Leviticus 1
LORD gives Moses instructions regarding offeringsverses 1-2
And the LORD called to Moses – and spoke to him out of the
tabernacle of the congregation
saying
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them
If any man of you bring an offering to the LORD
you shall bring your offering of the cattle
even of the HERD and of the FLOCK
Burnt offering from the herdverses 3-9
If his offering be a BURNT SACRIFICE of the HERD
let him offer a MALE without BLEMISH
he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation
before the LORD
And he shall put his hand on the head of the BURNT OFFERING
and it shall be accepted for him to make ATONEMENT
for him
And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD
and the priests – Aaron’s sons – shall bring the blood
and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar
that is by the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation
And he shall flay the burnt offering
and cut it into his pieces
And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar
and lay the wood in order under the fire
and the priests Aaron’s sons – shall lay the parts
the heads – the fat
in order upon the wood that is on the fire
which is upon the altar
but his inwards and his legs shall
he wash with water
and the priest burn all on the altar
to be a burnt sacrifice – an offering made by fire
of a SWEET SAVOR nto the LORD
Burnt offering from the flockverses 10-13
And if his offering be of the FLOCKS – namely
of the sheep or of the goats for a burnt sacrifice
he shall bring it a MALE without BLEMISH
And he shall kill it on the side of the altar NORTHWARD
before the LORD and the priests – Aaron’s sons
shall sprinkle his blood round about on the altar
And he shall cut it into his pieces – with his head and his fat
and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood
that is on the fire which is upon the altar
BUT he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water
and the priest shall bring it all – and burn it on the altar
it is a burnt sacrifice – an offering made by fire
of a SWEET SAVOR to the LORD
Burnt offering of a birdverses 14-17
And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD
be of FOWLS
THEN he shall bring his offering of turtledoves
or of young pigeons
And the priest shall bring it to the altar – and wring off his head
and burn it on the altar
and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the
side of the altar
and he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers
and cast it beside the altar on the east part
by the place of the ashes
and he shall cleave it with the wings thereof
BUT shall not divide it asunder
and the priest shall burn it on the altar
on the wood that is on the fire
it is a burnt sacrifice
an offering made by fire
of a SWEET SAVOR unto the LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. (8549 “without blemish” [tamiym] means entire, integrity, truth, complete, full, perfect, sound, without spot, or undefiled.)
DEVOTION: The LORD has always required offerings from HIS people. Starting with Adam and Eve, HE offered the first sacrifice of an animal to give them the skins they wore as clothing. Adam and Eve taught their sons to give an animal offering to the LORD. Cain didn’t want to get an offering from Abel and offered part of his crop. The LORD was not pleased and that upset Cain to the point of his killing his brother.
Job offered sacrifices for his sons. Abram offered sacrifices for his family. The LORD asked Abraham to offer his son as a test of his love for the LORD. Abraham was willing but the LORD provided another blood sacrifice at the time.
When the individual brought an animal for sacrifice, the priest would examine it to see if it was fit for a sacrifice to the LORD. The priest looked for any defects in the animal. If there was found a defect, the priest was not supposed to accept the animal.
The LORD gave specific instructions regarding the burnt offerings in this chapter to show that every detail of the animal was important to HIM. HE wanted to set the standard for any sacrifice or offering HE received. The standard was entirely and completely with no defects. In the language of the New Testament it meant without sin.
Christ was send to the earth to die for our sins. HE had to be a human without sin. HE was the God/man who came to this earth to die and give us the free gift of salvation. HE was the perfect sacrifice. HE was the appeasing sacrifice for our sins. HE was our substitute.
Those who are true believers believe in the substitutionary atonement of Christ for our sins. HE took our place. This is great news. When the Father looks at us, HE sees Christ. HE no longer sees our sins. HE no longer is going to send us to Hell for eternity. Only those who reject HIS son will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Everyone has to make a choice. Most of those in our world chose to not be a follower of Christ. Many are religious and say they are followers of Christ but have no desire to serve HIM seven days a week. They have no desire to read and study the Word of God except to find excuses for their behavior. Many can quote Scripture like the Pharisees but only have an external relationship with HIM. HE wants our heart. HE wants us to have a desire to serve HIM internally, not just externally.
