STE:THE BURNT OFFERING  by Mark S. Camp

Leviticus 1:1-17

Introduction: We come to this, the first of five offerings
that we shall endeavor to study. Before I get into the actual
study of the BURNT OFFERING, I want to explain the three
elements which are essential to any of the offerings.

1) BLOOD - Represented life. In Genesis 9:4, God told Noah,
"Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its
blood." Blood was considered to be the vehicle of the soul.
In the blood sacrifice, the life of the animal was given up to
God by the outpouring of its blood.

The life of the animal being offered to God was the medium by
which a person drew close to God in fellowship, by which a
person worshiped God, and by which a person came to understand
the need for forgiveness and reconciliation.

The animal sacrifice represented an innocent life being shed in
substitution, in place of the human offerer. The Old Testament
believer was not saved or forgiven by simply making a sacrifice
out of duty, but was saved when the effects of the sacrifice
were appropriated by faith.

2) ALTAR - The altar was the place of sacrifice and
surrender. It was here that the offerer placed his hands upon
the animal, symbolically transferring the feelings of his heart
and his guilt to the animal. The altar was also the place
where God met man in reconciliation, and where grace was
bestowed.

NOTE - Many people are accustomed to having an "altar" in their
church. I need to point out however, that the only altar for
the New Testament church is Jesus Christ. To say that we have
a wooden altar (usually the Lord's Supper table), is an Old
Testament way of worship and not the way of worship under the
New Covenant. What the altar was in the Old Covenant, Jesus
Christ is in the New Covenant. The shadow is longer valid or
needed once the substance has come.

3) FIRE - The constantly burning fire symbolized
purification and destruction. Fire is able to destroy that
which is perishable.

In Acts 2:3,4, fire was employed by God as the vehicle of
bestowing the Holy Spirit. The fire on the altar was a
foreshadowing of the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. The
burning of the flesh upon the altar represented the
purification of the man who had been reconciled to God by the
shedding of blood. As the burning of the flesh was not
immediate, so also the sanctifying work is not immediate. It
is a progressive and constant work, and will be so until that
day when the saint stands before the throne of grace in glory,
totally and perfectly sanctified.

Now, let me make two distinctions before we continue. I will
be making many references to something being a "symbol" or
"type." There is a definite distinction between the two words.

1) SYMBOL - What an act or ceremony represented at the
specific moment that the offerer participated in it.

2) TYPE - What the act foreshadowed about God's redemptive
plan in Christ.

When an offerer laid his hands upon the head of the animal
about to be sacrificed, it immediately symbolized that the man
was transferring his guilt and being forgiven. But the act
foreshadowed or was a type of Christ's work. Men, women, boys,
and girls are now saved when they lay their guilt upon Jesus
Christ, the sacrifice.

Now, to the subject of the burnt offering.

PURPOSE: To make a propitiation (a means of removal or
appeasement) for sin in general, and to be a means by which
unholy people could approach a holy and righteous God.

DOCTRINE TAUGHT TO US: Man's duty to God is to yield his whole
life, body and soul, physically and spiritually, unto God.

Romans 12:1 says, "...present your bodies a living and holy
sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service
of worship."

DESCRIPTION: v. 9 - "...an offering by fire of a soothing
aroma to God."

The emphasis of this shadow or type, is not so much upon Christ
as the sin bearer and receiver of wrath, but rather, upon
Christ as the one who "gave himself up for us, an offering and
a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 5:2).

Let us examine two aspects of the burnt offering:

1 - What does this signify concerning the New Covenant?

2 - How should our understanding of it affect our worship?

I. What does this signify concerning the New Covenant?

A. It was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary death
of THE LAMB, Jesus Christ.

B. The offering was to be a male animal.

1. Adam was a man and responsible for original sin.

2. The male animal foreshadowed the second Adam, Jesus
Christ, the God-Man, who would atone for sin.
(see Romans 5:12-19)

C. The act of burning the sacrifice foreshadowed the
ministry of the Scriptures and of the Holy Spirit.
(vv. 5, 6)

Bonar - "While the skin was unwounded, the inward parts were
safe from the knife; thus, so long as man had personal
righteousness interposing, no knife could pierce his soul. But
the taking away of the victim's skin showed that the sinner had
no such protection in God's view; even as the bringing of such
skins to Adam and Eve, after the fall, showed that God saw them
destitute of every covering, and had, in his mercy, provided
clothing for them by means of sacrifice."

