Content:
- General
- Burnt Offering
- Grain Offering
- Peace Offering
- Sin Offering
- Guilt Offering
- Ordination Offering
General
The purpose of the sacrificial system was to bring atonement for sins in people's lives, see The Atonement. The Israelites wouldn't be able to keep the Mosaic Laws, even though they promised they would. God knew that they wouldn't be able to keep them. They therefore needed this sacrificial system to atone for their sins.
They needed to be forgiven regularly.
However, the people would also turn to other gods, which was the greatest evil that the Israelites did. It wasn't their sin that kept the Lord's favor away from them. Sin could be dealt with by the sacrificial system. When they turned from the Lord and served other gods, they no longer had the means to turn back and be forgiven. (Deu 31:14–32:47).
It's a similar thing if someone turns away from Christ, rejects him, rejects the only way for forgiveness, hardens his heart, doesn't repent, and doesn't want to turn back (Heb 6:4–8), see Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. However, if such a person repents and turns back to the Lord, he will be saved (James 5:19–20).
The sacrificial system was incomplete and had to be redone over and over again. It was a pointer to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would die in our place. Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system, which means we no longer need to apply it. Jesus only needed to die once. His sacrifice was perfect and ongoing. See also Forgive and You will Be Forgiven. By studying this sacrificial system, we can better understand the kind of relation God wants with us. We can see it as example of wisdom from God.
There are different kinds of offerings with different meanings (Lev 7:37–38):
- Burnt Offering (Lev 1).
- Grain (Meal, Food, or Gift) Offering (Lev 2).
- Peace (Fellowship or Thank) Offering (Lev 3).
- Sin Offering (Lev 4:1–5:13).
- Guilt Offering (Lev 5:14–6:7).
- Ordination Offering (Lev 8, Exo 29:1–37).
Burnt Offering
When anyone of them brought a Burnt Offering to the Lord, they would bring with them an animal from the herd or from the flock. They must offer a male without a defect. They must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (first the
Tabernacle and later the Temple) so that it would be acceptable to the Lord. They must lay their hand on the head of the Burnt Offering, and it would be accepted on their behalf to make atonement for them. They would slaughter it, and then Aaron’s sons, the priests, would bring the blood and splash it on the sides of the
Altar of Sacrifice at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They will cut it into pieces.
Aaron’s sons, the priests, are to place the pieces on the wood burning on the altar. They must burn everything on the altar. (Lev 1).
The reason the sacrifice must be a male without defects is because it points to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the sacrificial system of Leviticus. Jesus was sacrificed on our behalf and was without sin (1 Pet 2:22). Because he never sinned, he was qualified to stand for us on the cross. If Jesus had sinned, he would have had to pay for his own sin on the cross, but he wouldn't have been qualified to die for the sin of others.
When they brought it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the priest would inspect it to make sure it qualified. It's what is sacrificed that is inspected, not the worshipper. This procedure is also used for some of the other to be sacrificed. This points to the fact that it's not by works that we are saved, but by grace through faith (Eph 2:8–9).
The worshiper placing his hand on the head of the Burnt Offering is a process of identification. Through this symbolic act, the worshiper's guilt is then transferred to the sacrificial victim who dies in the worshipper's place. John the Baptist's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus had nothing to repent of, but was baptized to identify with sinful people. He came to be one of us. He didn't sin but identified with sinful man. In Christian baptism we identify ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus, see Christian Water Baptism in in The Book of Romans.
One of the characteristics of a Burnt Offering is that it's given entirely to God. Nothing remains after a Burnt Offering. This is a picture of holiness. It's a picture of the worshipper being completely surrendered to a loving God as a living sacrifice.
Grain Offering
When anyone brings a Grain Offering to the Lord, their offering must be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil and incense on it and take it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil together with all the incense and burn it as a memorial portion on the Altar of Sacrifice, a
Food Offering. The rest of the Grain Offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. Every Grain Offering they bring to the Lord must be made unleavened (without yeast or leaven). They should season their whole Grain Offering with salt. (Lev 2).
