Leviticus 1 - THE BURNT OFFERING
Leviticus 1 – THE BURNT OFFERING
Taught by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Today as I was
studying in Leviticus. I was reading in
King James. Suddenly I realized that
almost the whole book is written in red.
Out of twenty-seven chapters, there are only two written in black. Now I know Moses didn’t write the Lord’s
words in red, but you and I identify that which was spoken directly from the
Lord by the red print. I don’t believe
another Book of the Bible has that many direct quotations from the Lord.
The importance of the
offering was communicated by Jehovah through Moses as revelatory truth from the
Mind of God. The importance of the
offerings is indicated by the many chapters devoted to the subject and by the many
reference thereto in other scriptures.
This book though not designated as prophetic is just as prophetic of the
ministry, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as any other book of the
Bible.
Heb. 10:14: “For by one offering, He has perfected for all times those who are
sanctified.”
The truth of the
offerings as a whole is to present man’s access to the Father through the
Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
No one offering could adequately or fully express
1. Burnt
offering - Genesis (God
demanded all of the patriarchs).
2. Meal
offering - Exodus (Moses lost his identity).
3. Peace
offering - Leviticus (The principles of Fellowship).
4. Sin
offering - Numbers (The remedy for murmuring).
5. Trespass offering - Deuteronomy (Rehearsing the Covenant to
prevent further trespass and transgression).
There were five
offerings because five is the number of Grace.
There are six other offerings, three of which are part of the Peace
offering plus Wave, Heave and Drink. We
will cover those as the Lord gives us Grace to complete this study.
Our approach to every
study we do is to watch the Lord and see how He moves on it.
The institution
(first act) of sacrifice was an act performed by God for the purpose of
relieving the conscience from its sense of guilt and shame. (Gen. 3:21). As Ministers of the Gospel, we continually
minister to those who are carrying the baggage of guilt and shame. Our message is forgiveness, acceptance, and
no condemnation. The provision of a
covering for the bodies of our first parents was fellowship between God and man
caused by sin. Faith in this Divine
principle secured Abel’s acceptance with God.
Lack of this faith resulted in Cain’s rejection.
Heb. 11:4: “”By
faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he
obtained the testimony that he was righteous.
God testifying through his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead,
his blood still speaks.” (K.W.B.)
Lack of faith
resulted in Cain’s rejection. (Gen. 4: 2-7)
The principle which
underlies sacrifice is found in Luke 17:11 and Heb. 9:22 – since the life of
the flesh is in the Blood, Blood must be shed for the atonement of life. Man is doomed as a sinner and God purposes to
save him. The life has been forfeited as
a result of sin, and. As a debt due no justice, (man should
die). But God provides a way of escape
and appoints a substitute. A life is
given for the life of man. The way to
life is through death. The only way of
approach to God is by means of sacrifice and blood. Therefore, the sacrifices of the Tabernacle
were the pivotal points around which the whole service revolved. Thus everything centers in and about the
Person of the Lord Jesus. For He is “the
Lamb without blemish and without spot.”
The efficacy of the
animal sacrifices was limited. They
covered sin, but could not take it away.
Heb. 10:4: “For it is impossible
for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” An animal could not provide a perfect
atonement:
- There was a vast difference between a
rational creature free to think, will, and act, and an irrational creature
incapable of independent thought, a moral sense of responsibility, and
deliberate acts.
- In the case of animal sacrifices, the
work of atonement was not performed by the victim, but was done upon it,
unconsciously and unwillingly by another.
To Christians this
seems bizarre to our rationale. What
gave animal sacrifices their efficacy, their power to cover sin? God has foreordained before the foundation of
the world the Perfect Sacrifice (Jesus Christ).
Rev. 13:8: “And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name
has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of
the Lamb who has been slain.” (K.W.B.)
These sacrifices
looked forward to the cross. Thus
illuminated Israelites would think of the heavenly pattern give to Moses on the
mount. Heb. 8:5: “…who
serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was about to
erect the tabernacle; for See, “He says, “That you make all things according to
the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. But now He has obtained a more excellent
ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has
been enacted on better promises.”
The Israelites would
know they were looking forward to the coming of the Perfect Sacrifice of which
the animal sacrifices were but a type.
