12:27That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
See All...) - The offering of Christ
- Christ took our sins on His own head (Isaiah 53:4-6 [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
See All...; 1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
See All...) - His sacrifice was accepted for us (2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
See All...) - The Offering was Killed (Leviticus 1:5And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
See All...a) - It was killed by the one making the offering
- The part of the offerer
- He determined to make the offering “of his own voluntary will” (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - He brought the offering to the door of the tabernacle (Leviticus 1:3If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
See All...) - He laid his hand on the head of the offering (Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
See All...) - He killed the offering
- As far as the law allowed, the offerer was identified with the offering. In bringing the burnt offering, he was in a sense bringing himself to the altar (Psalm 40:6-8 [6] Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
[7] Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
[8] I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
See All...; Psalm 51:16-17 [16] For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
See All...) - It was killed before the Lord
- Practically, this meant that it was killed in front of the tabernacle, a place which represented the presence of the Lord
- Symbolically, this meant that it was killed for the sake of the Lord in total surrender to Him
- The Blood of the Offering was Sprinkled (Leviticus 1:5And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
See All...b) - A common practice under the law
- To hallow or sanctify (Exodus 29:21And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
See All...; Leviticus 8:30And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
See All...) - To cleanse the impure (Leviticus 14:51-52 [51] And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:
[52] And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:
See All...; Leviticus 16:19And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
See All...; Hebrews 9:13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
See All...) - It was sprinkled by the priests; as mediators for the offerers
- It was sprinkled on the burnt altar; to make the offering acceptable to the Lord
- It is a type that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
See All...) - The Offering was Prepared (Leviticus 1:6And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
See All...) - It was flayed; that is, the skin or hide was cut off (Micah 3:3Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
See All...) - The skin, being considered unclean, was not to be part of the burnt offering. It was to be removed before the offering was sacrificed.
- The skin could be kept by the priests who made the offering (Leviticus 7:8And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
See All...) - A type of the believer putting off the flesh (Ephesians 4:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
See All...; Colossians 2:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
See All...; Colossians 3:9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
See All...) - It was cut into pieces
- Each part must be separate from the others
- Each part must be sacrificed
- A type of the systematic surrender of the believer unto the Lord. He may give himself entirely and whole unto the Lord. But then he finds that each part of his heart and life must be dealt with separately (Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
See All...; Philippians 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
See All...). - The Altar was Prepared (Leviticus 1:7And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
See All...) - The priests put fire on the altar
- A continual fire burned on the altar (Leviticus 6:12-13 [12] And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
[13] The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
See All...) - But the fire was built up for the particular offerings
- God gives us trials sufficient for the offering we are ready to make (2 Corinthians 4:10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
See All...) - The priests laid wood on the fire
- The wood was laid in order
- Every part of our trial is designed to accomplish its purpose
- It works together for good (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
See All...) - It works the work of God (Romans 5:3-5 [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
[4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
[5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
See All...; Hebrews 12:10-11 [10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. [11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
See All...) - The Offering was Placed on the Altar (Leviticus 1:8-9 [8] And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[9] But 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.
See All...a) - The offering was laid on the wood in order (Leviticus 1:8And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
See All...) - The parts; a picture of the various areas of the persons life
- The head; the mind and soul of the man
- The fat; a picture of the pleasures and joys of life; these also must be given to the Lord in a complete sacrifice
- Some parts were washed in water before being offered (v.9a); washing in water is a picture of the cleansing of the word of God (John 15:3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
See All...; John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
See All...; Ephesians 5:26-27 [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
See All...) - The inwards; a picture of the inward man, the heart
- The legs; a picture of the works of man
- The Offering was Consumed on the Altar (Leviticus 1:9But 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.
