Community Life Church Old Testament Sacrifices€¦ · Chapter 2 is the Meal Offering, Chapter 3 is the Peace Offering, Chapter 4 is the Sin Offering, Chapter 5 is the Trespass Offering

Community Life Church

Old Testament Sacrifices


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Contents

1. Introduction ................................................................................. 4

2. The Burnt Offering ........................................................................ 52.1. The Nature of the Offering .................................................. 62.2. The Offerer's Work ............................................................. 62.3. The Priest's Work ............................................................... 72.4. God's Portion ..................................................................... 82.5. The Priest's Portion ............................................................ 82.6. The Offerer's Portion .......................................................... 82.7. New Testament Application ................................................. 8

2.7.1. Jesus Christ – The Lamb of God ................................ 82.7.2. The Believer’s Response........................................... 9

3. The Grain or Meal Offering ............................................................. 93.1. The Nature of the Offering .................................................. 9

3.1.1. Uncooked Flour ..................................................... 103.1.2. Unleavened Cakes ................................................. 103.1.3. Roasted Grain ....................................................... 11

3.2. Restrictions ..................................................................... 123.2.1. No Leaven ............................................................ 123.2.2. No Honey ............................................................. 123.2.3. With Oil ............................................................... 133.2.4. With Salt .............................................................. 133.2.5. Frankincense ........................................................ 14

3.3. The Offer's Work .............................................................. 143.4. The Priest's Work ............................................................. 143.5. God's Portion ................................................................... 153.6. The Priest's Portion .......................................................... 153.7. The Offerer's Portion ........................................................ 163.8. New Testament Application ............................................... 16

4. The Sin Offering.......................................................................... 174.1. The Nature of the Offering ................................................ 174.2. The Offerer's Work ........................................................... 184.3. The Priest's Work ............................................................. 19

4.3.1. The Blood ............................................................ 194.3.2. The Fat ................................................................ 204.3.3. The Carcass ......................................................... 20

4.4. God's Portion ................................................................... 204.5. The Priest's Portion .......................................................... 214.6. The Offer's Portion ........................................................... 214.7. New Testament Application ............................................... 21

5. The Trespass Offering .................................................................. 225.1. The Trespasses ................................................................ 235.2. The Nature of the Offering ................................................ 255.3. The Offer's Work .............................................................. 265.4. The Priest's Work ............................................................. 27


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5.5. God's Portion ................................................................... 275.6. The Priest's Portion .......................................................... 275.7. The Offer's Portion ........................................................... 285.8. New Testament Application ............................................... 28

6. The Peace Offering ...................................................................... 286.1. The Nature of the Offering ................................................ 296.2. The Offer's Work .............................................................. 306.3. The Priest's Work ............................................................. 306.4. God's Portion ................................................................... 316.5. The Priest's Portion .......................................................... 316.6. The Offer's Portion ........................................................... 316.7. New Testament Application ............................................... 32

7. Conclusions ................................................................................ 33

Bibliography ................................................................................... 34

This study is based on the work done by C. W. Slemming in his book “ThusShalt Thou Serve”.


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Ps 24:3. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand inHis holy place?

1. INTRODUCTIONAfter the Fall, Adam and Eve sought to hide their shame and make themselvespresentable by covering themselves with leaves. God made a covering for themthrough the sacrifice of an innocent animal. Satan might have fully expectedAdam and Eve to have been slain in fulfilment of God's word1, but God slue ananimal in their stead.

The Mosaic Law brought regulations and restrictions which helped define sin. Italso brought detailed regulations of the offerings required and the priesthoodwho would make intercession for the people.

The Old Testament offerings, with one exception were sacrificial, requiring theshedding of blood. The Law specified in the smallest detail what the offering orsacrifice was to be and how to was to be offered. Nothing was left to suppliant’simagination or interpretation. Only his obedience was required.

The offerings describe how a sinful human being might be accepted by a perfectand righteous God. A man can be accepted by God through offerings onlybecause God has first made that way available.

The holiness of God demands a sacrifice and the perfection of God requires thatthe offering be the best. The divine instructions had to be kept in detail. Thiswas how Jesus lived His life, carefully fulfilling all the Scriptures that concernedhis life.

John 19:28. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"

Within the Mosaic Law five offerings were presented, each of which describessomething of the sacrificial work the Lamb of God slain from the foundation ofthe world2. The writer of the book of Hebrews informs us that these offeringswere in themselves incapable of cleansing anyone from sin, or making anyoneperfect before God.

Heb 10:1-4. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and notthe very image of the things, can never with these samesacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make thosewho approach perfect. {2} For then would they not have ceasedto be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have hadno more consciousness of sins. {3} But in those sacrifices there isa reminder of sins every year. {4} For it is not possible that theblood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

1 Gen 2:17. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the daythat you eat of it you shall surely die."2 Rev 13:8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written inthe Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.


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These imperfect sacrifices were made at an imperfect altar by an imperfectpriesthood. They were a statement of repentance and of faith. In making thesacrifice the person was admitting their guilt and need of God's mercy, and theywere looking forward to God's sacrifice, as Abraham said:

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lambfor a burnt offering..."

The offerings are detailed within the book of Leviticus. The first five chapterseach describe one of the offerings:

Chapter 1 is the Burnt Offering,Chapter 2 is the Meal Offering,Chapter 3 is the Peace Offering,Chapter 4 is the Sin Offering,Chapter 5 is the Trespass Offering.

Chapters 6 and 7 gives the law of the offerings, which details how the priestswere to make the offerings. But here the order of the offerings is changed:

Firstly there is the Burnt Offering,Secondly there is the Meal Offering,Thirdly there is the Sin Offering,Fourthly there is the Trespass Offering,Fifthly there is the Peace Offering.

This deliberate change of order teaches us something. In the first list the PeaceOffering is grouped with the Burnt Offering and the Meal Offering, since allthree are described as "sweet savour offerings" which means they werevoluntary or free will offerings. The Sin and Trespass Offerings were bothobligatory. Within the second list the Peace Offering is last because peace is theeffect of obedience in the other offerings.

Four of the offerings involved the slaying of an animal. The fifth offering, themeal offering, was made with grain. The animals offered were alwaysdomesticated animals and always herbivores. The animals also had to be freefrom blemish.

2. THE BURNT OFFERING

References Leviticus 1:1-17 and Leviticus 6:9-13

This free will offering was called the Burnt Offering because the fire on the altarwas never allowed to go out.

Lev 6:9-13 "... The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar allnight until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burningon it. ... {12} And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it;it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it everymorning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shallburn on it the fat of the peace offerings. {13} A fire shall alwaysbe burning on the altar; it shall never go out.”


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Although the offering was according to the willingness of the person, themanner and the place of the offer were regulated to the finest detail.