1. God's Word is the knife which is "living and
active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and
piercing as far as the division of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to
judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from his sight,
but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes
of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:12,13).

2. The fire foreshadowed the purifying work of the
Holy Spirit, who takes the naked sinner and
purifies or transforms him into something which
is a sweet and pleasant aroma to God.

D. The sacrifice was for the poor as well as the rich.

1. If a bull could not be afforded, a dove or
pigeon could be used.

2. Christ has broken down the barrier wall which
divided Jew and Gentile, slave and freeman, male
and female.

E. We see foreshadowed the great work of Christ as
Mediator or Intercessor for the elect.

1. Once the offerer performed his part, it was the
priest's duty to throw the blood about the altar,
showing to all that sacrifice was made, sins were
covered, and mercy and grace bestowed.

2. The animal and its blood, applied by the priest
show us that in the New Covenant "there is one
God, and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a
ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper
time" (1 Timothy 2:5, 6).

READ HEBREWS 7:22-28

What joy for the believer to know that the perfect sacrifice
has been offered; to know that sins are covered and under the
blood of Christ; to know that God's wrath has been propitiated;
to know that mercy and grace are freely offered; to know that
our High Priest officiates on our behalf; and to know that the
purifying Holy Spirit of God is at work consuming the carnal
flesh and transforming us into a sweet smelling aroma before
God as we progress from one degree of glory to another!

What hope is found here for the sinner. Works are not needed
to save. Personal righteousness is not needed to save. One
only needs to place his hands upon Christ and say, "I accept
his death as mine. I should have been crucified, but a Lamb
without spot or blemish has taken my place."

II. How should our understanding of this sacrifice affect our
worship?

A. There must be preparation of heart and mind prior to
worship. How the OT saint must have searched his heart
and mind before making his offering. The Apostle Paul
said concerning coming to the Lord's Supper, "But let a
man examine himself."

B. It shows the activity of worship is not a coming to
"get" but a coming to "give."

1. All of the animal (except the skin) was given to
God. We must offer everything to God; our hearts,
our minds, our vocations, out talents, our money,
our loyalty, and our obedience.

2. As Christ completely poured himself out on
Calvary, so also the believer must pour himself or
herself out completely before God.

C. Acceptable worship is not so much a matter of the right
actions as it is a right attitude.

D. We must come to the activity of worship with an
attitude that we are willing to come under the total
examination of God's Word.

E. It shows us that worship must be accompanied by faith.
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

1. Without faith it is impossible to realize the
benefits of sacrifice, and thus it is impossible to
please God by the sacrifice.

2. Worship is always regulated by faith. A person's
worship is governed by what he or she believes.

F. Finally, it shows us that our worship must center and
focus upon the substance which the shadows portrayed
namely, Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Rayburn - Worship is "the activity of the new life of a
believer in which, recognizing the fulness of the Godhead as it
is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and his mighty
redemptive acts, he seeks by the power of the Holy Spirit to
render to the living God the glory, honor, and submission which
are his due."

As we see the great truths of the burnt offering, let us place
our hands upon the Lamb of God and sing:

Plenteous grace with Thee is found,

Grace to cover all my sin;

Let the healing streams abound;

Make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life the fountain art,

Freely let me take of Thee;

Spring Thou up within my heart,

Rise to all eternity.

(Wesley)

THE GRAIN (MEAL or MEAT) OFFERING

Leviticus 2:1-16

J.A. Seiss - "Mere forgiveness, without something more to
follow it, is not salvation.... If we have effectually laid
hold upon Christ as the sacrifice for our sins, we must needs
go on to glorify him in our bodies and our spirits, which are
his.... Justification and sanctification must remain connected
and inseparable."

PURPOSE: To be an offering to the Lord in which the believer
presents himself for God's service, vows to walk in the fruits
of holiness, and shows thanksgiving for atonement received.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:

1) The grain offering was offered along with other various
offerings.

2) The purpose of offering it with other offerings or
sacrifices was to show the connection between pardon of sin and
devotion to the Lord.

3) The burnt offering was made first to show that
justification must precede sanctification.

4) Bonar - "The meat offering was presented daily... teaching
us to give all we have to the Lord's use, not by irregular
impulse... but daily."

