Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1:1-17

Leviticus 1:1-17 The Five Offerings First Group (Leviticus 1:1-17; Leviticus 2:1-16; Leviticus 3:1-17) First. The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:1-17) This is called the Burnt Offering because the entire offering was burned. It is the ascending offering as contrasted with the descending offering (the Sin Offering). It may be viewed in a twofold manner: Christward, and in its relation to the believer. Viewed Christward, it typifies the personal consecration and the absolute surrender of Christ to the Father. The blood of this offering is said to ascend, just as the odor of a sweet-smelling sacrifice ascends to heaven and is in contrast, as we have said, with the Sin Offering, the blood of which descends. Every detail of this sacrifice points to Jesus Christ. The offering must be a male and without blemish, on the head of which the priest must lean his hands heavily. So Christ was without blemish and without spot (Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 1:18-19). It was on the sacred head of Christ that the sins of the world leaned hard. “ And the Lord hath laid (made to lean or fall heavily) on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 Hebrew).

With this offering, as with Christ, God was well pleased (Matthew 3:16-17). If God had not been pleased with Christ, there would be no hope for us. Viewed with relation to the believer, it shows that God accepts him in Christ and that He is well-pleasing in the Beloved; that God has “ his inheritance in the saints” and that He is well pleased with us in Christ (Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 1:18). It should be noted that in every case (in Presentation) the Burnt Offering was offered after the Sin Offering; it was offered daily, reminding us of the need of constant daily surrender (Romans 7:6; Romans 7:13-22). It must be a male of the flock, thus typifying the surrender of the best we have. The offering ascends unto God, thus intimating that we are to seek those things that are above where our life is hid with Christ (Colossians 3:1-3) and that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The Burnt Offering could be an offering from the herd, from the flock, or from among the fowls, probably determined by one’ s ability and position in life. God is worthy of the best we have (2 Samuel 24:24). This spirit must characterize our offering, which must be presented “ before the Lord,” indicating an offering made with the consciousness of God’ s presence. It is interesting to note the words “ He shall lay the wood in order upon the altar” (Leviticus 1:7-8). This phrase is emphasized again and again. God is a God of order and not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:40). The same thing is true of the attire of the priests when presenting themselves to God. One sometimes wonders if this does not bring home the lesson that we need to be careful, neat, and orderly in our attire and presentation of ourselves before God.