
W. Austin Gardner
The Sacrifices and their relationship to Jesus Christ II

Leviticus 3, 7:11-38
The first three sacrifices spoke of our salvation and commitment
The burnt offering was a total sacrifice--putting all on the altar in the person of Jesus Christ
The meat or meal offering was a commitment of all that God has allowed us to produce with our lives
The drink offering was a symbol of pouring out our lives in service and worship of God
These offerings are our commitment-our salvation--our getting right with God
The fourth sacrifice was called a peace offering Leviticus 3, 7:11-38
Examples
Jacob and Laban make peace over a meal Genesis 31:54
Solomon sacrificed 142,000 peace offerings and the people feasted for two weeks when they dedicated the temple I Kings 8:62-66
Distinctive features
Could be male or female--not permitted for the other sacrifices 3:1
As long as the sacrifice wasn’t in fulfillment of a vow it could have some defects 22:23
This sacrifice was basically going to be used for food for the priests and the worshippers family
This is the only sacrifice that was shared with the worshippers
Purpose of the offering
The peace offering was a fellowship offering representing communion with God and family
The peace offering was an expression of joyful thanksgiving
Through Jesus Christ, we have peace with God
A large portion of this sacrifice went to the priest and so the priest lived from the sacrifices made by the people
The ritual
Again the offerer will lay hands on the animal 3:2
Then the offerer will kill the animal
The priests will sprinkle the blood
They will take the kidneys, fat, etc and take it away
They had to eat all the sacrifice that day 7:15
The priest got the breast and right shoulder 7:31-32, 34
The offerer brought cakes and one of the cakes was for the priest 7:12-14
The peace offering is similar to our Lord’s supper
We take it because we already have peace with God
It is a special time of communion or fellowship first with God and then with other believers
It is a time of thanksgiving for what God has done in our lives through Jesus Christ
Today we feast on the Lord Jesus Christ when we feast on His Word
Today we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving Psalm 116:17 and the sacrifice of praise Hebrews 13:15
The fifth offering was called a sin offering 4:1-5:13, 6:24-30
The rules of both the sin and trespass offering are found in 7:1-10
The sacrifice was for sins of ignorance 4:2, 13, 22, 27, 5:15
The sin offering was for some violation of the law that was done without deliberate intent
Ignorance was no excuse for sin 5:17
If he sinned in ignorance he was to confess it the minute he knew it 5:1-5
We should be concerned that we are pleasing God even in things we don't yet understand Psalm 19:12
There is no sacrifice for presumptuous sins or deliberate sins Numbers 15:30-36
Example: the man gathering sticks
David and Bathsheba II Samuel 11-12
His only hope is the mercy of God Psalm 51:1, 11, 16-17
Presumptuous, deliberate, willful sin brings punishment
Anyone who sinned had to offer this sin
The higher the position the greater the required offering
The high priest would bring a bullock 4:1-12
The whole congregation would bring a bullock 4:13-22
A ruler brought a male kid 4:22-26
Common people brought a female kid 4:27-35
A poor person could bring a dove or pigeon 5:7-13
A very poor person could bring a sacrifice of fine flour
The higher the position the more expensive the sacrifice
Greater privilege means greater responsibility and greater consequences
The sinner lays his hands on the animal again identifying himself with the sacrifice
The fat was burned on the altar
The sacrifice was burned outside the camp Hebrews 13:10-13
The sin offerings (except of the priests 6:23) would become the food of the priests 6:26
The sixth offering was the trespass or quilt offering 5:14-6:17, 7:1-10
The rules of both the sin and trespass offering are found in 7:1-10
The trespass offering was for sins against the holy things of the Lord 5:15 and for sins against your neighbor 6:1-7
The sinner has to confess his sin Numbers 5:7, restore the property or its equivalent plus 20%, plus sacrifice a ram to the Lord 5:15, 18
If the offended party is not available the offering stayed for the priest Numbers 5:5-10
Sin costs and that is the lesson of the trespass offering--you can't just say you are sorry
You restore the item
You add 20%
You sacrifice a ram
The priests checks the value of everything to make sure you are paying the correct amount
Sin hurts us, others, and God
True repentance brings a desire for restitution
Forgiveness only comes at the death of a substitute
Jesus was our offering for sin Isaiah 53:10
Instead of 6 sacrifices--Jesus is one sacrifice for sins for ever Hebrews 10:12
Lessons to apply to our lives
Every time we take the Lord’s supper you should remember that our fellowship and communion with God is based on the bloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross
Every time you sin unintentionally remember that a lamb had to die and blood had to be shed to bring your forgiveness--Jesus is that sacrifice
Remember that every failure against God is forgiven because of Jesus death on the cross for you
Do not take lightly that Jesus died for you
Remember that though sins are forgiven that some sins will definitely bring punishment not only to the substitute but to you
When you sin even unknowingly come and confess it to God