The Sacrifices and their relationship to Jesus Christ

Leviticus 1-7, 1:1-17, 6:8-13

• Leviticus was written for the priests and Levites of Israel

• The key verse is Leviticus 11:44 “ye shall be holy; for I am holy”

• New Testament version of this verse is “Be ye holy; for I am holy” I Peter 1:14-15

• The book of Leviticus is quoted or referred to over 100 times in the New Testament

• The book of Leviticus presents us with a holy God, a holy priesthood, a holy people, a holy land, and a holy Saviour

• 10 weeks after leaving Egypt the nation of Israel arrives at Mount Sinai Exodus 19:1

• They soon begin the construction of the tabernacle which will take about 9 months Exodus 16-40

• The entire book of Leviticus covers about one month

• They were instructed to bring 6 basic offerings to the altar

• 3 of these offerings were given together as a sign of their commitment to God

• The burnt offering

• The meal offering

• The drink offering

• The next offering symbolizes their fellowship with God

• The peace offering

• The next two offerings had to do with cleansing of sin and their walk with God

• The sin offering

• The trespass offering

• Every sacrifice points to Jesus Christ and what He did for us on Calvary--symbols and teachings that should make you understand your Savior and His salvation

1. The burnt offering is accepted for atonement 1:4, could be a bullock, a lamb or goat, or a bird

2. This offering as all of them is unto and before the Lord 1:2, 3, 5, 9, 13-14, 17

3. Because the offering represents or is a type of Jesus Christ there were strict requirements

4. The sacrifice had to be male 1:3

5. The animal had to be without blemish I Peter 1:19

6. This sacrifice was to be complete and total

7. Death

8. It was completely burned up except for the hide that was given to the priest Leviticus 7:8

9. The sinner places his hands on the animal as a symbol identifying himself with the sacrifice 1:4

10. The sacrifice was accepted for him or in his place

11. Jesus became sin for us II Corinthians 5:21

12. Jesus suffered for us I Peter 4:1

13. The sinner himself killed the sacrifice 1:5, 11

14. The sacrifice is cut into pieces, cleaned, and placed on the altar

15. Imagine how the offerer would feel as he knew that the lamb was taking what he deserved

16. Imagine how your sin cost Jesus Christ the cross

17. The priests brought the blood and sprinkled it on the side of the altar

18. The burnt offering was a sweet savor unto the Lord 2:2--the offering pleased God

19. Animal blood couldn’t change a person’s heart or take away sin Hebrews 10:1-4

20. Yet God did forgive their sin based on these rituals 4:20, 26, 31, 35

21. Their sins were forgiven based on the coming sacrifice of Jesus on the cross Hebrews 10:14

22. This symbolizes our putting our all on the altar and holding back nothing 1:9--burn all

23. Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to be living sacrifices

24. With the burnt offering they also presented the meat or meal offering

25. The offering was of fine flour 2:1

26. The flour is a product of their hard work

27. But hard work without the blood sacrifice of the burnt offering is never enough to satisfy God

28. It does represent the Christian who has given his all on the altar in the burnt sacrifice now given all of his production and material goods in sacrifice

29. It had oil poured on it 2:1-2, 4, 6

30. Represents the Holy Spirit

31. The Holy Spirit was on the Lord Jesus Christ without measure John 3:34

32. And frankincense was put on it

33. No offering is given without prayer which is represented by this incense Psalm 141:2

34. Be careful not to think that just giving your offering or service without paying attention to God and who He is is of any value

35. Salt was added to the offering 2:13

36. The salt represents His purity without which no offering will be accepted by God

37. Bring your offering--that you have been allowed to produce but come in prayer, the Spirit, and in purity to a Holy God

38. There was no leaven or honey maybe because both ferment

39. The leaven was a type of sin Exodus 12:19-20, Luke 12:1, I Corinthians 5:8

40. Honey is natural sweetness but Jesus is supernatural sweetness

41. The drink offering accompanies these first offerings of total dedication, surrender, commitment Numbers 15:1-13

42. This drink offering is a required part of the offering Numbers 15:4-5, 29:6, 11, 18-19

43. This wine was not to be drank, but rather poured out Numbers 28:7

44. The pouring of this wine was a symbol of pouring out your life on the altar of God

45. Jesus was poured out like water Psalm 22:14

46. He poured out His life unto death Isaiah 53:12

47. Paul offered his life as an offering Philippians 2:17

48. All of these offerings, the burnt offering, the meal-offering, and the drink offering represent total dedication and commitment to God and His service-work

• Have you given your life to Jesus and allowed Him to take your place as a sacrifice for sin?

• Are you willing to put your life on the altar for God and be a sweet savor in His nostrils?

• Are you willing to take your goods and what you produce and mix them with the power of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and purity and offer them to the Lord Jesus?

• Are you willing to be poured out in service to our God?