2.1. THE NATURE OF THE OFFERINGThe animal chosen for the offering was according to what a person possessed. Amale from the herd or a male from the sheep or goats, or a dove or a pigeoncould be sacrificed, so long as it was without blemish. All these animals aredomestic animals, which did not kill other animals for food.

If a person was sufficiently wealthy to own a herd, then that person must offera bull. Nothing else would have been sufficient or acceptable. God was requiringthe best, something that costs. Unless the offering cost something, then it isworth nothing. We cannot serve God with our leftovers and spares. He requiresthe first fruits, the best of our life.

When we give that which is second best to God then He is offended:

Mal 1:7-8 "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have wedefiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'{8} And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? Andwhen you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then toyour governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he acceptyou favourably?" Says the LORD of hosts.

Mal 1:13-14 You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," saysthe LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and thesick; thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from yourhand?" says the LORD. {14} "But cursed be the deceiver who hasin his flock a male, and takes a vow, but sacrifices to the Lordwhat is blemished; for I am a great King," says the LORD ofhosts, "and My name is to be feared among the nations.”

Doves and pigeons were or similar worth but were edible (and thereforeacceptable) at different times in the year.

2.2. THE OFFERER'S WORK

Lev 1:3-4. 'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a malewithout blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door ofthe tabernacle of meeting before the LORD. {4} Then he shall puthis hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be acceptedon his behalf to make atonement for him.’

The worshipper was under no compulsion or obligation to make this sacrifice.Offerings given for the wrong motive are not acceptable to God. The purpose ofthe offering was fellowship with and acceptance by the LORD.

Each of the sacrifices involved the person placing his hands on the head of theanimal which was about to die. This was a heavy pressing of the hands so as tomake, as it where, an imprint. This was an act of identification, and also of thetransference of guilt and sin to the animal. The animals were recognised as theperson’s substitute.


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Lev 1:5-6. 'He shall kill the bull before the LORD; and the priests, Aaron'ssons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around onthe altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. {6} Andhe shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces.

The making of an offering was not a quick, nor a clean affair. One could notquickly hand the animal over to someone else, and then leave. Theworshipper’s own sin was responsible for the death of the animal, and he had tokill the animal. He was not saved form the unpleasantness of hisresponsibilities.

The offer could not however present the sacrifice; he needed a mediator, apriest to do that for him.

The animal was skinned and dissected by the worshipper for careful internalinspection.

Lev 1:11 'He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD; andthe priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on thealtar.

Jesus was killed on the north side of Jerusalem.

2.3. THE PRIEST'S WORK

Lev 1:8-9. 'Then the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, andthe fat in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; {9}but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And thepriest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offeringmade by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Lev 1:11. 'He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD; andthe priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on thealtar.

The priest had to offer up the sacrifice and in doing so he acted as a mediatorfor the worshipper, who could not approach God on his own, by his own effortsor by his own merits.

The animal was deliberately dissected and placed in order on the altar. For theNew Testament worshipper the various animal parts cause us to consider thesurrendering of the various aspects of our life to God.

· The head reminds us of the mind and the intellect.

· The fat alludes to the health and virility.

· The entrails or the inward parts suggest the heart, the will and theaffections.

· The legs represent the walk and the conduct.

The term "a sweet aroma" is only used for free will offerings. The sacrifice ofChrist was a sweet smelling aroma because it was a free will offering.


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Eph 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself forus, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

To walk in love is to walk as a living sacrifice; our lives given to others.

Paul also describes the Philippian Church’s monetary gift as a sweet-smellingaroma.

Phil 4:18. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received fromEpaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma,an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

2.4. GOD'S PORTION

In Deuteronomy this offering is described as a whole burnt offering3 since thewhole of the animal was offered on the altar. The whole of the animal is said tobe offered to the Lord, the priest and the worshipper had no portion in thisoffering. However there is no mention of the animal’s skin being placed uponthe altar or being burnt.

2.5. THE PRIEST'S PORTIONAlthough the priest had no portion of the meat from this sacrifice, he was giventhe skin which was the evidence that a life had ended.

Lev 7:8. 'And the priest who offers anyone's burnt offering, that priestshall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hasoffered.

2.6. THE OFFERER'S PORTION

The worshipper had no portion at all in this offering. In fact the only offering iswhich the worshipper had a share was the Peace Offering.

2.7. NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATION2.7.1. Jesus Christ – The Lamb of GodIt takes all the Old Testament offerings to describe the achievement of Christ’sdeath on the cross. Each of the five offerings reveals an aspect of Jesus’ work.

The Whole Burnt Offering reveals the work of the Son towards the Father. Itsymbolises Jesus’ total dedication, commitment and consecration to the will ofHis Father. Jesus said:

John 5:30. "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgmentis righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of theFather who sent Me.

John 6:38. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, butthe will of Him who sent Me.

3 Deut 33:10. They shall teach Jacob Your judgements, and Israel Your law. They shall putincense before You, and a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.


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John 4:34. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,and to finish His work.

The writer of Hebrews describes how Jesus offered himself to God:

Heb 9:13-14. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer,sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,{14} how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through theeternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse yourconscience from dead works to serve the living God?

2.7.2. The Believer’s ResponseThis offering and the life and death of Christ remind us that God wants thecomplete and entire consecration of our life to Him and His will.

3. THE GRAIN OR MEAL OFFERING

References Leviticus 2:1-16 and Leviticus 6:14-18.

The Meal or Grain Offering was an offering of cereal, and is the only offeringthat did not involve the sacrifice of an animal. The term sacrifice is reserved forofferings where an animal was slain which signified a life surrendered. TheAuthorised Version used the word “oblation” for the Meal Offering – whichmeans a thing offered or presented to God. Were the Burnt Offering typified thetotal surrender of our lives to God, the Meal Offering signifies the offering of ourgifts (talents) or service to God.

The Hebrew word used for Meal Offering is minchab which refers to “a gift of aninferior to a superior”, and is sometimes translated as present within Scripture.It is used of the present with which Jacob appeased Esau when he humbledhimself.4 It is also used of the present that the Patriarchs brought when theyhumbled themselves before the Governor of Egypt, their brother Joseph.5

So there is a realisation of coming to a superior intended in this offering. Theworshipper was coming before the king of Heaven, and He should not beapproached lightly or flippantly.

3.1. THE NATURE OF THE OFFERING

There were three alternative ways of presenting this offering. The worshippercould bring Uncooked Flour, Unleavened Bread or Roasted Grain. We shall lookat these in turn.

4 Gen 32:17-18. And he commanded the first one, saying, "When Esau my brother meetsyou and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are thesein front of you?' {18} "then you shall say, 'They are your servant Jacob's. It is a present sent tomy lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.'"5 Gen 43:26. And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in theirhand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.