All those who claim to be followers of Christ will be brought before the Father on judgment day and HE is going to look for any defect in them and see that they are not true followers and declare “I never knew you.” Those who are true follower of Christ will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ and will receive only rewards. That will happen only because of the blood of Christ. Isn’t that wonderful news for all those who have followed Christ?
Make sure all the people in your world understand the difference between genuine faith and external faith. Secondly, are we all offering the right sacrifices to the LORD after salvation? Our works don’t earn our way into heaven, only the blood of Christ. Our works are to show our love to HIM. Our money we give doesn’t’ get us into heaven, only the blood of Christ. Our money moves HIS kingdom forward in our world. Our talents don’t get us into heaven, only the blood of Christ. We give our talents again to show him our love. Our baptism or church membership doesn’t get us into heaven. They only show our commitment to HIM and HIS work on earth.
CHALLENGE: Understand the sacrifices look forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (7521 “shall be accepted” [ratsah] means to be received willingly, be pleased with, accept favorably, approve, to be delighted, to be graciously accepted, or making amends)
DEVOTION: This first offering was to be brought to the priest but the worshiper was the one who had to kill the animal. This animal was to be male and without blemish.
The worshiper had to place his hand on the offering to show the transfer of his sin to the animal for sacrifice. Then the worshiper had atonement for his sin and his relationship with the LORD was confirmed.
This was a voluntary sacrifice to show that the individual realized his relationship with the LORD was in need of correction. When the sacrifice was brought it showed the worshiper that he could have a personal relationship with the LORD that was good.
The transferring of his sin to the animal and the spreading of the blood on the four corners of the altar was symbolic of his sins being washed away by the blood of the animal.
We realize that this was a shadow of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the sins of the world. Each individual has to made a commitment to the LORD to have the transfer complete.
Atonement is necessary for a proper relationship with a Holy God. The sacrifice of the animal made this possible in the Old Testament but the completion of the sacrifice was made by Christ on the cross.
CHALLENGE: Our acceptance is on the basis of the blood of the animal which was an Old Testament representation of the blood of Jesus Christ given for our sins on the cross.
: 9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to the LORD. (3548 “priest” [kohen] means Levitical priests, Aaronic priests, a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies to the God of Israel on behalf of others)
DEVOTION: Total commitment is necessary for a proper relationship with the LORD. This offering was made with the understanding that the entire animal was burnt on the altar to the LORD.
No part of the animal was to be eaten by the individual bringing the offering or by the priests. The LORD received all of the sacrifice as a special gift. HE enjoyed the aroma of this sacrifice.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and this was a pleasing aroma to the LORD because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The animal sacrifice looked forward to a time when Jesus would die for our sins. It established a proper path for any human being to come to the LORD for salvation. There was no other way to please the LORD except by the blood of HIS Son on the cross.
No animal could complete the necessary atonement for the sins of the world. God loved us so much that HE sent HIS Son to die for us. The Old Testament saints had to look forward to HIS sacrifice. We have to look back to this sacrifice.
Is our relationship with the LORD a proper relationship based on our relationship with Jesus Christ or are we trying to earn our own way to heaven by some other means?
No amount of money or works is going to buy our way into heaven. It is only based on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. HIS blood is the only acceptable sacrifice.
CHALLENGE: Christ totally committed HIS life for our salvation.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. (8449 “turtledoves” [towr] means a particular kind of dove that was considered ceremonially clean, orused as a word of endearment for a beloved female)
DEVOTION: Jesus Christ stated that we would always have poor people around. There would never be a time when there would not be rich people and poor people in the world.
Many individuals think that they can end poverty in our world. It is not going to happen as there will always be the poor because Jesus Christ said so. Even with trying to redistribute the wealth of those who have money it will not succeed.
