Leviticus 1-2 – Burnt and Grain Offerings

Lev. 1 – burnt offering – overview

Bull Sacrifice Chart

Animal	Qualifications	Where	How	Slaughter
Bull	Male; no blemish	Entrance of tent of meeting	Lay hand on head	Bringer kills bull; priests sprinkle blood on altar at entrance to tent of meeting

• Most basic offering; fundamental to other offerings
• First specific offering recorded in Bible (Gen. 8:20-22)
  • Pleasing aroma to God
  • Was substitutionary for judgment over the world
• Gen. 22:1ff – Isaac offered as burnt offering
  • Type for Christ’s death (and subsequent resurrection) – Heb. 11
  • Ram took place for Isaac
    • Ram = male lamb
    • Thorns on head
• Job 1 – burnt offering
  • Righteous father offers it on behalf of  his children’s sins
  • Foreshadows book of Job
    • Job = type of Christ
    • At one time, had everything
    • Lost everything, was brought to complete “death”
    • Was righteous; didn’t deserve the death
    • Received double at end
      • Represents resurrection
      • ½ represents death
        • ½ shekel
        • Isaac
        • Daniel’s 70^th week
        • Gen. 15 – Abraham’s covenant
• 1 Chron. 21 –
  • David, Israel’s “head,” sinned
    • Sin initiated by Satan
      • God also allowing
    • Sin of self-dependence
  • Brought curse of death on Israel – from God
  • To propitiate God’s wrath, burnt offering was implemented
    • Took place “outside the camp,” in ‘Gentile home’
      • Children scared, father steadfastly worked
  • David made it clear that this offering was costly

Lev. 1:1

• The LORD called to Moses – the book begins with God calling out to His mediator
  • Jesus’ ministry begins with God calling to Him at baptism
• …and spoke – all these offerings are revealed from God
• …to him – to Moses, God’s revelation is given through His mediator, and then His mediator is to give it to His people
  • Similarly, revelation of God is bound up in His Son (Matt. 11; Heb. 1-2), and only through coming to the Son can we have revelation of the Father’s purposes
• …from the tabernacle of meeting – this was the place outside the holy of holies, where God dealt with His priests, and they fellowshipped with Him (hence the name, “meeting”).
  • According to Hebrews, Jesus, Himself, is a living “holy of holies”.  The curtain was his flesh, and the Holy Spirit dwelt fully inside Him wherever He walked.  When He was crucified, the Spirit was given to all flesh, as the barrier between God’s manifest presence and the people was broken.
  • We, individually and corporately, are like the “tent of meeting”.  We are flesh tents (see 2 Cor. 5, for instance), and God meets with us in our flesh tent.

Lev. 1:2

• Speak to the children of Israel – the revelation of God comes only to Israel’s children
  • Moses is a type for Jesus, the Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).  Through Jesus ALONE do we understand and hear God’s heart and purposes.
  • The church is now considered God’s Israel (Gal. 6:16, Rom. 11, etc.).  We are the ones who have the revelation, as we seek Jesus
  • Matt. 11:25ff; Heb. 2:3-4
• “When…” – not, “If…”; it is expected and necessary for God’s people to approach Him through offerings
• …to the LORD – the offerings are not meant for anyone but God, they satisfy Him
• …of the livestock – the burnt offering must come from something living, it must come from Life
  • Jesus is Life (John 14:6, for instance)
• The herd = cattle—bulls, cows (cf. Lev. 1:5)
  • Bulls speak to the leaders
• The flock = sheep or goats (cf. Lev. 1:10)
  • Sheep and goats speak to general humanity (cf. Matt. 25 – parable of sheep and goats)
• The herd and flock together represent all of humanity – poor and rich, leaders and followers, etc. needing the burnt offering