This offering could support the priests with food, who have been called to full-time ministry. It's also expresses gratitude and appreciation for what God has blessed them with, and acknowledges God as their provider. (Heb 13:15–16). Yeast and leaven are symbols of sin (Exo 12:15, 19–20, Luk 12:1, 1 Cor 5:6–8), see
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven.
Peace Offering
When someone brings a Peace Offering, the animal must be without blemish. Aaron’s sons, the priests, were to splash the blood on the sides of the Altar of Sacrifice. From the Peace Offering they shall bring a Food Offering to the Lord. Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the Altar of Sacrifice on top of the Burnt Offering that is on the burning wood. They must not eat fat or blood. (Lev 3).
Some of the animals were sacrificed on the Altar of Sacrifice and given to God, some were given to the priests, and some were given to the worshipper, who would eat the meat as it was cooked at that time. This Fellowship Offering was a covenant meal that the worshipper had with God. It covers the thought: peace with God, prosperity, and holiness. It usually came right after the Burnt Offering and signified closeness and communion. In the Jewish understanding of sharing a meal, it means sharing an intimate experience. It means the intimacy that God wants with us.
Whenever we come before God, the issue of forgiveness is still one that we must deal with. It means that the blood of Jesus is always there, even when we come for fellowship with God (1 John 1:7).
No Jew may eat any fat or blood, because the fat and blood belongs to God
(Lev 3:17, 7:22–27, 17:10–16). This refers to eating meat where fat and blood haven't been properly removed. The animal must be drained properly before eating. The reason is that the blood represents life (Lev 17:11). To respect the blood is to respect God who gives life. The meaning of fat in this context is:
the best part of the meat of the Peace Offering belongs to God.
Sin Offering
The Sin Offering is to forgive sins on the following occasions:
- One who sins unintentionally (Lev 4:2, 5–7, Num 15:27–31).
- The entire Israelite community sinning unintentionally
(Lev 4:13, 16–18, Num 15:22–26). - A leader who sins unintentionally (Lev 4:22, 25).
- A non-leader of the community who sins unintentionally (Lev 4:27, 30).
- Whoever wants to offer a Sin Offering (Lev 4:32, 34).
A specific male animal without blemish must then be brought to the Lord as a
Sin Offering for the sin committed. The blood is poured out depending on the occasion. Some of the blood may be placed on the horns of the Altar of Incense in the Tent of Meeting, and the rest of the blood shall be poured out at the foot of the Altar of Sacrifice at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. (Lev 4:1–5:13).
The effect of such a sin had an effect on the sinner but also on the people around the sinner. Even in our time, a crime cast a shadow over the whole family. The Jews saw it as a defilement of the relatives.
Various offenses that require a Sin Offering:
- One who has knowledge of a crime but doesn't speak out and testify about it (Lev 5:1).
- One who becomes aware that he has unwittingly touched something
ceremonially impure but was unaware of it when doing it, but then then realizes it; or touching human uncleanness but was unaware of it when he did it, but will later realize it (Lev 5:2–3). - One who thoughtlessly takes an oath to do something, be it good or evil, but was unaware of it when he did it, but then realizes it
(Lev 5:4), see for example Jephthah the Judge.
If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty of any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. As penalty for the sin they have committed, they must offer a Sin Offering. (Lev 5:5–6).
Whoever can't afford a lamb must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for his sin, one for a Sin Offering and the other for a Burnt Offering
(Lev 5:7–10, 12:8, Luk 2:22–24). But if they can't afford two doves or two young pigeons, they shall bring a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour as a Sin Offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it's a Sin Offering. (Lev 5:11–12).
The priest shall make atonement for them for all these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the Grain Offering. (Lev 5:13).
The rules for entering the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle was later changed
after two of Aaron's sons died after they had brought strange fire before the Lord, which he didn't command them to do (Lev 10:1–2): No part of the regular
Sin Offering should be made in the Most Holy Place of the Tent of Meeting.
It should only be the High Priest (Aaron as the first one) who performed the
Sin Offering in the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. The High Priest would then bring atonement twice. The first time for himself and the second time for the people of Israel, see Moses; Part 15: The Day of Atonement.