Many institutions have tried but there is a lack of effort on those who are just given wealth. There is a work ethic that is missing in some people. There seems to be more and more people who want things given to them instead of the earning it. That is not a Biblical way of receiving income.
So if there were individuals who wanted to bring an offering to the LORD of a bird they had to bring it to the priest and he would kill the bird. It was offered as a sacrifice by people who could not afford either a bull or a sheep.
God accepted the offering of those who were poor because the passage expresses the fact that it was a sweet savor to the LORD. HE wants the poor to realize that they can come to HIM with at least a bird and HE will forgive their sin.
HE knows what each individual can earn and what they can afford to give to HIM. HE expects the poor even to give of what little they have to HIM. They can’t use their poverty as an excuse to not bring an offering to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Never say that you will bring your offering to HIM when you earn more money. It is not going to happen. Do it right when you are poor.
:17 And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to the Lord. (5207 “sweet” [nichowach] means soothing, tranquillizing. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: The burnt offering was one of the first “sweet savor” offerings mentioned in the book of Leviticus. While many different types of offerings and their rituals are mentioned in Leviticus, some are “sweet savor,” while some are not. While some were intended for atonement for sin, others were intended to express one’s fidelity to and love for the LORD. In addition, there was nothing left over but ashes after the burnt offering mentioned here, nothing for the priests or the one offering the offering to take away.
This is the kind of sacrifice which Paul envisioned as he was writing Romans 12:1. He admonishes us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice on the spiritual altar of God. That means that the sacrifice involves all of our lives and bodies, and that they now are the property of God rather than our own. This is what Paul describes as our reasonable service of worship to the LORD.
The effect of a sweet savor sacrifice was to please God. The one offering this would then leave in the knowledge that God’s anger had been soothed toward him as a sinner, which is a concept analogous to our being forgiven of all our sins through accepting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. While these sacrifices had to be repeated year after year by the person who truly feared the LORD, the sacrifice of Jesus was once for all time (Hebrews 10:14). God’s requirements for atonement were satisfied once for all time by Jesus’ blood.
God now desires our perpetual renewing sacrifice of our wills and future back to Him, so that He can use us in the way that only He knows is best. God’s intention is that we simply obey and follow Him.
CHALLENGE: Is there any area of your life you have not fully surrendered to God? Offer it up in sacrifice to Him right now. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacle of the congregationverses 1, 3
Offering to the LORDverse 2
Burnt offeringsverses 3-17
Without blemish
Hand on the head
Atonement
Bullock
Blood sprinkled
Sweet savor to the LORD
Sheep or goats
Male without blemish
Fowl
Turtledoves or young pigeons
Wring off his head
Pluck away his crop
Voluntary offeringverse 3
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1-3, 5, 11, 13, 14, 17
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
Without blemishverse 3
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Atonementverse 4
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverse 1
Tabernacle of the congregationverses 1, 5
Children of Israelverse 2
Blood offeringverses 5, 11, 15
Sweet savorverses 9, 13, 17
Priests = Aaron’s sonsverses 5, 7, 8, 11-17
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
5 The NIV translates שָׁחַט (šāḥaṭ) as “he is to slaughter,” indicating that the worshiper does the killing. The same verb and context appear in the description of the following sacrifices (fellowship and sin offerings). In every case the LXX interprets the verb as plural, indicating that the priests did the killing. The difference often is merely one of vocalization, and we need not suppose that the LXX witnesses to a different text. The third masculine singular verb may be used impersonally—one shall slaughter. The Samaritan Pentateuch, however, has a clear plural. It may not be possible to decide between the two interpretations, but something can be said for the idea of the priests doing the slaughtering. Presumably they did it in the third century b.c., if the LXX reflects this interpretation. Notice that in the case of the sacrifice of birds, the priest is specifically said to do the killing (v.15).