Let us consider two strands of thought concerning this
offering:

I. The various aspects of this offering (vv. 1-10)

II. The various implications of the offering (vv. 11-16)

I. The various aspects of this offering (vv. 1-10)

A. It consisted of breads, flour, and grains.

1. These were the daily sustenance of the people.

2. The purity and color of the flour represented
God's people who had been washed pure by the blood
sacrifice. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

B. The offerings were mixed with oil.

1. The oil poured upon the flour denoted "setting
apart."

2. The common necessities of life were being set apart
as consecrated and dedicated unto the Lord.

3. The oil symbolized the "setting apart" work of the
Holy Spirit.

4. God reaches down so to speak, into the "flour" of
common humanity, takes a handful out, and annoints
it for holy service.

Seiss - "It is not the mere surrender of ourselves to the Lord
that makes us holy, but the accompanying oil of the Holy Ghost,
working in and through us, mellowing and softening everything
to the divine will."

C. The offering unto the Lord was mixed with frankincense.

1. The fragrant aroma was pleasing to God.

2. The life of the believer should radiate the
fragrant beauty of Jesus Christ, the Rose of
Sharon.

3. The frankincense also represented the intercessory
work of Christ on behalf of believers, which makes
them pleasing to God.

D. The portion of the offering given to the Lord was
called the "memorial portion."

1. A part represented the whole. In the dedication of
ourselves to God, we need not go through everything
we own and specifically dedicate it to Him.

2. BUT, we do take some part as a memorial portion
which represents everything we possess.

3. An example is that of Cornelius in Acts 10:4 where
God said to him, "Your prayers and alms have
ascended as a memorial before God." In other
words, God could tell by his prayers and alms that
everything Cornelius was and possessed, was given
over to God.

4. We need to begin offering our prayers, tithes, and
offerings as memorial portions. When we give, we
should have the attitude that while we are only
giving a specific amount at a specific time, all
that we have belongs to God and is at his disposal.

E. There were various ways that the offering could be
baked or cooked (vv. 4, 5, 7).

1. Some who were wealthy would have lavish provisions.
Those who were poor might only have a frying pan.
Yet, both were acceptable.

2. God has elected different types of people to
salvation; rich and poor, slave and free, the
scholarly and the simple.

3. We ought not to be jealous of other Christians.
Those whom God has chosen, he accepts in Christ, no
matter what their lot in life.

4. The widow only had two small coins, a mere pittance
when compared to the wealth of the Pharisees. Yet,
by faith and in earnest consecration to the Lord,
she brought them to the Lord and they were
accepted.

F. The remainder of the offering was given to the priests.

1. In this offering of service, it was the duty of the
offerer not only to provide a sweet smelling
memorial to God, but also to provide for those who
engaged in full-time service to the ministry.

2. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 9:3-14.

II. The various implications of the offering (vv. 11-16).

A. It was to be offered without leaven or honey (v. 11).

1. Leaven can represent something good or bad
depending upon the context. Here it represents
something bad.

2. In offering ourselves for the Lord's service, we
must be free from hypocrisy and selfish motives and
from the sweet, worldly pleasures which dominate
us.

3. Leaven and honey creep into our offerings when we
give for selfish reasons (ex. - only to get
blessed), when we give grudgingly, when we are
impatient with God, and countless other
possibilities.

B. The offering was offered with salt (v. 13).

1. Salt was a sign of friendliness. The exchange of
salt between two parties of a covenant indicated
the faithfulness of each one to perform his or her
prescribed duties (Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles
13:5).

2. Salt was the opposite of leaven. In the context
before us, leaven represented corruption whereas
salt represented purity and preservation.

3. We must ever keep in mind that we are in a covenant
relationship with God and Christ.

4. God is faithful to keep his part of the covenant.
Are we faithful to keep our part?

5. As believers we are to be salt in the world. Our
beings and conduct must be pervaded with
unfaltering principles of righteousness.

C. Christ is foreshadowed in this offering.

1. Christ offered himself as a memorial portion unto
God. He, as the "part," took upon himself the sins
of the whole, the elect.

2. Christ is the Bread of Life. By feasting upon him
we are drawn into closer fellowship with God.

3. Christ is represented in the bread of the offering
as the basic necessity of life. His life is the
divine power by which grace is bestowed and by
which the spiritual life of the believer is
maintained.