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3.1.1. Uncooked FlourLev 2:1-3. 'When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering

shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and putfrankincense on it. {2} He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, thepriests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flourand oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as amemorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma tothe LORD. {3} The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron's andhis sons. It is most holy of the offerings to the LORD made byfire.

Here the meal was offered back to God in its raw state. We can similarly serveGod by offering back to him the talents he has given us. He has given us time,we can use some of our time in attending church and serve in various ways aswe feel we are able. He has given us a Bible, we can read it. He has given usmoney; we can support the work of the Lord. All such things are acceptable tothe Lord.

3.1.2. Unleavened CakesLev 2:4-13. And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven,

it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, orunleavened wafers anointed with oil. {5} But if your offering is agrain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened,mixed with oil. {6} You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it;it is a grain offering.

{7} If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, itshall be made of fine flour with oil. {8} You shall bring the grainoffering that is made of these things to the LORD. And when it ispresented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. {9} Then thepriest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, andburn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aromato the LORD. {10} And what is left of the grain offering shall beAaron's and his sons. It is most holy of the offerings to the LORDmade by fire.

{11} No grain offering which you bring to the LORD shall bemade with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey inany offering to the LORD made by fire. {12} As for the offering ofthe firstfruits, you shall offer them to the LORD, but they shall notbe burned on the altar for a sweet aroma. {13} And everyoffering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shallnot allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking fromyour grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

In the second alternative the raw flour is taken and some effort is applied toturn it into something edible and tasty, and into something that could be sharedwith others. The life of the worshipper now becomes a yielded life where effortis applied to service. The Bible is no longer just read but meditated upon,rightly divided, studied and shared with others. Giving becomes considered,


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systematic and sacrificial. Gifts and talents are honed through training. The lifeis purposeful and disciplined.

We note the offering of the Unleavened Cakes was cooked in accord to what aperson possessed; whether it was an oven, a covered pan or a frying pan. Paulwrote:

2 Cor 8:12. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to whatone has, and not according to what he does not have.

God knows the talents and abilities that we possess, and it is these that we canconsecrate to God’s service. We are not expected to use talents we do notpossess.

3.1.3. Roasted GrainLev 2:14-16. If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the LORD, you

shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads ofgrain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. {15} Andyou shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grainoffering. {16} Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion:part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all thefrankincense, as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

The third way in which the grain could be offered was roast in the fire. This isillustrative of service which has been proven and tested by fire. Here the sainthas had their faith tested; they have proven the promises of God; they haveendured hardships or persecution.

1 Pet 1:6-7. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if needbe, you have been grieved by various trials, {7} that thegenuineness of your faith, being much more precious than goldthat perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise,honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1 Pet 4:12-13. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trialwhich is to try you, as though some strange thing happened toyou; {13} but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ'ssufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be gladwith exceeding joy.

The New Testament warns disciples that they can expect difficulties and trials.

Mat 5:10-12. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} Blessed are you when theyrevile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against youfalsely for My sake. {12} Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, forgreat is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted theprophets who were before you.

2 Tim 3:12. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will sufferpersecution.


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3.2. RESTRICTIONS

3.2.1. No LeavenLev 2:11. No grain offering which you bring to the LORD shall be made with

leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offeringto the LORD made by fire.

The offerings were to be made without leaven. If leaven is present in the breaddough when heat is applied, it causes the whole lump to go through violentcommotion and uprisings. Throughout Scripture leaven typifies sin.

1 Cor 5:6-7. ... Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?{7} Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a newlump, since you truly are unleavened…

Christ’s offering of service was made without any sin.

2 Cor 5:21. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we mightbecome the righteousness of God in Him.

1 Pet 2:22. "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth";

1 John 3:5. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, andin Him there is no sin.

All of our service is to be done without the sins of pride and self-interest. Thereshould be no ill-motive in our service of the Lord. The Pharisees attempted toserve God with covetous in their own hearts. They sought wealth and prestige.Jesus warned his disciples:

Mat 16:6. …"Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and theSadducees."

Paul warned the Philippian church:

Phil 2:3. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but inlowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

3.2.2. No HoneyLev 2:11. … you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the

LORD made by fire.

According to Dr. V. Raymond Edman roasted barley is tasteless if no sweeteningis added, but the commandment ensures that there was no added sweetener tomake it more palatable.

When we preach about the service of Christ, his works, words and sacrifice, weare not to add anything to make it more palatable for human taste. Themessage may appear foolish6 to many, but we are not to dress it up to enticepeople.

6 1 Cor 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; {23} but we preachChrist crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, {24} but to thosewho are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


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We too are to follow Christ’s example of enduring suffering and hardship for thesake of the gospel, whilst not expecting the pleasures of this world.

3.2.3. With OilThe cakes were to be made with or anointed with oil. Oil typifies the anointingthat sets apart prophets and kings in the Old Testament. This symbolises thepresence of God’s Holy Spirit upon the New Testament believer’s life. Not onlyshould our service be devoid of pride and selfish ambition, it must also be donein conjunction with the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons ofGod.

3.2.4. With SaltLev 2:13. 'And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with

salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to belacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shalloffer salt.

The offering was to be seasoned with salt so as to bring out its true flavour sothat it may be enjoyed to the full. Salt was also used as a preservative toprevent putrefaction

Reference is also made to the “salt of the covenant”. A covenant of salt waspractised by the many in the ancient Middle-East and was used to establish arelationship of friendship between people. For Israel it was a declaration thatthey were in relationship with God.

Christ’s service flowed from his relationship with His Father.

John 5:30. "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgmentis righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of theFather who sent Me.

Similarly our works for God should flow out of our relationship with God. Jesussaid:

John 15:5. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and Iin him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Self-effort, sacrifice, will power and hard work all amount to nothing if we arenot in a right relationship with God.

Jesus clarifies the required self-denial of discipleship, using the type andshadows of the law concerning sacrifices.

Mark 9:49-50. "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrificewill be seasoned with salt. {50} Salt is good, but if the salt losesits flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, andhave peace with one another."

Everything offered as a sacrifice was to be burnt with fire, and every sacrificewas to have the salt of the covenant applied. Fire purifies and salt preserves.The effectiveness, or saltiness, of our spiritual life is borne out in ourrelationships with those around.


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3.2.5. FrankincenseFrankincense is a spice that was burned with sacrifices to bring forth itspleasant aroma. It symbolises our prayers and intercession. Our service is to beaccompanied by a prayer life that sustains and directs us. Without such prayerour labour can become dry, unsustainable, a chore or even an unbearableburden.

The gospels record how Jesus, who lived the most significant life ever lived,would spend long nights in prayer. It was his prayer life that brought himdirection. It was his prayer life that helped him make decisions. It was hisprayer life that sustained him.