As to the sprinkling of blood against the altar (cf. also v.11), it may be difficult to be sure exactly how the blood was handled at the sacrifice. There was a considerable amount of blood involved. The phrase is almost invariable: “sprinkle [or ‘throw,’ ‘pour’] the blood against [or ‘upon’] the altar.” The verb used here—זָרַק (zāraq)—is different from the verb used when a liquid is sprinkled—נָזָה (nāzāh, 14:7)—with the finger or with a bunch of hyssop. Therefore, the RSV uses “throw against.” The KJV uses “sprinkle upon,” the NIV “sprinkle against.” In Num 19:20–21, however, both verbs are used, apparently as synonyms. And the “sprinkling” of blood on the people (zāraq, Exod 24:8) is referred to as sprinkling in Heb 9:19.
Actually, the two actions are similar except in the amount of liquid used. More important is the question of whether the blood was thrown against the altar round about, i.e., on its four sides (NIV), or sprinkled on the altar round about (KJV). The Hebrew preposition עַל (ʿal) has both meanings but is more often “upon.” A reasonable interpretation would be that the blood was sprinkled on the altar where the wood and sacrifices were burning. In the case of the sin offering and probably the guilt offering, the remaining blood was poured out at the base of the altar where the ashes were (4:7 et al.). Because the fire was sometimes quite hot, it would be necessary to sprinkle the blood or throw it on the altar from a little distance. To throw the blood against the altar would require frequent cleansing, to say the least. (Harris, R. L. (1990). Leviticus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 539). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
1:5. In the next step, the worshiper was to slaughter the young bull before the Lord. Since the burnt offering of a sheep or goat was slaughtered “at the north side of the altar” (v. 11), this was evidently the case also with the bull, “before the Lord” simply being a general term applicable to any place in the forecourt which obviously included “the north side of the altar” (see comments under v. 3). The verb “to slaughter” is a technical term for sacrifice. The death of the animal victim was (theologically speaking) the most significant phase of the sacrificial ritual since the life poured out in death (symbolized by “blood” in 17:11) is what effects atonement.
The next step in the ritual passed to the priest who caught the blood in a bowl as the animal was slain and then splashed it on all four sides of the altar of sacrifice. This was done, at least in later times, by throwing it against two opposite corners of the altar so that blood splashed on all sides. (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 175). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
The significance of the offering is seen in the repetition of the phrases “before the Lord” and “unto the Lord,” which are found seven times in this first chapter of Leviticus (vv. 2–3, 5, 9, 13–14, 17). The transaction at the altar wasn’t between the offerer and his conscience, or the offerer and the nation, or even the offerer and the priest; it was between the offerer and the Lord. Had the worshiper taken the offering to one of the pagan temples, it might have pleased the heathen priest and his people, but it would not have brought the blessing of the Lord.
The phrase “sweet savour” is used three times in this chapter (vv. 9, 13, 17) and eight times in chapters 1–3, and it means “a fragrant aroma.” Since God is spirit, He doesn’t have a body, but physical terms are used in Scripture to depict God’s actions and responses. In this case, God is pictured as smelling a fragrant aroma and being pleased with it (Gen. 8:21; Lev. 26:31). When Jesus died on the cross, His sacrifice was a “sweet-smelling fragrance” to the Lord (Eph. 5:2); and our offerings to God should follow that example (Phil. 4:18).