Heb. 9:9-10: “…which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are
offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they
relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body
imposed until a time of reformation. But
when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come. He entered through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle not made with hands that is to say, not of this creation;
and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood. He entered the holy place once for all,
having obtained eternal redemption. For
if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been
defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh. How much more will the blood of Christ who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Don’t talk to me
about restoring the sacrifice of the red heifer. Jesus Christ is the red heifer and it is
heresy for Christian to even think about restoring that sacrifice.
Three of the five
major offerings are called “sweet savor offerings”: the burnt offering; the meat or meal
offering; and the peace offering. They are called sweet savor offerings because
they typify Jesus Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His
Father’s will even unto death. He was a
sweet savor unto God. “And walk in love, just as Christ also loved
you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a
fragrant aroma.”
BURNT OFFERING: The
Hebrew word “OLAH” means a step stairs, or ascending; usually a holocaust (as
going up in smoke). The Holocaust was an
actual burning of people. The Greek
counterpart of “Olah” is “holocausta meaning “wholly burnt.” The Burnt Offering was also knows as the
ascending offering or the approach offering.
This was the acceptance
of the approaching Israelite as an approved worshipper. Acceptableness of this offering became the
measure of the offer’s acceptance with God.
The worshipper, recognizing Jehovah’s righteous claims to an entire
self-surrender of his life acknowledged his failure and offered an unblemished
substitute. To Jehovah, this sweet savor
offering was “a savor of rest”
Genesis 8:20-21: “Then
Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every
clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and
the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground on account of
man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never
again destroy every living things, as I have done.”
Jesus’ death on the
Cross forever broke the curse of the ground for those who will appropriate it
by Faith, the Blood and the Holy Spirit of God.
This pictures Jesus
Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father’s will
even unto death. The animals used were
inoffensive, typifying the innocence and gentleness of Jesus. It reveals Jesus’ perfect consecration to God
in His death. The cross is seen as an
expression of the Divine Will, delighting the Father’s heart. At last there was a man who fully glorified
God in all things. Thus the primary
aspect of the person and work of Jesus was God-ward. John 4:34:
Jesus said to them, “My food is to
do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.”
The appointed sacrifices
and offerings were according to the wealth or possessions of the offerer:
1. Rich class -
Bullock
2. Middle class - Sheep or goat
3, Poor class –
Turtledove or young pigeon
Of herds and flock, a
male without blemish. All grades of
burnt offering were always accompanied by the prescribed food and drink
offerings. We can compare this to the
offerings the Lord required of Abraham.
Gen. 15:8: “Take Me a 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.” Only clean animals or fowl could be
offered. They were domestic or tame
animals for they must be easily led to the slaughter. They must also cost the offerer a dear price.
- The bullock or ox (young bull). This is literally a “son of the herd”.
(1:5) This is Jesus Christ the Servant as revealed in Mark’s gospel, the
strong One who is humble, patient, gentle, and powerful. This speaks of the prompt service of
Christ the head and Body, ever ready for service or sacrifice.
- The Sheep – This speaks of the patient
submission of Christ the Head and Body.
Jesus the subject One, the ordinary burnt offering Jesus’ day was a
male lamb of the first year.
- The goat – This shows the planned
substitution of Jesus (1:10). He is
the Sin- bearing One and the Scapegoat.
There are some profound truths here also concerning the deeper
principles of son-ship (Lev. 16).
- The Turtledove or Young Pigeon – This
speaks of the patient sincerity of Christ the Head and Body. It reveals Jesus the sorrowing One. A character without guile: It speaks of the Eternal Spirit.
These four points are
a profile of the Lord Jesus:
- Persevering Servant (Isa. 42:1; 52: 13-14; Heb. 12: 1-3)
- Patient Sufferer
- Promised Sin-Bearer
- Perfect Sympathizer
Heb. 4:15: “For we
do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One
who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
The ritual of the
offerer and priest was very specific.
The offerer had to
present his offering of his own voluntary will.
He put his hand on the head of the offering. Lev. 1:4: 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.” The bird was
brought in the hand. There was thus a double
transfer in this atonement. (Kaphar “to cover”).