See All...b) - The entire offering was burned
- It was a sweet savor unto the Lord
- It was especially sweet unto the Lord
- It was a complete sacrifice made willingly
- NOTE: The first three offerings (burnt, meat, peace) and both voluntary offerings and they are a sweet savor unto the Lord. The last two offerings (sin, trespass) are required and are not called sweet savors to the Lord. It is evidently sweet to the Lord when we serve Him because of love and not because we must (see Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
See All...; Philippians 4:18
See All...; Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
See All...). - THE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS OF THE BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1:10-17 [10] And 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.
[11] And 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.
[12] And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[13] But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
[14] And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
[15] And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
[16] And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
[17] And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - For Offerings of the Flocks (Leviticus 1:10-13 [10] And 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.
[11] And 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.
[12] And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[13] But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - Of sheep or goats (Leviticus 1:10And 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.
See All...) - A male without blemish (Leviticus 1:10And 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.
See All...) - Killed on the side of the altar (Leviticus 1:11And 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.
See All...) - Northward – in the sides of the north (Psalm 48:2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
See All...; Isaiah 14:13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
See All...) - Before the Lord
- Blood sprinkled around about (Leviticus 1:11And 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.
See All...) - By the priests
- On the altar
- Cut into his pieces (Leviticus 1:12And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
See All...) - With his head
- With his fat
- Pieces laid on the altar (Leviticus 1:12And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
See All...) - In order
- On the wood
- On the fire
- Wash the inwards and legs with water (Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - Bring it all (Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...; Romans 6:13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
See All...) - Burn it on the altar (Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - As a burnt sacrifice – the complete sacrifice
- As an offering made by fire – consumed in the fire (Malachi 3:3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
See All...) - As a sweet savor to the Lord (Ephesians 5:1-2 [1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
See All...) - For Offerings of Fowls (Leviticus 1:14-17 [14] And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
[15] And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
[16] And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
[17] And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - Of turtledoves or young pigeons (Leviticus 1:14And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
See All...) - Completes the five acceptable animals for sacrifice (Genesis 15:9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
See All...) - The offering of the poor (Leviticus 12:6-8 [6] And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
[7] Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
[8] And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
See All...; Luke 2:22-24 [22] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; [23] (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) [24] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
See All...) - No one unable to give unto the Lord
- Brought to the altar (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
See All...) - Head to be wrung off (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
See All...) - Blood wrung out at the side of the altar (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
See All...) - Feathers to be plucked off (Leviticus 1:16And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
See All...) - Cast on the east side of the altar – away from the temple and the presence of the Lord.
- By the place of the ashes – reserved until carried to a place outside the camp (Leviticus 6:9-11 [9] Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
[10] And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
[11] And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
See All...) - That which is unclean is kept from the presence of the Lord and removed
- Cutting of the bird (Leviticus 1:17And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...) - He shall cleave it
- Cleave has two meanings in the English and in the Bible: to cut and to cling to. Context easily identifies which is which. Here, to cleave is certainly to cut (Deuteronomy 14:6And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
See All...; Psalm 141:7Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
See All...) - The bird was to be cut
- He shall not divide it asunder; but the bird was not to be cut into (Genesis 15:10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
See All...) - Application: in a similar manner, the word of God is to be rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All...). Divisions need to be made and understood. However, the Bible is not to be cut up in separate pieces that no longer have any connection. - Second application: we are to be separate from the world (“not of the world” – John 17:14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
See All..., 16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 [14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
See All...) but we are not to be totally divided from the world (“in the world” – John 17:11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
See All..., 15; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
See All...). If we continue like the world, we cannot be a testimony to the world. If we are totally isolated from the world, we cannot tell them about our Saviour. - Burnt on the altar (Leviticus 1:17And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
See All...)
Conclusion: The burnt offering was a complete sacrifice. In all the other offerings, others (usually only the priests) were allowed to eat certain portions of the offered animal. However, in the burnt offering, nothing was to be eaten by man. It was all to be consumed on the altar as a gift to God. We need to look at our sacrifice to God in the same way. We need to give ourselves entirely to Him. This is, after all, only our reasonable sacrifice (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
See All...).