Christ in the Burnt Offering
Leviticus 1:1-2
Introduction.
The Book of Leviticus is often a hard read.
These sacrifices and rules don’t apply to us, so why study them?
They actually do apply to us through Christ!
We know that He has taken our sins away as the sacrifices were meant to do.
But there are actually 5 different kinds of sacrifices presented here in first 7 chapters.
Christ fulfills them all for us.
Truly serving God requires sacrifice in every generation, and we have our own kinds of sacrifices that we make.
Sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15).
Material sacrifices (Phil. 4:18) – sweet smelling aroma.
Sacrifice of repentance (Psa. 51:17).
Bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2).
Sharing in sacrifice of Christ in LS (Eph. 5:2) – sweet smelling aroma.
The Israelites had their sacrifices, too, though God still expected repentance, praise, and monetary sacrifices.
Burnt offering (Lev. 1).
Grain offering (Lev. 2).
Peace offering (Lev. 3).
Sin offering (Lev. 4).
Trespass offering (Lev. 5).
How does Christ fulfill each of these sacrifices for us?
Today, we talk about the burnt offering of Lev. 1.
We will consider its purpose, characteristics, and Christ’s fulfillment.
Body.
When Was It Used?
The purpose of each of these sacrifices is not given in Lev. 1—7.
These rules are given for each kind of sacrifice here.
Then throughout the rest of the Law, we see different circumstances where the burnt offering is to be performed.
Burnt offerings are mentioned in Genesis, but these requirements for a burnt offering aren’t expected until Exodus 20:24.
We do not know what was expected in the Patriarchal System.
Instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offering was given in Exo 27.
Consecrations – these were specifically young bulls or rams.
Instructions for the consecration of the priests were given in Exo 29. This is carried out in Lev 8—9. This was accompanied by a sin offering.
The Levites were also consecrated in Num 8. This was accompanied by a grain offering and a sin offering.
The tabernacle was dedicated with a burnt offering from each tribe in Num 7, accompanied by all the other sacrifices, except the trespass offering. This specifically called for a young bull, one ram, and one male lamb of the first year.
In Christ, we are all made into a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9).
Jesus is our High Priest (Heb. 3:1).
By being washed in His blood, we have been set apart for this purpose, just as the priests and Levites were ritually set apart through their offerings.
Purification – uncleanness, vows.
This was to purify after some kind of ritual uncleanness occurred.
After giving birth, a burnt offering had to be made, accompanied by a sin offering (Lev. 12).
Mary did this after Jesus was born (Luke 2:22-24).
When one is cleansed of leprosy. This is accompanied by a grain offering, a trespass offering, and a sin offering (Lev 14).
Certain discharges required a burnt offering with a sin offering (Lev 15).
We note Jesus’ words that whatever comes out of a man defiles him (Mark 7:15).
Then He clarifies what defiles a man, that which comes from the heart (Mark 7:20-23).
For us it’s not a baby, blood, pus, or some other discharge, it’s evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
These things defile us, but it is our Lord who cleanses us from these things! (1 Cor. 6:11).
Atonement – Day of Atonement, Feasts of Firstfruits and Weeks.
The one time of year entering into the Most Holy Place was the Day of Atonement (Lev 16).
Blood from the sacrifice of a bull as a sin offering and the ram as a burnt offering was sprinkled on the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat.
More on the holidays later.
Whatever the case, Christ is the propitiation for our sins, that atoning sacrifice!
Characteristics and Christ’s Fulfillment.
This sacrifice is wholly burned up.
This is an indication of complete surrender both of Christ and of us.
Christ completely surrendered Himself on the cross (Matt. 26:39, 53).
We must completely surrender ourselves to Him (Luke 9:57-62).
Anyone, Israelite or stranger, could offer this sacrifice (Lev. 17:8).
Christ sacrificed Himself for the whole world (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:2).
The whole world will not take advantage of His sacrifice, but it is available to all.
Daily sacrifices made (Exo 29:38-46).
The burnt offering was not the only daily sacrifice they made.
But it does let us know that sin was not just a yearly thing, but a daily thing.
This reminded them every day of sin and the need for mercy and grace.
We partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week, partly for this same purpose.
We are to offer ourselves daily as a living sacrifice! – I die daily (Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor 15:31).
The one offering the sacrifice was to put his hand on the head of the victim.
This was to remind the individual of the cost of his sin.
The animal died for his sins: “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22).
We are told in several occasions that Christ is the propitiation for our sins.
This is an atoning sacrifice that also appeases God’s wrath.
When we partake of the LS, we are to be reminded of the cost of sin, the death of our Lord (1 Cor. 11:26) – we were bought at a price! (6:20).
The blood of bulls and goats could not truly forgive sins, only the blood of Jesus could do that (Heb. 10:4).
It is a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord.
This is not a literal sweet-smelling aroma to Him, but an anthropomorphism.
This puts human traits on that which is not human.
The opposite would be an abomination—the root word for that in Hebrew is something that stinks and is detestable.
Paul calls Jesus a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph 5:2).
He also calls our monetary gifts a sweet-smelling aroma (Phil 4:18).
Five possible animals could be sacrificed: bull, sheep, goat, turtledove, pigeon.
Which one that was offered depended on purpose and ability (means).
A smaller animal did not mean any less to God than a larger one.
God took into account one’s ability—did not require more from one with less.
He does that with us today (Luke 12:48).
Christ’s sacrifice counts for us all, great and small.
Such sacrifices must cost something.
David said he would not offer a burnt sacrifice to God with that which cost him nothing (2 Sam. 24:24).
This sacrifice cost God everything—we should be grateful.
But oftentimes we can’t even be bothered to make it to worship.
Conclusion.
One conclusion we can draw from this: I’m glad we don’t have to do all this today.
Not because this is too much.
If God calls on us to do something, no matter how difficult it is, we should be happy to do it.
No, but because even with all that, you did not have true forgiveness of sins.
We have that in Christ!
Another conclusion: God had certain expectations of obedience.
No matter how odd it seems or detailed He gets, He expects us to obey Him.
All of these things are now fulfilled in Christ, but He still expects us to do something.
If you want to be grateful for that sacrifice He made for us, obey the gospel today.