Offering And Sacrifice Series

Offerings and Sacrifice

I. Introduction

A. One of the most neglected books in the Bible is Leviticus.

1. Many do not study the book because they feel it was written only to the Levitical priesthood.

a) As Christians, we are the priesthood of God – 1 Peter 2:9

b) Therefore Leviticus can help us prepare for service.

2. Some do not study the book because it deals with animal and grain sacrifices.

a) Again as Christians we are to present ourselves a living sacrifice to God – Romans 12:1-2

b) It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that we are healed from our sins – 1 Peter 2:24

3. Some have not studied the book because the cleansing we read about is ceremonial.

a) The central theme of Leviticus is holiness.

b) Peter again makes reference to this theme – 1 Peter 1:16

B. We may outline this great book in a simple way.

1. Key theme is holiness – 11:45 – “For I am the Lord who brings you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

2. The Chapters breakdown this way:

a) Holy Offerings – Chapters 1-7

b) Holy Priesthood – Chapters 8-10, 21-22

c) Holy People – 11-17

d) Holy Land – 18-20, 23-27

3. This book is important because as Christians we are to “…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1

C. Tonight we want to consider Chapters 1-7

1. By looking at the various offerings.

2. Showing how they relate to Jesus.

3. What significance they have on us today.

II. The Levitical Offerings in Chapters 1-7

A. Burnt Offerings (Chapter 1)

1. Three essentials to the burnt offering

a) The Offerer – The individual child devoted to God.

1) He was to offer the proper animal (3a).

2) He was to offer it out of his own free will (3b).

3) He was to offer it at the appointed place (3c).

4) He was to acknowledge the offering was of personal conviction about his relationship with God (4a).

5) He offered the sacrifice as atonement for his sin (4b).

b) The Offering – The sacrifice presented before God

1) It was to be the right kind of animal (5,10, 14).

2) Allowances were made for the poor as to the type.

3) The offering was to be killed by the offerer in the presence of a priest (5)

4) The whole animal, except for the skin and the blood (5-6), was to be burned.

c) The Priest – The intercessor for man.

1) He was to deal personally with the blood.

2) He was to light the fire.

3) He was to place the offering in the proper order.

2. Jesus and the Burnt Offering

a) In Jesus we find all the elements of the burnt offering.

b) Jesus is the offerer of the total sacrifice.

1) John 10:17-18 – “Therefore My Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes my life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.

2) Hebrews 10:12- “But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God.”

3) Hebrews 7:27 – “Jesus offered up Himself once for all.”

c) Jesus is also the offering

1) Just as with the burnt offering He was male without spot, blemish or broken bone.

2) 1 Peter 1:19 – we have been redeemed with, “…the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

3) Hebrews 10:10 – By that will (Testament) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus, once for all.”

d) Jesus is the priest

1) He is a High Priest of a different order – Hebrews 7:20-22

2) Jesus is the perfect go-between – Hebrews 7:25

3) He has all things in order – Colossians 1:17-18, Hebrews 2:8

3. The Christian and the Burnt Offering

a) We are to give ourselves freely to God.

b) We are to give ourselves totally to God – 1 Timothy 4:15

c) We are to give ourselves personally to God – Psalm 23

d) We are to worship God properly – John 4:24

e) See Romans 12:1-2

B. The Meal Offering (Chapter 2, 6:14-23)

1. The Elements of the Offering

a) Fine Flour, oil and frankincense (1).

b) Oven-baked grain offering that is unleavened (4).

c) Grain cakes baked in an uncovered pan (5).

d) Grain cakes baked in a covered pan (7).

e) Roasted heads of new grain (14).

2. The Limitations of the offering

a) Unleavened (11)

b) No honey to be used (11)

c) Salt is to accompany all such offerings (14)