Lev. 1:3

• Burnt sacrifice = burnt offering; God’s offerings are sacrifices
  • Fire – symbol of judgment – consumes the wicked, refines the good
• A male – offering had to be male, He is representative head of humanity (cf. 1 Cor. 11)
  • Jesus was male (Matt. 1:23)
• Without blemish – 1 Pet. 1:17; the offering would only be accepted if it was perfect
  • Note: no truly perfect animal exists; even if a sheep looks fully white compared with others around him, he is not white compared to the snow (that comes from “heaven”).  Thus, only Jesus could absolutely fulfill this role as a sacrifice.
• Freewill – Jesus: “no one takes my life from Me; I lay it down on my own” (John 10); God does not coerce anyone to accept Jesus’ sacrifice, though He does compel it
• At the door of the tent of meeting – The location of this offering is at the entrance to meeting/fellowship with God.  This offering is the beginning of that process.
• Before the LORD – this offering is firstly for God’s eyes

Lev. 1:4

• He  – the one giving the offering, not necessarily the priest; speaks to anyone approaching God through the offering of the cross
• Put his hand on…– laying hands is a way of identifying and sharing an experience; it says that what happens to this animal is representative of what happens to me
• … the head – Jesus is the “head of the body” (see Col. 1).  On His head came thorns and sweat, both elements of the curse brought to mankind (see Gen. 3).  He literally absorbed everything we deserved, as our head.
• Accepted  – what happens to that animal is an acceptable substitute in God’s eyes for what we deserved
• on his behalf…for him – We can only receive the benefits of Christ’s atonement for ourselves; it is accepted on “our” behalf, but others must approach on their own to have it accepted on “their behalf”
• to make atonement – atonement means “covering”, and is frequently connected with blood and sin, that is, blood had to cover people’s sins (see Heb. 9:27).  The burnt offering speaks to our being covered by God’s sacrifice (i.e. His Son).

Lev. 1:5

• kill – death is the only way, and we are the “killers” of Jesus (i.e. our sin killed God)
• priests, Aaron’s sons – Aaron was representative of Moses and brother to him; similarly, believers are considered representatives/mouthpieces of Jesus, and brothers to Him (i.e. we have the same Father)
  • priests begin to do the work at this point

Lev. 1:6

• skin the burnt offering – the flesh is taken off; this speaks to the covering of Jesus’ death over us (Col. 1:23); Jesus also had His physical covering/garment removed during His sacrifice; contrast this to Adam and Eve who realized they needed a covering, and then God eventually covered them with the life of another (a type for Christ)
• cut it into its pieces – the animal was alive and singular (1 bull), now that it has died it has become “many pieces” from that 1 bull.  Similarly, Jesus’ was 1 seed (John 12:24) and 1 “bread”, yet when He died He gave birth to a group of many members that makes one body.  Only through His death does the life of the 1 carry over to the many, and the many become unified as 1.  This happens by us sinners, we put Christ to death (which is so tragic), but God used it for such glory—bless His name!
  • “this is My body broken for you” – the cutting up of the sacrifice speaks to the work of the Cross
  • “cut” vs. “broken” – when something is cut, it is purposeful (think of David cutting the hem of Saul’s garment), it speaks to God’s purpose in the matter; when something is broken, it may speak to the human and sinful element involved (think of Saul’s breaking Samuel’s garment). 