The “law of the burnt offering” is found in Leviticus 6:9–13. God instructed the priests to keep the fire burning on the altar, to remove the ashes from the altar, and then to take them to a clean place outside the camp. It’s likely that God originally ignited this fire when the priests were dedicated and began their ministry (9:24). Because the ashes were holy, they couldn’t be disposed of at the camp’s refuse heap, but had to be taken to a place that was ceremonially clean. Even the crop of the bird was put with the ashes (1:16) and not treated like rubbish. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Holy (pp. 21–22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
1:5 He shall slay. Making vivid and dramatic the consequences of sin, the person offering the sacrifice killed and butchered the animal (cf. v. 6). Aaron’s sons. This refers to the immediate descendants of Aaron, i.e., Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (cf. Ex 28:1). In the beginning, there were 5 priests, including Aaron, who served as the High-Priest. shall offer up … sprinkle the blood. The priest had to collect the blood in a basin and then offer it to God as a sacrifice to indicate that a life had been taken, i.e., death occurred (cf. 17:11, 14). The price of sin is always death (cf. Ge 2:17; Ro 6:23). the altar. The altar of burnt offering (cf. Ex 27:1–8; 38:1–7), which is in the courtyard outside of the tabernacle proper. The prototype experience, before the tabernacle was constructed, is remembered in Ex 24:1–8. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Le 1:5). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 5. And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord, &c.] That is, the man that brings the burnt-offering, for no other is yet spoken of; and according to the traditions of the elders, killing of the sacrifice was right when done by strangers, by women, and by servants, and by unclean persons, even in the most holy things, so be it that the unclean did not touch the flesh; and it is observedi, that the service of the priest begins in the next clause, killing being lawful by him that was not a priest, according to the Targum of Jonathan, the butcher; but Aben Ezra interprets it of the priests, and certain it is, that the burnt-offerings of the fowls were killed by the priests, ver. 15 and the Septuagint version renders it, and they shall kill; but be this as it will, the burnt-offering was to be killed in the court before the Lord; and this was typical of the death of Christ, who, according to these types, as well as to other prophecies, was to die for the sins of men, and accordingly did; and if this was the proprietor and not the priest that killed the sacrifice, it may denote that the sins of God’s people, for whom Christ’s sacrifice was offered up, were the cause of his death: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood; in vessels or basins, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, into which they received it when slain: and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; which was the altar of burnt-offering, and not the altar of incense, as appears by the situation of it, see Exod. 40:5, 6 and the blood was sprinkled all around the altar with two sprinklings: the rule in the Misnah is; the slaying of the burnt-offering is in the north, and the reception of its blood into the ministering vessels is in the north, and its blood ought to have two sprinklings, which answer to four; which Maimonidesl explains thus; because it is said round about, it must needs be that the sprinklings should comprehend the four sides of the altar; and this is done when the two sprinklings are upon the two horns, which are diametrically opposite; and this is what is meant, which are four; the sense is, that those two should include the four sides, and the two opposite horns were the north-east and the south-west, as he and other Jewish writers observe, and which he expresses more clearly elsewheren: when the priest took the blood in the basin, he sprinkled out of it in the basin, two sprinklings upon the two corners of the altar opposite from it; and he ordered it so to sprinkle the blood upon the horn, that the blood might surround the corners in the form of the Greek letter gamma; so that the blood of the two sprinklings might be found upon the four sides of the altar; because it is said of the burnt-offerings, and of the peace-offerings round about; and this is the law for the trespass-offering, and the rest of the blood was poured out at the bottom southward: now this was always done by a priest, for though the bullock might be killed by a stranger, as Gersom on the place observes, yet its blood must be sprinkled by a priest; and it is the note of Aben Ezra, that this might be done by many, and therefore it is said, the priests, Aaron’s sons, when the slaying of it was only by one. The altar on which the blood was sprinkled typified the divinity of Christ, which gave virtue to his blood, whereby it made atonement for sin; and in allusion to this rite Christ’s blood is called the blood of sprinkling, 1 Pet. 1:2; Heb. 12:24 which being sprinkled on the heart by the spirit of God clears it from an evil conscience, and purges the conscience from dead works, and speaks peace and pardon there, Heb. 10:22 and 9:14. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 542–543). London: Mathews and Leigh)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The apostle John specifically alludes to this connection in stating that Jesus eskānōsen, “tabernacled,” among us (John 1:14). The tabernacle as the special place of God’s presence is a type of the incarnation of Christ, who “made his dwelling” (tabernacle) among us. (Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus (Vol. 3A, p. 83). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Although the occasions that evoked burnt offerings may have varied from one of thankfulness (Gen 8:20) to one of crisis (Judg 20:26), the purpose of the offering was to honor God and attract his attention. (Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus (Vol. 3A, p. 84). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
