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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Leviticus 1 The Burnt Offering
Leviticus 2 The Grain Offering
Leviticus 3 The Fellowship Offering
Leviticus 4 The Sin Offering
Leviticus 5 The Guilt Offering
Leviticus 6 Further directions on the Burnt, Grain and Sin Offerings
Leviticus 7 Further directions on the Guilt and Fellowship Offerings and the Priest’s Share
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As the Book of Exodus closed, we found God providing the order to construct the tabernacle, also referred to as the "Tent of Meeting".
Today, we begin to look at the Book of Leviticus and immediately see that the first seven chapters deal with the matter of sacrifices or offerings to God.
Before we look into that, we need to know what this book of the Bible is all about and that needed information is found in the very title, Leviticus. We can see that the first part of this word is Levi and this lets us know that the content of the book is pertaining to the priests and their duties in serving the Lord. Literally, Leviticus translates to either “of the Levites” or “pertaining to the Levites” and it is one of five books known as the Books of the Law, joining Genesis and Exodus, which we have already covered, and Numbers and Deuteronomy which we will look at after this book.
And so these first seven chapters concern the laws regarding the Israelite priesthood and the conducting of the prescribed offerings, of which there were five in number. Within these five offerings, three were considered voluntary (burnt, grain, and fellowship, also known as the peace offering), while the other two were mandatory (the sin and the guilt offering, also known as the “trespass” offering).
Briefly looking at the purpose of each offering, we find the following:
Voluntary Offerings
1. The burnt offering was an optional offering that showed one’s devotion or commitment to God, or could be used to seek forgiveness for unintentional sin.
2. The grain offering was given by a person as an expression of thanksgiving for God’s provision and goodness.
3. The fellowship (or peace) offering was presented to God as an expression of gratitude and fellowship, followed by a special shared meal.
Mandatory Offerings
1. The sin offering is pretty self explanatory, to atone for sin and cleanse a person from defilement.
2. The guilt offering was similar to the burnt offering as it was presented to seek expiation for the commission of unintentional sins but in this case, the sins had to lead to required reimbursement to whoever was victimized by the sin. Additionally, this offering could be performed to cleanse from sins that defiled the person or for physical ailments.
Now, while these offerings were all different, we see a common theme emerge where sacrifices were needed to gain atonement and God’s forgiveness. It reminds us how mankind had been infected with sin ever since the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and ushered it into what had been a perfectly sinless creation. Ever since then, transgressions have been a part of every person’s spiritual DNA.
This truth wasn’t and isn’t good news for anyone because God makes it clear that He hates sin and this places every sinner in enmity with their Master and Maker. As the Apostle Paul put it in his letter to the Romans:
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 3:23
God’s people were sinners and He required them to always seek to restore their relationship with Him through prescribed offerings and sacrifices. He never expected people to be comfortable in their sin but rather to always seek to move toward sanctification (holiness) and righteousness, showing both through the way they lived. As long as His people would seek His will and way, complying with obedience, they would be in His favor.
But, just as it is today, staying free from sin was easier said than done and so back in Old Testament days, the Israelites were required to bring offerings for sacrifice with animal sacrifices used for matters of atonement. In those instances, the slain animal would represent the person presenting it as an offering and the shed blood of the animal would pay the sin penalty the person owed God, bringing His pardon.
Think about the way it used to be for a moment and then ponder this question:
Can you imagine if this system of atonement was still in place today?
Every day, millions and millions of people would be heading to altars with animals, seeking forgiveness from God, and in doing so, an awful lot of blood would be shed. It certainly wouldn’t be a good environment for animals, for sure.
Thankfully, God didn’t allow these prescribed offerings and sacrifices to carry over into New Testament times and beyond. For He so loved the world, that He gave up His only Son, Jesus, as a living sacrifice so that anyone who would just simply believe in Him wouldn’t perish in Hell but gain eternal life (John 3:16). On Calvary’s cross, our Savior Jesus became the unblemished, sinless, Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29) and He purchased the pardon of His followed His shed blood (Ephesians 1:7).
Consider these words from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews:
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about Me in the scroll— I have come to do Your will, O God.'”
First He said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then He said, "Here I am, I have come to do Your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day, every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:1-14
He then says this in chapter 9:
For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did He enter Heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. Vv.24-28
Brothers and sister, this Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world and sacrificed perfect Lamb of God is risen and alive today. He died for our sins, offering Himself up as a living sacrifice before conquering death to ascend up to Heaven where He sits on God’s right hand to intercede for us before His Father (and ours) forever.
Indeed, Jesus was God’s one final sacrifice, an offering that was done once and for all, a single, fulfilled atonement that would last forever. Let us give lift up our hearts to Him as a love and praise offering, ever expressing our gratitude for the everlasting hope and peace we have through our belief and trust in Him while proclaiming our appreciation through three simple words:
“Thank You Jesus.”
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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