Lev. 1:7

• The sons of Aaron the priest shall put – again, this is the job of the priest
• Fire on the altar – fire connects to the “burnt” offering
  • Fire involved in the covenant with Abraham Gen. 15
  • God has said He is a consuming fire (Heb. 11), and the Spirit came as fire (Acts 2), and Jesus’ eyes burned as fire (Rev. 1)
  • When fire comes on the altar, it speaks of God accepting the sacrifice (Elijah vs. Prophets of Baal).  
• Lay the wood in order – God has clear order in His sacrifice
  • Wood may represent the Cross, which had to be put in order for Jesus to be offered (“burnt”) to God.
  • Wood also can represent humanity (Lev. 23 – Feast of Booths/Tents, a symbol of our human lives lived in “flesh-tents”, was celebrated with wood from 4 different kinds of trees; Eze. 17 shows trees as symbols of human kingdoms; John 1:14 – when Jesus became “flesh” it says He pitched His tent/”tabernacled” among us [think of Lev. 23 – Feast of Booths above]; 2 Tim. 2:20—clay and wood lumped together—clay is like dust, which man was made of, and wood is lumped with this; trees/wood grow out of ground), which is symbolically what Jesus died on/for
  • “in order” = there is an order to God’s plan; the cross/salvation had to happen as it is described; salvation had to happen in certain order (“the Jew, then the Gentile” – Rom. 1-2); God says, “let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14)

Lev. 1:8

• The Priests… – the job of the priest, not the sinner
• Lay the parts…in order – God has clear order and purpose for every part of the sacrifice
• The head – speaks to Jesus’ whole Person, our representative “Head”: what happens to the head happens to the whole body (think of birthing a baby: when the head comes, you know the body follows, Col. 1); we die with Jesus’ death, we live because Jesus lived, etc.
• Fat – see Lev. 3, Peace Offering
• On the wood – the parts didn’t go on the fire, but on the wood; the wood being a representative of humanity, while also physically fulfilled in the cross

Lev. 1:9

• He – the presenter/sinner
• Wash…with water – speaks to cleansing; though the sacrifice and Christ were without blemish, there still had to be an active sanctifying process (similar to the word, “sanitation”?) – Heb. 5, “He learned obedience through what He suffered”; Eph. 5 – washed by the water of the word
  • Entrails – the inner part; may speak to the soul (Is. 53 – His soul was poured out); as a man, Jesus had a will and desires – “I came not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.” “Not my will, but Yours be done”.  His soul, though not with blemish, had to be actively sanctified.  The inner part is being transformed day-by-day, this shows the soul.  “I came not for my agenda, but for God’s agenda”
  • Legs – part of body that stands as mediator between heaven (rest of body) and earth, in Rev. 1, Jesus’ legs were as bronze (judgment on earth), satan lost legs as part of curse, confining him forever to the earth; Lev. 11 – legs with joints to separate the animal from the earth made the animal clean the animal with the earth; just as Jesus’ feet were washed and sanctified, so the human element in Him that came from Mary and had contact with the world had to be sanctified
  • Entrail and Legs together may speak to the human nature of Christ that had to be sanctified (see Heb. 2).
    • Note: when Jesus’ side was pierced, gravity would have made it flow down to the legs and area of entrails.  Psalm 22 – soul poured out like water
• Burn all – everything of Christ was offered up at the cross
• Sweet aroma – Gen. 8; Eph. 5:2 – the breath of God’s mouth is established and fixed (his word/Spirit); the nostrils signify God’s judgment, but 

Lev. 1:10

1:10-13 – stipulations for sheep and goats are same as for bull

• Sheep…goats – speaks to humanity in general (cf. Matt. 25)

Lev. 1:11 

• North side of the altar – front of temple (Ez. 44:4); North v. South wind

Lev. 1:14

• Birds – ram speaks to the higher points of humanity, and birds speak to the poorer (see Luke 2, Mary and Joseph were poor, so had to get birds).  Interestingly, though, the bird is much more detached from the earth than other animals, and the ram is much heavier and therefore more connected to the earth (think of the fact that it is difficult for a rich man [in money, status, intelligence, etc. – see 1 Cor. 1] to enter heaven, but much easier for the poor).
• turtle doves or pigeons – both are white; pure, without blemish (Is. 1 – though your sins be like scarlet, I’ll make them white)

Lev. 1:15

• the priest – this is the work of the priest, not the sinner
• the altar – the place for sacrifice
• wring off its head – Christ is the Head, but He had to be sacrificed
• burn – completely offer to God
• blood drained out – Jesus’ blood poured down to the earth so that the citizens of earth would have access up to heaven