3.3. THE OFFER'S WORKLev 2:2. He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests…

Having prepared the offering at home, the worshipper simply brought the flour,cakes or grain to the priests and handed it over at the door of the Tabernacle.He was not involved in the subsequent ceremony. He received no thanks orpraise. He had only done his duty.

In like manner we are to perform our service as an act of obedience, realizingthat it is not a meritorious act. Jesus said:

Luke 17:7-10. "And which of you, having a servant ploughing or tendingsheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Comeat once and sit down to eat'? {8} But will he not rather say tohim, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself andserve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eatand drink'? {9} Does he thank that servant because he did thethings that were commanded him? I think not. {10} So likewiseyou, when you have done all those things which you arecommanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have donewhat was our duty to do.'"

This does not indicate that God does not appreciate our service. Neither shouldwe take other people’s service for granted or be unthankful. Jesus is remindingus that our labours cannot earn us salvation or right standing with God, butrather they are a right response to God who has done so much for us.

3.4. THE PRIEST'S WORKLev 2:2. He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall

take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all thefrankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on thealtar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

The priest took a handful of the flour, cakes or grain offered, with all thefrankincense and burned it on the altar.


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3.5. GOD'S PORTION

Lev 2:9. 'Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorialportion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, asweet aroma to the LORD.

Only the handful and the frankincense were God’s. This was a memorial, whichmeans the handful represented the whole offering in the sight of God. Somepeople may have resented the priests benefiting from their offering. But theseinstructions were not man’s idea but God commandment.

Similarly today very little of our church meetings and our Christian serviceactually goes to God. The monetary offerings we give are used by the Church topay the wages of full-time ministers, support missionaries, and maintainbuilding and facilities. Our social works bless and help people. Our ministry inthe word teaches, encourages and builds up people and children. We sayprayers for those who are in need.

We might think that it is only the praise and worship that are singularlyGodward. These might appear as a small handful of all our total activity.However this is like the memorial, and means the whole of our service isacceptable to God.

Jesus said:

Mat 10:42. "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of coldwater in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shallby no means lose his reward."

Paul wrote to bondservants saying:

Col 3:23-24. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not tomen, {24} knowing that from the Lord you will receive thereward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Whatever we do, we can do it as unto the Lord. Even within the mundane andeveryday activities we have an opportunity to worship God and share fellowshipwith the Almighty. It is our attitude that determines whether these things arespiritual or not. They can be done as an act of worship.

3.6. THE PRIEST'S PORTION

Lev 2:3. 'The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron's and his sons'. It ismost holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire.

Having taken away the handful, the rest of the offering was given to the priests.The Levites had been separated out by God to serve him and to be themediators7 for the whole of Israel. This calling brought responsibilities andrestrictions for the Levites. The Law also specified that the provision for theLevites was the responsibility of the other tribes in Israel.

Paul wrote:

7 They were God’s representative before the people, and Israel’s representative before God.


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1 Cor 9:13-14. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eatof the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altarpartake of the offerings of the altar? {14} Even so the Lord hascommanded that those who preach the gospel should live fromthe gospel.

The financial needs of those who are called by God to work full-time in aministry are the responsibility of the church.

1 Cor 9:7-11. Whoever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyardand does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does notdrink of the milk of the flock? {8} Do I say these things as amere man? Or does not the law say the same also? {9} For it iswritten in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while ittreads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? {10} Ordoes He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt,this is written, that he who ploughs should plough in hope, and hewho threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. {11} If wehave sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reapyour material things?

1 Tim 5:17-18. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of doublehonour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine.{18} For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while ittreads out the grain," and, "The labourer is worthy of his wages."

The Greek word for honour (time) could mean the price paid for something. SoPaul could be saying those elders who laboured in the word were entitled todouble pay, compared to other elders. Verse 18 would suggest that this waswhat Paul was speaking about.

3.7. THE OFFERER'S PORTIONThe offer received nothing. Equally if we are doing everything as unto the Lordwe should not seek to gain from our service. We should not even expect thanksfrom those around, all the glory belongs to the Lord. This is, however, noexcuse for us not to be thankful and appreciative of others when they ministerto us.

Ananias and Sapphira perished when they tried to keep back a portion of whatthey said was dedicated to the Lord.

3.8. NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATION

All the Old Testament offerings reflect in some way the work of Jesus Christ andhis great offering.

Jesus said he was like the grain of wheat that died to bring forth much fruit:

John 12:23-24. But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come thatthe Son of Man should be glorified. {24} Most assuredly, I say toyou, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, itremains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”


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Slemming wrote:

“He [Christ] was also the corn of wheat which went through thecrushing mill of Gethsemane and the fierce oven of Calvary to becomethe Bread of Life.”

There was no holding back in Jesus’ service. He gave his all, he served thepurposes of God and then he literally laid down his life.

The Grain Offering speaks of the consecration of our gifts and service, and inScripture it always follows the Burnt Offering, which speaks of the consecrationof self. This tells us that we cannot acceptably give our service until we havegiven of our self. God is not looking for works and effort that attempt topurchase salvation or divine pleasure. Rather God desires works and servicethat flow from a regenerated heart.

4. THE SIN OFFERING

References Leviticus 4:2-35 and Leviticus 6:24-30.

The Sin Offering is the first of the two compulsory sacrifices, and its purpose isto deal with sin against any of the commandments of the Lord which are madethrough ignorance.

The Hebrew word translated as sin is the verb chatta’ah which means to missthe mark, do wrong, commit iniquity, bear blame and be guilty.

Justice courts in most countries do not accept ignorance of the law as reasonfor acquittal. It may affect the punishment that is received, but the person isnevertheless guilty of breaking the law. In the same way millions of people aredaily breaking the commandments of God. They have never read the Bible, theyhave never attended church to be taught the requirements of God, but they arestill guilty of breaking God’s commandments.

Concerning both the law of the land and the law of God, sometimes what peoplecall ignorance is really a wilful refusal to find out for them self what is required.Churches are open and Bibles are readily available, but people have no interestin seeking God.

4.1. THE NATURE OF THE OFFERING

As with all the sacrifices, the animals specified for the Sin Offering wheredomesticated and had to be without blemish. Unlike the Burnt Offering, no birdswhere to be offered. The animal chosen for the offering was according to aperson’s position. It was to be offered once the sin became known.

A commoner, someone without position or authority, who sinned in ignorance,had to offer a female goat or a female lamb. In ancient society females werenot considered to have any authority.


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Lev 4:27-28. 'If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doingsomething against any of the commandments of the LORD inanything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, {28} or if hissin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then heshall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female withoutblemish, for his sin which he has committed.

Lev 4:32. 'If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he shall bring a femalewithout blemish.

A ruler of the people who sinned in ignorance, once the sin was known, had tooffer a male goat, which symbolised his authority.

