Sacrificial Offerings 1

Article Index

 

New Testament Scriptures Relating to the Lord Jesus and the Christian Life
as They Apply to the Sacrificial Offerings:

 

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

Romans 12:1,2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. 

1 Corinthians 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 


 

P riests Were Instructed to Execute Their Instructions in Minute Detail

 

No error was permitted. 

Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest unto me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

Luke 11:52  Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. 

Luke 12:42-48 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin the beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worth of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Revelation 1:5,6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into marvellous light: 


 

AKing Speaks of the Believer’s Authority:   A Priest, His Relationship and Ministry to the Lord

 

The five sacrificial offerings reveal five aspects of the once for all perfect offering of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each offering requires the shedding of blood, with the exception of the meal offering. 

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

The teaching shows God's perfect will for the Christian: the total dedication of his life, possessions, talents, worship and time in the church. 

Consider the offerings of Cain and Abel. 

Genesis 4:1-8  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of there fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

What was the cause of acceptance on one hand, and rejection on the other? 

Surely the boy's father had explained the importance of shed blood in sacrificial offerings. Yes, he did. But there is something very important to be seen here. 

Abel offered the first and the fat, (fattest, best, choice) of the flock! 

He did not worship God with leftovers. He gave the best he had. He gave to God first. 

Consider this attitude in the beginning of the Bible, as opposed to that manifested in the conclusion of the Old Testament. 

Malachi 1:8,13,14  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord ; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand ? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. 

The gift that is offered reflects the attitude of the worshipper toward the One being worshiped. 

Take your torn, lame sick offering to the Mayor of your city, the Premier of your State, the Prime Minister of your nation: will he accept it? 

And yet Christians try to gain acceptance of God in the presentation of their leftovers to Him! 

God's statement certainly strikes a blow at the root of the human attitude, It's not the gift, it's the thought that counts. 

God says, I am not interested in your thoughts! It's your gift that counts! 

Quite the opposite! 

We are not obligated to worship God. There is no compulsion. However, if we desire to worship God we are compelled to offer the first and the best that we have. 

John 4:23, 24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him  MUST worship him in spirit and in truth. 

The teaching further portrays the dedication of each individual Christian in every aspect of his life, particularly in his home and place of employment. 

John 8:32, 36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. 

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

Identification through the laying on of hands is also seen in the teaching. 

All offerings were slain on the north side of the altar. Jesus was slain on the north side of Jerusalem. Sin originated on the sides of the north in the heavens. 

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

The Sacrificial Offerings show God as a God of order! 

Each was a sweet smelling savour to God. 

They focus on the sovereignty of God: the Feasts of the Lord emphasise human responsibility. 

The animals were domesticated: they were not wild! They belonged to the herd or the flock! The duty of the shepherd was to prepare them for sacrifice. They were not lawless. 

Psalm 68:6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. 

Isaiah 65:8  Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

The emphasis is on the corporate, body aspect. 

Except for the Sin and Trespass Offerings which were compulsory, it remained the responsibility of each worshipper to bring his offering to God. 

2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Exodus 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. 

The worshipper gave as his spirit stirred him up! 


 

T he Priest’s Work

 

The priest was required to flay (skin) the offering, thus exposing the covered inwards that they may be inspected and subsequently dealt with. 

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 

(Covered thing!) Those areas we really do not want to be exposed. 

Acts 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 


 

S acrificial Offerings

 

Order: Offering: Status: God's Portion: Priest: Symbolism: Ministry

1. Sin Offering Compulsory All the Fat Flesh Reconciliation Evangelist

Reference Jesus Crosses Truth Pentateuch Worshipper

Leviticus 4:1-35 2 Cor.5:21 Jesus Christ  John 19 Justification Genesis Nothing

2. Trespass Compulsory All the Fat Offended +20% Flesh Restoration Teacher

Leviticus 5:1-19; 6:1-7 Coll. 2:13,14; Isaiah 53:8 Bride  Revelation 12 Water Baptism Exodus Nothing

3. Peace Voluntary Fat and Inwards Breast and Shoulder Praise and Worship Pastor

Leviticus 3:1-17 Coll. 1:20
Moses Exodus 12 Divine Healing Leviticus Remainder

4. Meal Voluntary Handful Remainder Transformation Prophet

Leviticus 2:1-16 John 6:27-58 Abraham  Genesis 22 Laying on of Hands Numbers Nothing

5. Burnt Voluntary All Burned Skin Total Consecration Apostle

Consecration Leviticus 1:1-17 Hebrews 9:1-28 2 Corinthians 5:8 Adam and Eve Genesis 3 Sonship; Perfection; Adoption; Inheritance; Redemption of the Body Deuteronomy Nothing

Outer Court Holy Place Most Holy Place

Sin; Trespass Peace; Meal Burnt

Passover Pentecost Tabernacles

Linen Coat Blue Robe Ephod

Thirty (30) Sixty (60) One Hundred (100)



T he Priest’s Function

 

The offering was laid bare for inspection by the priests. It was systematically dissected into various sections. Those areas with spots, defects, and blemishes were rejected. 

Hebrews 12:12,13  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

Leviticus 13:2,10-11  When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be a quick raw flesh in the rising; It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.


 

C omponents 

 

Head: Thoughts, conversation; disciplined mind. 

Legs: Walk 

Inwards: Emotions, attitudes, spirit. 

Fat: Most highly valued part of the offering: my rights

Sprinkled blood: Life. 

Altar: The place of assembly. 

Wash inwards and legs: Continual washing of the water of the word. 

Set the pieces in order: Our personal lives. 

Burn: The processing of God.