The slaying of the victim was done by the sacrificer
(1:5). This was done before the Lord on
the north side of the altar. (1:11) The
bird was killed by the priest. (1:15)
Jesus Christ was crucified outside
The dissection was the flaying (“jointing, not hacking in
pieces”) of the victim. (1:6)
It was then cut in pieces to insure complete consumption of
the sacrifice by fire. Everything was
laid open and exposed and washed with water (1:9). The inwards (motives and attitudes) and legs
(walk) were washed and given to the Priest.
The Priest then presented the blood. Jesus brought His blood (Lev. 1:5). The Priest scattered the blood round about
upon the altar. The priest “pinched off”
the head of the bird, wrung out the blood at the side of the altar, plucked
away the crop and feathers and rent the body without separating its parts. The “crop” is the undigested food and the
feathers represent that which causes flesh to strut.
The Priest arranged the fuel, the fire, and the sacrifice
(1: 7-9). The wood (humanity) was laid
in order upon the fire. Each of the
parts of the body had its own orderly placement. The head (Jesus, the mind), Fat (best part)
inwards (motives), and legs (walk) must be in order to be a sweet savor. (1:9)
Special burnt offerings for the nation were offered on the
Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:3, 24); at the beginning of each month (new phase of
the moon). On the occasion of the three
Great Feasts. (Num. 28:11).
The burnt offering was called the “whole burnt offering and
is referred to as the Daily Sacrifice in Daniel. It was instituted upon the induction of Aaron
and his sons to the priesthood.
The offering was a daily reminder to
Heb. 10:4: “Therefore, when He comes into the world, He
says, ‘Sacrifice and offerings you have not desired. A body you have prepared for Me; In whole
burnt offerings and sacrifice for sin, you have taken no pleasure. Then I say, Behold I have come: (In the roll
of the book it is written of me) to do your will O God. After saying above, Sacrifice and offerings
and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have not desired nor have
you taken pleasure in them” which are offered according to the Law). Then He said, “Behold I have come to do your
will.” He takes away the first in order
to establish the second.”
These scriptures alone should forever put to rest the
heresy of re-instituting temple worship.
Any burnt offerings and sacrifices other than the acceptance of the one
made by Jesus Christ is heresy. Moses
built the earthly tabernacle according to the pattern of the Heavenly
Tabernacle. Jesus entered the Heavenly
Tabernacle through the Eternal Spirit.
We are now the
The two first-year lambs daily reveal Jesus the Lamb of God
and the overcomer in His image. One was
offered in the morning (3rd hour-9:00 a.m.), and the other in the evening (9th
hours- 3:00 p.m.). Incense was also
offered at these times on the Golden Altar.
The fire was of Divine origin. The fire fell in Lev... 9:24 and was to never
go out. (Lev. 6:90. The fire burned in
the burnt offering (6:12). This required
priestly attention day and night. Lev.
9:24: “And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the
altar the burned offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they
shouted and fell on their faces”.
The Divine Fire was manifested in the
The ashes from the altar speak of the finished work and
completed sacrifice of Jesus. The Priest
put on his official linen garments and put the ashes in brass ash-pans on the
East side of the altar. He then put on
his other garments and carried the ashes through the camp to a “clean place”
outside the camp” (the place of reproach in Num. 15:35, Heb. 12:12-14 to “bury”
the. We can compare this to the tomb of
Jesus.
Heb. 12: 12-14: “Therefore, Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp,
bearing His reproach.”
All who follow after the Lord will find themselves “outside
the camp bearing His reproach.” The camp
represents religion, law and traditions of men.
When we say, “Yes Lord, we will follow you wherever you lead me”, this
is part of the journey.
There may be a reference by David to the Altar ritual in
Psa. 26:6 when he mentioned compassing the Altar, for in the ministrations of
the continual burnt offering, the priest would literally encompass the altar:
- East Side – After washing his hands at
the Laver, he presented the sacrificial victim. (Lev. 1:3)
- North Side – The slaying of the victim
took place (Lev. 1:11)
- South Side – Jewish tradition says
that the offering was then carried up an earthen slope. (then depositing of ashes on the East).
Next week the Meal offering – Lev. 2.
Taught by: Pastor
Carolyn Sissom