Lev 4:22-23. 'When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionallyagainst any of the commandments of the LORD his God inanything which should not be done, and is guilty, {23} or if hissin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shallbring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

If the whole congregation of the people of Israel sinned unintentionally, oncethe sin was known, had to offer a young bull.

Lev 4:13-14. 'Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, andthe thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they havedone something against any of the commandments of the LORDin anything which should not be done, and are guilty; {14} whenthe sin which they have committed becomes known, then theassembly shall offer a young bull for the sin, and bring it beforethe tabernacle of meeting.

When a priest sinned unintentionally, once the sin was known, he would have tooffer a young bull. A priest as a teacher of the law and as a moral example tothe people, had to offer a larger sacrifice.

Lev 4:3-4. 'If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then lethim offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bullwithout blemish as a sin offering. {4} He shall bring the bull tothe door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, lay hishand on the bull's head, and kill the bull before the LORD.’

A bull was capable of producing offspring and the example that a minister of thegospel sets is replicated in the people. Slemming quotes a man called Trapp,who wrote “If a teacher sins, he teaches sin.” Little wonder James writes:

James 3:1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing thatwe shall receive a stricter judgment.

Christian leadership requires an extremely high standard of character, born outin word and deed. We make what we are, not what we say.

4.2. THE OFFERER'S WORKLev 4:29. 'And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill

the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering.


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The worshipper had to bring the animal to the prescribed place, which was thedoor of the tabernacle. They then had to place his hands on the head of theanimal as an act of identification. His guilt and sin were considered to betransferred into the innocent animal, which was about to die as his substitute.

The worshipper then had to kill the animal, before he could present it to thepriest who would act as a mediator.

4.3. THE PRIEST'S WORK4.3.1. The BloodLev 4:5-7. 'Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and

bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. {6} The priest shall dip hisfinger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven timesbefore the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. {7} Andthe priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar ofsweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle ofmeeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at thebase of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of thetabernacle of meeting.

The priest would make a way from the presence of God to the repentantworshipper, by applying the blood on the way out. Firstly he presented theblood of the sacrificed bull to the Lord by sprinkling it seven times in front ofthe veil. Next he put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of incense inthe Holy Place. Then he poured the rest of the blood out at the base of the altarof the burnt offering. The fact that the pathway was made from the Holy ofHolies to the worshipper, shows that salvation is from God.

Jesus said that He is the Way. We start along that way by meeting Him firstly atCalvary, symbolised by the altar of burnt offering. We proceed in thecommunion of prayer and intercession, symbolised by the altar of incense. Thenwe share intimate fellowship with God in the secret place.

The lambs and goats offered for the ruler or commoner were treated differentlyin that their blood was only offered at the altar of burnt offering, and not takeninto the Holy Place.

Lev 4:30. 'Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put iton the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all theremaining blood at the base of the altar.

Later on we will see other ways the offerings of the commoner and the rulerwere treated differently.


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4.3.2. The FatLev 4:8-10. He shall take from it all the fat of the bull as the sin offering. The

fat that covers the entrails and all the fat which is on the entrails,{9} the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks,and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, heshall remove, {10} as it was taken from the bull of the sacrifice ofthe peace offering; and the priest shall burn them on the altar ofthe burnt offering.

The priest had to offer the kidneys and the fat from around the internal organsof the animal, which is called the suet. The purpose of the fat was to protect thevital organs of the animal by acting as an elastic packing material, a thermalinsulator to regulate temperature and as a source of nutrition. It was thepreferred part of the beast for the Easterner.

Slemming writes:

That is what the Lord required – all that maintains spiritual life, keepswarmth and love of our devotion, and feeds the soul with divineenergy and a spiritual fervour.

The fat was also full of cholesterol. If we take that which is God’s and spend iton our own appetites it becomes a poison to us, no matter how nice it tastes.

4.3.3. The CarcassLev 4:11-12. But the bull's hide and all its flesh, with its head and legs, its

entrails and offal; {12} the whole bull he shall carry outside thecamp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burnit on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall beburned.

The priest now had to dispose of the carcass of the beast by burning it at aclean place outside the camp. A living bull is a large and powerful animal, andcare has to be taken when leading it. It is a difficult job to carry a dead bull. Butthe bull of the sacrifice had also been dissected to remove the fat from aroundits entrails. The job the priest faced was difficult, heavy, messy and smelly.

A modern production practise study would of course have done the jobdifferently. The animal would have been slain at the place the carcass was to beburnt, and the blood and the fat carried into the tabernacle. But the instructionMoses had received was not designed for the benefit of the worshipper or thepriest, but for a Holy God whose law had been broken.

Dealing with our sin can be a messy task, with unpleasant consequences. But ifour repentance is real then we need to put things right. Are we tooembarrassed to say sorry to other people, or to make amends? Are we tooangry or bitter to forgive someone else? God wants our sin to be properly dealtwith, and will not compromise just to save us face.

4.4. GOD'S PORTIONWhen the offering was being made by a priest or by the congregation (thewhole nation) then no part of the animal was to be used for food, since the


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priest was a partaker of the sin in question. The whole of the bull belonged toGod, although only the fat was offered on the altar.

Today some people have lost the sense of the holiness of God. They cannot seehow God can benefit from such service. Why does God expect the best? Can’t itbe put to better use by helping people in need? People resent sharing what theyhave with God. “He doesn’t need it, He’s got enough” they say. But our actionsprove the content of our heart.


Lev 6:25-30. "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sinoffering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sinoffering shall be killed before the LORD. It is most holy. {26} Thepriest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall beeaten, in the court of the tabernacle of meeting.’

{27} 'Everyone who touches its flesh must be holy. And when itsblood is sprinkled on any garment, you shall wash that on which itwas sprinkled, in a holy place. {28} But the earthen vessel inwhich it is boiled shall be broken. And if it is boiled in a bronzepot, it shall be both scoured and rinsed in water.’

{29} 'All the males among the priests may eat it. It is most holy.{30} But no sin offering from which any of the blood is broughtinto the tabernacle of meeting, to make atonement in the holyplace, shall be eaten. It shall be burned in the fire.’

Although the priest had no share in the bulls offered, he did receive a sharefrom the ruler’s or commoner’s lamb or goat. Only the blood of the bulls wascarried into the tabernacle of meeting (verse 30). The fat was still offered to theLord, but the carcasses of these animals were not carried outside the camp.

The meat remained holy however, and only the anointed priests could eat it.Care had to be taken in washing clothes and metal utensils, and earthen vesselshad to be destroyed. A sense of holiness and awe had to be maintained.

4.6. THE OFFER'S PORTION

The repentant sinner had no share in this offering. We never benefit from oursin, no matter how pleasurable it might appear at the time. He did however goaway having been forgiven.


