Leviticus 1:1-17
Q.1. What was a burnt offering? Who was to make it? What made the offering effective? What was the part played by the priests? – (Lev.1:1-9)
Everything in the burnt offering was given to God and consumed – … the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar … (Lev.1:9 & 13). The priest could only keep the hide of the slain animal (see Lev.7:8). It was an offering made by individual Israelites given on a voluntary basis (see Lev.1:2). To be acceptable and effective – he shall offer it a male without defect (Lev.1:3). The person offering the sacrifice – shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf (Lev.1:4). The offeror had to slay the animal and cut it in pieces while the priests made the fire on the altar, sprinkled blood around it, cleansed and placed the meat on the altar – an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord (Lev.1:5-9). Burnt offerings preceded the giving of the law, and were made by Noah after the Flood, by Abraham with the ram after offering his son Isaac, and by Israel on Mount Sinai (see Gen.8:20; 22:2 & 13; Exo.20:24; 24:5-6). So, Israel was familiar with the idea of expressing thankfulness to God.
Q.2. How were different animals offered? What made a burnt offering acceptable to God? Why were these sacrifices made? – (Lev.1:10-17)
The difference between offering a bull, a ram, or pigeon was the huge difference in their value. It meant that all people, regardless of how much they owned, could show their devotion to the Lord (see Lev.1:2, 10, 14). Offerings had to be perfect in order to be acceptable as a portrayal of the offering of our Saviour (see 1 Pet.1:18-19). The sacrifices were essentially offered the same way, with the priests sprinkling the blood around the altar and burning the animals offered (see Lev.1:10-17). There was a place where the ashes and feathers were placed for later removal from the outer sanctuary (see Lev.1:16). All the sacrifices had the potential for making atonement for the penitent sinner and for bringing a soothing aroma to the Lord (see Lev.1:3-4, 9, 13, 17). God built a two-way relationship into the offerings of God’s people.
FIVE KEY OFFERINGS OF ISRAEL TO GOD IN LEVITICUS:
| I. Voluntary BURNT Offering (Lev.1) | (i) To make payment for sins in general. (ii) To show devotion to God. (iii) Christ made the perfect sacrifice by dying for us on the cross. Himself to God and others. |
| II. Voluntary GRAIN Offering (Lev.2) | (i) To honour God in worship. (ii) To affirm that all we have belongs to God. (iii) Jesus the perfect man gave all of |
| III. Voluntary FELLOWSHIP Offering (Lev.3) | (i) To express gratitude to God. (ii) Expresses fellowship & peace with God. (iii) We have peace and fellowship only through Christ. |
| IV. Required SIN Offering (Lev.4) | (i) To cover for unintentional sins of impurity or neglect. (ii) Acknowledges seriousness of sin and restored fellowship with God. (iii) Through Christ’s death our fellowship is restored. |
| V. Required GUILT Offering (Lev.5) … | (i) To atone for sin against God and others. It required compensation to the injured parties. (ii) Provided compensation for the parties that suffered loss. (iii) The consequences of sin are paid for by Christ though the law will impose compensation for those that suffered loss. |