Lev. 1:16

• crop…feathers – this relates to the covering of the animals being removed; see 1:6
• east side – Adam and Eve, on account of sin, were sent eastward; the wise men, on account of the Redeemer, were sent westward; East speaks to the consequences of sin; West speaks to the redemption; the sacrifice being offered on the east side of the altar shows that it is undoing the consequences of sin, which is ultimately death
• ashes – ashes are the only thing that survive flames, they speak to eternal nature/quality of the sacrifice, thus, the sacrifice being offered with the ashes on the East side shows that it eternally undoes the effect of sin

Lev. 1:17

• split – when something is cut in half, it speaks to crucifixion (Gen. 15 – Abraham’s covenant with God where he had to walk in the middle of sacrifices cut in half; Gen. 22, wood cut (presumably in half) for Isaac’s sacrifice; Dan. 9 – the Messiah would be cut off/crucified when the week is cut in half; the price of atonement in the Mosaic law was ½ shekel; etc.); contrast of this is doubling something, which speaks to resurrection (see end of Job)
• the priest shall burn it – the work of the priest is to offer the sacrifice

Lev. 2 = Grain Offering – Overview

John 12:24 – Jesus speaks of grain “dying”, then “resurrecting” as a new crop; this sacrifice is the only one where death is not involved.  

Lev. 23 – Feast of firstfruits happened 3 days after Passover, a symbol of resurrection, and taking place on the very day that Jesus would resurrect

Gen. 1 – it was on the 3^rd day that plants yielding seed produced from the ground, a connection to Christ’s resurrection

In all these things, it seems clear that the Grain Offering is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection

Lev. 2:1

• anyone – no limitations on who is able to participate in this; God is no respecter of persons
• grain offering – a symbol of resurrection (see overview above)
• to the Lord – Rom. 6: you are given new/resurrected life to be given to the Lord, not yourself
• fine flour – this could not have yeast in it, which is a symbol of sin (1 Cor. 5:8); fine flour corresponds to no blemishes (same as the animal sacrifices) – resurrection life of Christ has no sin/blemishes; it is the highest quality of Life!
• oil – a symbol of the Holy Spirit (cf. Is. 61:1 with James 5:14, and other passages)
• frankincense – rises up, a symbol of resurrection; Matt. 2:11 – at Jesus’ birth He was offered myrrh (symbol of death), frankincense (symbol of resurrection), and gold (symbol of divinity), thus, in these 3 gifts the entire gospel message was symbolically preached

Lev. 2:2

• bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests – this resurrection life is carried by God’s workers, and offered to their service (like the anointing oil given only to priests who serve the Lord)
• one of whom…his handful – though the life is meant for the whole body, individuals also have as much resurrection life as they can carry
• burn it – see Rom. 6, it is offered to God; think of Isaac, who symbolizes the resurrection life of Abraham (doubled – from 1 man to 2 men) – he had to be offered up in faith on God’s altar (see James 2 and Gen. 22); think also of Rom. 12:1 where it talks of offering up our new lives on the altar of God’s service – each person doing it to serve the whole body (as one priest does this for each grain offering)
• sweet aroma – Eph. 5:2

Lev. 2:3

• rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’ – it is taken by individual priest, but then shared with the entire priesthood; in like manner, Jesus’ resurrection life is given to individual members but purposed to be shared with the whole body (who is called a “priesthood”), and when the whole body comes together under this life Christ is fully glorified and manifested
• most holy of the offerings – greatest thing to God – life, not death is his ultimate purpose and what He ultimately is looking to be consecrated (“holy”) to Him
• made by fire – consuming to death, refining to life (such as with grain offering)

Lev. 2:4

• baked in the oven – the oven is the place of fire/judgment (Mal. 3-4)/the cross; resurrection can only happen after crucifixion
• unleavened = no yeast/sin; perfect and holy
• cakes…wafers – it is a resurrected product that was under discipline and had a clear purpose/shape