There is a Holy God in heaven who requires that every sin is accounted for,even those sins which are done in ignorance. He is interested in the sin ofnations, religious ministers, government leaders and ordinary individuals. All sinhas a consequence.

Rom 6:23. For the wages of sin is death…

But the grace of God has prepared a way by which sinners can be redeemedand saved from the consequence of their sin.


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Rom 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life inChrist Jesus our Lord.

Christ is our sin offering, and he has prepared a blood stained way from thepresence of God.

2 Cor 5:21. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we mightbecome the righteousness of God in Him.

Heb 9:13-14. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer,sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,{14} how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through theeternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse yourconscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 13:10-13. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernaclehave no right to eat. {11} For the bodies of those animals, whoseblood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, areburned outside the camp. {12} Therefore Jesus also, that Hemight sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside thegate. {13} Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp,bearing His reproach.

5. THE TRESPASS OFFERING

References Leviticus 5:1-19 to Leviticus 6:1-8 and Leviticus 7:1-9.

The Trespass or Guilt Offering is the second of the two compulsory sacrifices. Asmight be expected it is very similar to the other compulsory sacrifice, the SinOffering. The purpose of this offering is to deal with the breaking of specifiedcommandments and of deliberate sins.

The Hebrew word translated as trespass of guilt is a-sam which means guilt,restitution, atonement and compensation.

Sin is often defined as our falling short of God’s standard of holiness. A trespassis the breaking of a commandment or the crossing of a forbidden boundary. Thescriptures concerning the Sin Offering repeatedly used the phrase “sinsunintentionally”.

Lev 4:27. If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doingsomething against any of the commandments of the LORD inanything which ought not to be done, and is guilty,

This term is not found with regard to the Trespass Offering.

The Trespass Offering introduces the idea of restitution. A law-breaker not onlyhad to reimburse the offended party, but also had to give an additionalpercentage. So the penitent had to make a sacrifice to God and put things rightwith his neighbour.


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5.1. THE TRESPASSES

A number of offences are mentioned in regard to the Trespass Offering, and thesacrifices and restitution required depended upon the crime committed. We willgo through the trespasses in the order given.

· Oaths

Lev 5:1. If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is awitness, whether he has seen or known of the matter; if he doesnot tell it, he bears guilt.

This is when a person fails to tell or reveal the truth concerning an issue in acourt of law. The Israelites had no right to keep silent at a trial, but when anoath was placed upon them they had to reveal the truth. We read of Joshuaplacing such an oath upon Achan8 and of Caiaphas placing an oath on Jesus9.

· Touching things that are unclean

Lev 5:2-3. Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcassof an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or thecarcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, healso shall be unclean and guilty. {3} Or if he touches humanuncleanness; whatever uncleanness with which a man may bedefiled, and he is unaware of it; when he realises it, then he shallbe guilty.

The second area concerns hygiene laws and in particular defilement throughtouching things which were specified as unclean.

· Making Vows

Lev 5:4. Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to doevil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce byan oath, and he is unaware of it; when he realises it, then heshall be guilty in any of these matters.

The third area concerns the fulfilling of a vow. Great emphasis is put in theBible concerning a person’s words. One important aspect of this is the doingwhat we say we will do. As believers we are to be people of the truth, and allour words should reflect this. God will judge all people who take a vow whenthey commit to do something, but then fail to do it.

Sadly there is a lack of integrity concerning promises made, even in churchcircles. When in a big meeting, people promise to contribute money towards acause. Pledges are made but afterward the majority fail to fulfil their intention.Their vows go unperformed.

Jesus taught that it is better not to make any promise, or take any vow.

8 Josh 7:19. Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God ofIsrael, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it fromme."9 Mat 26:63. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put Youunder oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"


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Mat 5:33-37. Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shallnot swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' {34}But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it isGod's throne; {35} nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor byJerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. {36} Nor shall youswear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white orblack. {37} But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' Forwhatever is more than these is from the evil one.

There are other warnings in Scripture concerning makes vows.

Psa 56:12. Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will renderpraises to You,

Prov 20:25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, Andafterward to reconsider his vows.

Eccl 5:4-6. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He hasno pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed; {5} Better not tovow than to vow and not pay. {6} Do not let your mouth causeyour flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it wasan error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroythe work of your hands?

· With regard to Holy Things

Lev 5:15-16. If a person commits a trespass, and sins unintentionally in regardto the holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring to the LORD ashis trespass offering a ram without blemish from the flocks, withyour valuation in shekels of silver according to the shekel of thesanctuary, as a trespass offering.

{16} And he shall make restitution for the harm that he has donein regard to the holy thing, and shall add one-fifth to it and give itto the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him with theram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

This sacrifice was to make atonement for the person who unintentionally sinnedin regard to that which was dedicated to the Lord. If through forgetfulness or alack of care a person failed to pay his tithes, offer his first-fruits or neglect insome other duty, then he was required to pay in silver for the neglectedservice, make restitution by paying an additional 20 % and offer a sacrifice.

· Breaking the commandments


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Lev 5:17-19. If a person sins, and commits any of these things which areforbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, thoughhe does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.{18} And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish fromthe flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priestshall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which heerred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. {19} It isa trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against theLORD."

This section sounds very similar to the Sin Offering previously mentioned, inthat both deal with a generic breaking the commandments of the Lord. Thedifference is in verse 18, where the worshipper was also to bring restitution –“with your valuation”.

· Theft and deception

Lev 6:2-5. If a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD bylying to his neighbour about what was delivered to him forsafekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he hasextorted from his neighbour, {3} or if he has found what was lostand lies concerning it, and swears falsely; in any one of thesethings that a man may do in which he sins: {4} then it shall be,because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what hehas stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what wasdelivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found,{5} or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restoreits full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever itbelongs, on the day of his trespass offering.

The final area deals with sins against our neighbour, which is still “a trespassagainst the Lord”. It deals with stealing, stealing by find and deception. Theseare not sins done in ignorance, but deliberate acts. Thank God that there isforgiveness available for our deliberate sins and crimes.

The person who sinned had to restore what was stolen and add to its value onefifth “on the day of his trespass offering”.

5.2. THE NATURE OF THE OFFERINGDifferent Trespass Offerings are specified, depending on whether restitution wasrequired or not. If restitution was not required then the worshipper could bringa female lamb or a female kid. If he could not afford this he could bring twoturtledoves or two young pigeons. If he was unable to afford this then he couldoffer one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour.


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Lev 5:5-7. And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that heshall confess that he has sinned in that thing; {6} and he shallbring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he hascommitted, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goatsas a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for himconcerning his sin. {7} If he is not able to bring a lamb, then heshall bring to the LORD, for his trespass which he has committed,two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one as a sin offering andthe other as a burnt offering.