Guilt Offering
When someone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally with respect to any of the Lord’s holy things, they must bring a ram from the flock, one without defect, but also the right value in silver. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do with respect to the holy things, pay another penalty of one-fifth of its value, and give everything to the priest. The priest would make atonement for them with the ram, and they would be forgiven. (Lev 5:14–16).
If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commandments, even if they don't know it, they are guilty and should be held accountable. They shall bring to the priest a ram from the flock, one without blemish and of fair value. In this way, the priest would make atonement for them for the wrong they have unintentionally
committed, and they would be forgiven. (Lev 5:17–19).
A Sin Offering focuses on the defiling and polluting aspect of a sin sin that requires cleansing, while a Guilt Offering focuses on sins with respect to holy things. In the latter case they must also pay restitution.
Various offenses that also require Guilt Offering (Lev 6:1–3, Num 5:6):
- Whoever deceives a neighbor about something entrusted to him,
or being left in his care, or about something stolen. - If someone cheats his neighbor.
- If someone finds lost property and lies about it.
- If anyone swears falsely about any such sin as men can commit.
When they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value and give it all to the owner on the day they present their Guilt Offering. In this way the priest would make atonement for them before the Lord, and they would be forgiven for everything they did that made them guilty. (Lev 6:4–7, Num 5:7–10).
Ordination Offering
Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the Sin Offering, two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread were brought forward. The whole
assembly was gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Moses washed
Aaron and his sons with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him in the robe, and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a waistband that he tied around him. He put the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he put the turban on Aaron’s head and put the gold plate, the holy emblem, on the front of it. (Exo 29:1–6, Lev 8:1–9).
Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the Tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. He sprinkled some of the oil on the Altar of Sacrifice seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to
consecrate him (Psalm 133). Then he brought Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them, and put caps on them. (Exo 29:7–9, Lev 8:10–13).
He then presented the bull for the Sin Offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood and put it with his finger on all the horns of the altar to cleanse the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the foot of the altar. So he consecrated it to make atonement for it. (Exo 29:10–14, Lev 8:14–17).
Moses also took all the fat and burned it on the altar. Then he presented the ram for the Burnt Offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood on the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a
Burnt Offering. (Exo 29:15–18, Lev 8:18–21).
He then presented the second ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Moses also brought Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed blood on the sides of the altar. Then he took the fat, and from the basket of unleavened bread, he took a thick loaf with olive oil mixed in it, and a thin loaf. All these he put in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they waved them before the Lord as a Wave Offering. Then Moses took the food and burned it on the altar on top of the Burnt Offering as an Ordination Offering. Moses also took the breast, which was his share of the ordination ram, and waved it before the Lord as a Wave Offering. Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments. Moses then said to Aaron and his sons to cook the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and eat it there with the bread from the basket of Ordination Offerings. Then they should burn up the rest of the meat and the bread. They shouldn't leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of their ordination were completed, for their ordination was to last seven days. This was commanded by the Lord to make atonement for them. They must stay at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and do what the Lord required in order not to die. Aaron and his sons did all that the Lord had commanded through Moses. (Exo 29:19–37, Lev 8:22–36).
This was done to consecrate Aaron and his sons so that they can serve the Lord as priests (Exo 29:1a). The Urim and Thummim were used by the High priest to determine the Lord's will. Aaron was the first High Priest in the Levitical priesthood. Anointing oil was used because it symbolically represented the work of the
Holy Spirit in an individual's life. To put blood over the right earlobe, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot is a symbolic way of saying that the whole person is consecrated to God. The word "right" in the Bible symbolizes
strength. The "right hand" is seen as a place of honor and status throughout the biblical text. When the Bible makes statements that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it confirms that he has the same status as God the Father within the Trinity (Heb 1:3, 12:2, 1 Pet 3:22, Acts 7:55–56).
In the New Covenant, all born again Christians are priests (1 Pet 2:9), and Jesus is the High Priest. The Holy Spirit anoints us for service, see Jesus the Light of the World. However, anointing oil can still be used in the New Covenant (James 5:14).
For the next part, see Moses; Part 15: The Day of Atonement.
For all parts, see Moses; Part 1: Introduction.