Lev. 2:5

• baked in a pan – open heat as opposed to closed heat (like that of the oven); the beginning of suffering, but not the full suffering

Lev. 2:6

• break it in pieces – full effect of the cross; “This is my body, BROKEN for you”
• and pour oil – like John 12:3, first there is brokenness, then oil; Calvary comes before Pentecost

Lev. 2:7

• covered pan – closed heat, full pain of cross

Lev. 2:9

• a memorial portion – this is the portion taken by the individual priest to offer to God

Lev. 2:11

• leaven – speaks of sin, and is not part of the resurrection life (see Lev. 2:2)
• burn – speaks of death to the natural man, and refinement to the spiritual man; also is what happens when something is offered
• honey – may speak to natural sweetness and giftedness (see Song of Songs 1:9-11); in contrast to leaven, which is natural sinfulness.  If this be correct, God does not want any “sweet” or ”good” things we offer from our natural life, but only wants what comes through resurrection
• made by fire – something new is, “made” or, “created”; from death (“fire”) to life (“grain offering”)

Lev. 2:12

• Firstfruits – Firstfruits are a subset of Grain Offerings, and are always used in connection with resurrection (Jn. 12:24; James 1; etc.).  It is the first thing that comes out of the ground after the seed has “died” and was “buried”.  The Firstfruits offering may speak to the later resurrection of the dead that happens to believers (where they are not burned up).
• not be burned – Firstfruits already went through “death” when the seed was stripped of its outer coat while being buried in the ground.  Christ shall never be crucified again (Heb. 6:4-6), and so the Firstfruits does not need to go through death

Lev. 2:13

• every offering…season with salt – see Matt. 5:13; the church (i.e. the resurrected ones) are the salt of the earth; salt is antidote for corruption; salt is a distinct seasoning, being salt of the earth means we are distinct from the world – when we are “salty” we are non-compromised people, these things are traits that must be present in true resurrection life. 
• salt of the covenant of your God – salt (and resurrection) are necessary elements of being in covenant with God 

Lev. 2:14

• green/life – speaks to abundant life (Jer. 17; Prov.; John 10:10)
• head – offering the head speaks to Jesus being offered, consider: Jesus is head of church, as He is resurrected so the whole church is resurrected (Col. 1); when baby’s head comes out of the womb, the body always follows; when an animal is offered as a sacrifice you put your hand on its head; what happens to the husband (the “head”) will happen to the wife (Ps. 126); etc.  Jesus already has God’s life, so then His full life had to be offered up on the cross
• grain beaten from full heads – see Mark 4:28-29, speaks of fully matured life of Jesus; this was what made Jesus’ crucifixion so special and truly unique: He was God, He already had fullness of life, but He was beaten and burned for that life to spread to many

Lev. 2:16

• part of its beaten grain – this is for a memorial portion, its brokenness is always before God (just as Jesus’ scars are always before God in heaven).  The rest of the beaten grain is shared by the priests.  This shows that members of the church have “part of the life of Christ”, as with communion, each member gets a piece of the broken whole, so that altogether the whole bread is represented in all members of the church
• part of its oil – this is for a memorial portion, its oil is always before God (just as God’s Spirit is always in fellowship with the Father and Son).  The rest of the oil is shared by the priests.  Each member has a portion of the Holy Spirit’s manifestation, so that some have gifts of the Spirit that others don’t have (1 Cor. 12), or some have ministries from the Spirit that others don’t have (Eph. 4); only as a whole do we fully represent the Holy Spirit
• all the frankincense – frankincense speaks to resurrection; each member is fully and truly resurrected, and never partially resurrected.  Also note that frankincense is fragrant aroma to people (as well as God), whereas the offerings with death would have been stench to people, but pleasing to God.  This shows that the resurrected life is sweet to people and God, but the death of Christ is a seeming stench to people (especially those perishing).