And yet, Jenson has argued that in the Israelite sacrificial system the burnt offering was the most important sacrifice, for it is the most prominent sacrifice in the festivals (Num 28–29), it occupies the preeminent position in the prescription lists (e.g., Lev 1–7), and it was completely burned (the priest would not eat any part of the victim). (Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus (Vol. 3A, p. 84). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Like all Levitical sacrifices, the underlying purpose of the burnt offering was to secure atonement for sins (1:4; cf. Num. 15:24–25), though its more immediate purpose was to express total dedication to the Lord. (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
As to general characteristics, all Levitical offerings were (a) ceremonially clean (cf. chap. 11), (b) utilitarian and usable for common food, (c) domesticated (wild game could be eaten but not sacrificed, Deut. 14:4–5), and (d) costly, in relation to the domestic wealth of the Israelite. In short, God required the highest quality possible in line with the means of the worshiper. (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 174). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The uniqueness of the burnt offering is made evident in that the priest was to burn the animal in its entirety on the altar. That the burnt offering was an aroma pleasing to the Lord is an anthropomorphic expression indicating the Lord’s approval and acceptance of the completed sacrifice. (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 175). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Six basic offerings could be brought to the tabernacle altar. When worshipers wanted to express commitment to God, they brought the burnt offering, and possibly along with it the grain or meal (“meat,” KJV) offering and the drink offering (see Num. 15:1–10). These offerings speak of total dedication to the Lord. The fellowship (“peace,” KJV) offering has to do with communion with God, and the sin offering and the guilt (“trespass,” KJV) offerings deal with cleansing from God. Each of these offerings met a specific need in the life of the worshiper and also expressed some truth about the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s perfect sacrifice. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Holy (pp. 16–19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The sacrifices described in Leviticus 1–7 remind us of the basic spiritual needs we have as God’s people: commitment to God, communion with God, and cleansing from God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Holy (p. 19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The historic Christian teaching, rightly understood, is that the Bible is both inerrant and infallible. It is without error (inerrant) because it is impossible for it to have errors (infallible).
Inerrancy, therefore, means that the Bible is true, not that it is maximally precise. To the extent that precision is necessary for truth, the Bible is sufficiently precise. But it does not always have the amount of precision that some readers demand of it. It has a level of precision sufficient for its own purposes, not for the purposes for which some readers might employ it.
Acts 17
As Paul continues his journey, he establishes churches.
INSIGHT
It is often necessary to establish common ground with others in order to win an audience for the Gospel. Paul uses a point of common ground when he begins talking to the people of Athens about the idol bearing the inscription: “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”(17:23). Catching their interest, Paul develops his argument to present to them the living Christ (vv. 30-31). This skillful message is used by the Holy Spirit to bring men and women to Jesus Christ. (Quiet Walk)
|
DIVINE OFFICES OF CHRIST
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians 3:21
Christ is said to hold and to fulfill certain divine offices. First of all, creation: “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). You will find the same thing repeated in Colossians 1:16, and again in Hebrews 1:10. But we are also told that He preserves everything. Hebrews 1:3 refers to His “upholding all things by the word of his power.” And again, in Colossians 1:17 you find that “by him all things consist.”
Notice also that He did not hesitate to claim the power to forgive sins. He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5). He also claimed power to raise the dead; you find that mentioned several times in John 6:39-44: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The apostle Paul claims that Christ also has power to transform our bodies: “…who shall change our vile body [or this body of our humiliation], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21).
A Thought to Ponder
Christ did not hesitate to claim the power to forgive sins.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 268-269, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
To Be or Not to Be
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
The verb “to be,” in its various forms and tenses, enjoys wide usage throughout Scripture. Verses employing it, as it relates to us, contain many of the greatest and most precious truths. Consider the following sampling.
Past tense: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God” (v. 10). “You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). “You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Colossians 1:21).
Present tense: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven” (Romans 4:7). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5). “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). “Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:2). “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him” (Colossians 2:9-10). Note also our text verse.
Future tense: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads….and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:3-5).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.