Lev 5:11. But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two youngpigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenthof an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it,nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.

The offerings made are designated a Trespass Offering (verse 6) but fulfil therequirement of a sin offering (verses 6, 7 and 11). The second bird isdesignated a burnt offering.

When restitution was also to be made the worshipper was to bring a ram as theoffering, with the valuation of the thing stolen or damaged plus a double tithe.

Lev 5:18-19. And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from theflock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priestshall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which heerred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. {19} It isa trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the LORD.

5.3. THE OFFER'S WORKLev 5:5. And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he

shall confess that he has sinned in that thing;

The worshipper had to come to confess his sin to the priest. This was not just ageneric confession that he was a sinner and had done wrong, but a specificrepentance of a specific sin. This would be a humiliating thing to do, but sindoes humiliate us.

The worshipper had to identify himself with the animal that was to die byplacing his hands on it. He would then slay the animal. Although it does notdescribe this in the text we have studied, we are told that the Trespass Offeringwas dealt with in the same way as the Sin Offering.

Lev 7:7. The trespass offering is like the sin offering; there is one law forthem both...

The worshipper then had to make restitution, repaying the principle amount andadding 20 %.

Lev 6:5. … He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and giveit to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.


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Sin is never profitable there is always a cost. The worshipper may havereceived forgiveness but the restitution was part of his repentance. Forgivenessdoes not always mean we can escape the consequences of our sins in this life.

The purpose of the Trespass Offering was to bring forgiveness and atonementfor a repentant sinner. It was to save his soul, but not to save his face. Oftenwe sin intentionally and even calculatedly. Our repentance must equally bespecific and deliberate. The worshipper was not spared the humiliation ofconfession, or the unpleasantness of slaying the animal. He also had to face theperson he had wronged and pay the restitution.

5.4. THE PRIEST'S WORKThe priest had to deal with the Trespass Offering in the same way as he dealtwith the Sin Offering.

Lev 5:6. And he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sinwhich he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kidof the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonementfor him concerning his sin.

The internal fat would be taken from the animal and offered on the altar andthen the blood of offering was sprinkled around the altar.

Lev 5:9. Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on theside of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out atthe base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

If the worshipper brought two birds, only one was a Sin Offering, the other wasa Burnt Offering. If the worshipper could only afford an offering of flour, thenthe priest burnt a handful of flour on the altar.

Lev 5:12. 'Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take hishandful of it as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altaraccording to the offerings made by fire to the LORD. It is a sinoffering.

The priest’s actions were to make atonement for the worshipper.

Lev 5:13. The priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin that he hascommitted in any of these matters; and it shall be forgiven him…

5.5. GOD'S PORTIONGod’s portion was all that was offered on the altar, the fat of an animal or thehandful of meal. This small portion was designated a memorial and wasrepresentative of the whole.


The priest was given the remainder of the offerings for payment of his service.


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5.7. THE OFFER'S PORTION

The repentant sinner did not receive a portion of his offering, since we neverbenefit from our sin. He did however go away having been forgiven.


The Trespass Offering reminds us forcibly of the justice of God and therequirements he makes upon us. True repentance is more than saying sorry inorder to escape the consequence of our sin. Repentance incorporates adetermined effort to change our life style and also an act of putting things rightwith the people we have hurt. The Trespass Offering involved a sacrifice to Godand restitution to the injured party.

In the New Testament Zacchaeus demonstrated that understood the principle ofrestitution, but instead of repaying the required 120 %, he determined torestore 400 %.

Luke 19:8-10. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, Igive half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anythingfrom anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." {9} AndJesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house,because he also is a son of Abraham; {10} for the Son of Manhas come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Jesus also taught that there is another condition associated with receivingforgiveness from God:

Mat 6:14-15. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father willalso forgive you. {15} But if you do not forgive men theirtrespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus death on the cross once and for all satisfied God’s requirement for aTrespass Offering, but New Testament believers need to repent of theirtrespasses and also we need to make restitution to those we have robbed orinjured.

2 Cor 5:18-19. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himselfthrough Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry ofreconciliation, {19} that is, that God was in Christ reconciling theworld to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and hascommitted to us the word of reconciliation.

Col 2:13-14. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision ofyour flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgivenyou all trespasses, {14} having wiped out the handwriting ofrequirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. AndHe has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

6. THE PEACE OFFERING

References Leviticus 3:1-17, Leviticus 7:11-21.

The Hayford’s Bible Handbook defines peace in the following manner:


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PEACE. shalom (shah-loam): Completeness, wholeness, peace,health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfection,fullness, rest, harmony; the absence of agitation or discord. Shalomcomes from the root verb shalam, meaning “to be complete, perfect,and full.” Thus shalom is much more than the absence of war andconflict; it is the wholeness that the entire human race seeks.

The Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness,and well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God-given, obtained by following the Law (Ps. 119:165). Peace sometimeshad a physical meaning, suggesting security (Ps. 4:8), contentment(Is. 26:3), prosperity (Ps. 122:6-7), and the absence of war (1 Sam.7:14). The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, was a wish for peace.

As described in the introduction, the Peace Offering was the third of the fiveofferings to be described in Leviticus, grouped with the other free will offerings,namely the Burnt Offering and the Meal Offering. In the Law of the Offerings(instructions given to the priest concerning how they were to be made), thePeace Offering was the final offering described. This is because peace is theeffect of obedience in the other offerings.

The whole purpose of the offerings was to deal with the offence of sin, so thatthe believer was at peace with God, which in turn resulted with the personenjoying the peace of God. As we will see the Peace Offering is the only onewhich the worshipper had a share in. This was a rejoicing and feasting beforethe presence of the Lord. The New International Version calls this offering theFellowship Offering. The sacrifice of an innocent domesticated animal was stillrequired. Mankind had lost peace with God as a result of sin starting at the fall.Peace with God and peace within his own heart could not be achieved withoutman’s sin being dealt with.

6.1. THE NATURE OF THE OFFERINGIn the previous sacrifices the animal that was to be offered would alteraccording to the worshipper’s wealth, rank or the sin being atoned for. In eachcase the offering was clearly specified, no choice was given the penitent. Herehowever, a choice was presented to the worshipper. He could sacrifice a bovineanimal, a lamb or a goat.

Lev 3:1. When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers itof the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it withoutblemish before the LORD.

Lev 3:7. If he offers a lamb as his offering, then he shall offer it before theLORD.

Lev 3:12. And if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before theLORD.

Also in the other offerings the sex of the animal was clearly specified, but hereagain that was decided by the worshipper. The offering did of course have to beperfect, without any blemish.


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Unlike the Burnt Offering, birds could not be sacrificed as a Peace Offering. Thiswas because they contain insufficient fat to be burnt on the altar.

This was a fellowship offering, made to celebrate the peace of God. It was morerelaxed, although no less holy, than the other offerings.