1. The ritual

2. The sacrifice

3. A male animal from the herd 1:3-10

4. Or from the flock 1:10-14

5. Or it could be a bird 1:14-17

6. The bird was an offering that even the poor could afford 12:8

7. A bird is what Mary and Joseph took when they dedicated the baby Jesus Luke 2:21-24

8. The process

9. The worshipper had to bring the sacrifice to the door of the tabernacle 1:3

10. There was to always be a fire burning on the brazen altar 6:13

11. The priest would examine the sacrifice to be sure that it was without blemish 22:20-24

12. Only the best is good enough for the Lord Malachi 1:6-14

13. Don't forget that Jesus Christ was a sacrifice without spot or blemish I Peter 1:19

14. Don't forget that He gave Himself in total dedication

15. No one took His life, He laid it down John 10:17

16. The obedience of one makes many righteous Romans 5:19

17. Jesus was offered once for all Hebrews 10:10

18. The worshipper that came to make an offering laid his hand on the sacrifice unless it was a bird 1:4

19. The offerer's identification with the sacrifice

20. The transfer of something

21. Just as this offering is completely given to God I completely give myself

22. It was a transfer of sin and guilt as the sacrifice died in the place of the sinner

23. The worshipper then killed the animal and the priest caught the blood in a basin 1:5, 11

24. If the sacrifice was a bird then the priest killed it 1:15-17

25. The blood was shed on the altar

26. The bird would then be burned in the fire

27. The bull, lamb, or goat was then dismembered, the body parts washed, laid in order on the wood, and burned in the fire. The hide was given to the priest 7:8

28. What is the meaning of all this ritual?

29. This was a transaction between the worshipper and God

30. Notice the use of the terms “unto the Lord” and “before the Lord” 1:2-3, 5, 9, 13-14, 17

31. This is not a transaction for the worshipper’s conscience

32. Nor is it a transaction between the worshipper and the priest or even the nation

33. The sacrifice was a sweet savour to the Lord 1:9, 13, 17

34. This sweet aroma pleased God Genesis 8:21, Leviticus 26:31

35. Jesus death on the cross was a sweet fragrance to the Lord Ephesians 5:2

36. Our offerings to God are the same Philippians 4:18

37. God was so concerned about details that He tells even what to do with the ashes 6:9-13

38. The meal (meat or food) offering 2:1-16, 6:14-23, 7:9-10

39. This offering represents dedicating our material possessions to the Lord God of Heaven

40. The forms of presentation

41. Fine flour

42. Oven-baked cakes

43. Cakes baked in a pan

44. Cakes baked in a frying pan or on a griddle

45. Crushed roasted heads of new grain

46. Only a portion of this offering was placed on the altar--the rest was given to the priests 6:16,18

47. Only the men could eat it

48. It had to be eaten in the holy place

49. It had to be eaten with unleavened bread 6:17

50. The one meal offering that was not eaten by the priests was the one presented morning and evening by the high priest’s son 6:19-23

51. This reminded him that he must maintain purity and integrity as he served God

52. Each part of the sacrifice was a symbol of something

53. This meal offering represents the fruit of their labor--material possessions

54. The frankincense represents prayer psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8

55. The meal offering could never be presented alone it always had to be accompanied by a blood offering Hebrews 9:22

56. This meal offering represents Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life John 6:32-51, 12:23-25

57. Must be accompanied by oil 2:1-2, 4, 6, 15

58. Must include salt 2:13, Matthew 5:13

59. Could not contain honey or leaven 2:11, Exodus 12:19-20, Luke 12:1, I Corinthians 5:8

60. The Drink offering 23:13, 18, 37, 29:6, 11, 18-19, Numbers 15:1-13

61. Presented after the animal sacrifices

62. It was a required part of the sacrifice

63. Approximately a quart of wine was poured out on the altar 15:5

64. The burnt offering, the meal-offering, and the drink offering all represent dedication and commitment to God

65. The pouring of the wine was a symbol of life poured out in dedication to God

66. Jesus was poured out like water on the cross Psalm 22:14

67. He poured out His life unto death Isaiah 53:12

68. Paul poured out like a drink offering on behalf of the Philippians 2:17

69. Paul poured like a drink offering in prison II Timothy 4:6

70. The personal application

71. God decides how He is to be worshipped

72. Only Jesus Christ is worthy to procure my pardon and salvation--nothing that I have or can do will obtain my forgiveness

73. The great truth of this lesson from Leviticus is that someone can take my place of suffering and death so that I can live

74. God seeks total commitment, dedication, and surrender to Him

75. There was no partial death of the substitute and in Romans 12:1-2 we are called to be a living sacrifice

76. After the blood sacrifice made for me, I come with what I have been able to produce to give it to Him in the way He desires

77. The drink offering calls on me to pour out my life for Him as He poured out His life for me