6.2. THE OFFER'S WORK

The worshipper had to bring the animal to the house of God and there lay hishands on the beast’s head and then slay it. He then had to dissect the carcassto remove the fat, the breast and the shoulder.

Lev 3:2-4. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it atthe door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron's sons, thepriests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. {3} Thenhe shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offeringmade by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and allthe fat that is on the entrails, {4} the two kidneys and the fatthat is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to theliver above the kidneys, he shall remove;

Lev 7:30. His own hands shall bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD.The fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may bewaved as a wave offering before the LORD.

6.3. THE PRIEST'S WORKThe priest firstly sprinkled the blood of the animal all around the altar. Then hewould offer the fat of the offering on the altar of burnt offering to the Lord.

Lev 3:5. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burntsacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offeringmade by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.

Finally the priest would wave the breast and heave the shoulder of the animalbefore the Lord. The waving of the portion back and forth (not side to side)signified the thought “That which You have given us, we give back to you.”There were other times in the law when offering were waved in this manner10.When an offering was heaved, it meant it was lifted up and presented to God inheaven.

Lev 7:30-32. His own hands shall bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD.The fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may bewaved as a wave offering before the LORD. {31} And the priestshall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron's andhis sons. {32} Also the right thigh you shall give to the priest asa heave offering from the sacrifices of your peace offerings.

10 See the law of the Nazirite – Numbers 6:13-21.


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6.4. GOD'S PORTION

From all the different animals the Lord’s portion was the fat or suet from theinward parts, including the two kidneys. If the sacrifice was to be a lamb, thewhole of the tail was also to be offered. The tail was a delicacy much loved bythe easterner, but was made mainly of fat.

Lev 3:9-11. Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as anoffering made by fire to the LORD, its fat and the whole fat tailwhich he shall remove close to the backbone. And the fat thatcovers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, {10} 'thetwo kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and thefatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shallremove; {11} and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food,an offering made by fire to the LORD.

The fat was considered the best part, and that belonged solely to God. Theimportance of the fat is discussed in section 4.3.2. The Fat on page 20.

Lev 3:16. … all the fat is the Lord's.


The officiating priest received the breast that was waved and the shoulder thatwas lifted up.

Lev 7:33-35. He among the sons of Aaron, who offers the blood of the peaceoffering and the fat, shall have the right thigh for his part. {34}For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heaveoffering I have taken from the children of Israel, from thesacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaronthe priest and to his sons from the children of Israel by a statuteforever. {35} This is the consecrated portion for Aaron and hissons, from the offerings made by fire to the LORD, on the daywhen Moses presented them to minister to the LORD as priests.

The wave offering was shared with the priest’s family. The breast speaks ofaffection, fellowship and the heart. But the shoulder was the priest’s alone andspeaks of strength.

6.6. THE OFFER'S PORTIONUnlike the other offerings, the offer did get a portion of the Peace Offering.Everything that was left after God’s and the Priest’s portions had been takenout he could eat and share with his family and friends. The law containedinstructions on how the worshipper should share his offering with Levites fromhis home town and with the poor.


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Deut 12:18-19. But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the placewhich the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and yourdaughter, your male servant and your female servant, and theLevite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before theLORD your God in all to which you put your hands. {19} Takeheed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as youlive in your land.

Deut 16:11. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sonand your daughter, your male servant and your female servant,the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and thefatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place wherethe LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.

Peace offering would be offered for different reasons. There was a thankoffering made in response to some blessing (healing from sickness, a journeysafely completed). There was an offering that accompanied some vow or specialrequest. There were free will offering made as a spontaneous act of worshipand praise. The Nazirite had to include a peace offering with his other offeringsat the end of his term of separation.

The type of offering determined when the Peace Offering could be eaten.

Lev 7:15-17. The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgivingshall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any ofit until morning. {16} But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vowor a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that heoffers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it alsomay be eaten; {17} the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice onthe third day must be burned with fire.

6.7. NEW TESTAMENT APPLICATIONThe Peace or Fellowship Offering ended with joyful feasting of the priests andpeople in the courts of the tabernacle. The purpose of the five offerings detailedin Leviticus was achieved; peace and fellowship with God. These were imperfectofferings, but they illustrated what the one perfect sacrifice would achieve.

It is the Cross of Christ that has dwelt with our sin, appeased the wrath of Godand has reconciled us to God. It is the sacrificial blood of Christ that hasachieved peace.

Col 1:19-20. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,{20} and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him,whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peacethrough the blood of His cross.

Eph 2:13-14. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have beenbrought near by the blood of Christ. {14} For He Himself is ourpeace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middlewall of separation,

This peace is appropriated by faith:


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Rom 5:1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ,

Peace with God and peace of being are the legacy that Christ has left hispeople.

John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the worldgives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither letit be afraid.

We have a responsibility to walk in peace and to maintain peace between eachother.

Rom 8:6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded islife and peace.

Rom 14:19. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and thethings by which one may edify another.

Col 3:15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also youwere called in one body; and be thankful.

It is our relationship with God that is the source of our peace.

Phil 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made knownto God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses allunderstanding, will guard your hearts and minds through ChristJesus.

7. CONCLUSIONS

We have studied the five offerings described in Leviticus and the law of theseofferings. These offerings describe what Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross hasachieved for mankind.

Four of the five offerings were sacrifices; where an innocent animal without anyblemish or default was slain in order that the worshipper might approach God.The principle is substitutionary atonement – where a substitute life is sacrificedso the worshipper can go free. These animal sacrifices were only forerunners ofthe one perfect sacrifice that was to come – Jesus.

All the offerings, including the three free will offerings, had to be madeaccording to the strict laws that are within Leviticus. Nothing was left to theimagination of the worshipper on how they could approach God.

We have seen that:

The Burnt offering symbolised the total dedication, commitment andconsecration of his life that Jesus made to the will of His Father. This offeringand the life and death of Christ remind us that God wants the complete andentire consecration of our life to Him and His will.

The meal or grain offering speaks of the consecration of our gifts and service.


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The sin offering was the first of the obligatory offerings and is the sacrificemade for sin against any of the commandments of the Lord which are madethrough ignorance.

The trespass offering was the second of the obligatory offerings and is thesacrifice made for the breaking of specified commandments and of deliberatesins.

The peace offering was a free will offering where the worshipper joyouslycelebrated his communion with the Lord before the presence of God and in thecommunity of believers.

BIBLIOGRAPHYThus Shalt Thou Serve: C W Slemming. ISBN 0-87508-508-3

Documents

Community Life Church Old Testament Sacrifices€¦ · Chapter 2 is the Meal Offering, Chapter 3 is the Peace Offering, Chapter 4 is the Sin Offering, Chapter 5 is the Trespass Offering