4. As God gives men their daily physical bread, so
also he gives his Son, as spiritual bread.

5. The work of sanctification consists of the
operation of this spiritual food in the life of
man.

6. Why is it that so many bear so little fruit? It
is because they feed little upon Christ!

7. Finally, it is through Christ that we offer
thanksgiving for the atonement which we have
received.

CONCLUSION:

We have seen the various aspects and implications of the grain
offering. What applications can we make?

1) Be ever conscious that if you have been justified by faith,
you must daily continue to offer yourself up to the Lord in
Christian service.

2) When you give to the Lord, it is to be an act of worship.
(One of the worst things which many churches have done is to
let the offerings be taken up in Sunday School simply by
passing in an envelope! Giving is not to be the paying of
weekly dues, IT IS TO BE AN ACT OF WORSHIP!!!)

3) As you give your tithes and offerings unto the Lord, do so
with an attitude which says, "Lord, I now offer up this portion
to you. This represents that everything which I possess
belongs to you. Everything I have is at your disposal."

4) Learn to give simply out of obedience, not out of duty, nor
with any mixture of motives.

5) Learn to see Christ foreshadowed in the ceremonies of the
Old Covenant. They all, in some way, pointed to him.

6) If you are not living a life which is dedicated unto God,
as seen in all of your deeds and words, perhaps you should
examine yourself to see whether or not you have first been made
righteous and justified by the blood of Christ.

THE PEACE (OR FELLOWSHIP) OFFERING

Leviticus 3:1-17

Webster's dictionary defines the "peace" as follows:

1. a state of tranquillity

2. freedom from upsetting or oppressive thoughts or
emotions

3. harmony in personal relations

4. a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those
who have been at war or in a state of enmity
Romans 5:1 tells us that "having been justified by faith, we
have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

All of the shades of meaning of the word "peace" are
comprehended in Romans 5:1. Natural man, in his state of total
depravity is at enmity with God. Even though the lost man may
not outwardly appear to be in open rebellion against his
Creator, because he has not been justified by faith he does not
have peace with God. Once justified by the blood of the
atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, the believer is to be in a
state of tranquillity or harmony, within himself, with those
around him, and most of all with God the Creator.

PURPOSE: The fellowship or peace offering was to be an act of
communion, or a fellowship meal with God, resulting from the
praise and thankfulness for past blessings, in acknowledgment
of present, unexpected blessings, and in anticipation of future
blessings.

DIFFERENCES: The peace offering differs from the burnt
offering in that not all of the peace offering was to be
consumed by fire upon the altar. The peace offering differs
from the meal offering in that not only was a portion set aside
for God and a portion set aside for the priest, but a portion
was also set aside for the offerer.

NOTE: We see that both male and female animals could be
offered in this offering. All bloody sacrifices represent some
aspect of Christ in his act of atonement. The reason for the
allowed difference here is that the peace offering focused more
upon the abiding results of the atonement, rather than the
precise manner in which it was made.

Having defined the word "peace" and noted some differences in
the offering, we can now describe the beauty of it.

J.A. Seiss - "We may therefore confidently take the peace
offering as a joyous festival, a solemn sacrificial banqueting,
illustrative of the peace and joy which flows to believers from
the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our
sanctification through his blood and Spirit."

Paul has told us that "The kingdom of God is...righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

Christianity was meant to be a feast, a thing of gladness, not
gloom. When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds in
the Judean countryside he said, "behold, I bring you good news
of a great joy" (Luke 2:10).

One one hand, when we first come to the altar we see a bloody
mess; a source of putrefication and slaughter; a morbid, ugly
scene. BUT, as we lay our hands upon the head of the atoning
sacrifice, confess our sins and our need for forgiveness, and
present ourselves unto God for service, the altar becomes a
source of blessing and a place of triumph and victory. No
longer is it a table of wrath, but it becomes a table of
festive communion with our blessed Christ!

Let us consider some aspects and implications of the offering.

I. The peace offering was a bloody sacrifice.

A. Everything in the Christian life has its foundation in
the shedding of Christ's blood. Our justification,
sanctification, glorification, and continual
forgiveness of sin find their basis in the work on
Calvary. If Christ had not died, we would have to die.

1. If he did not die, we could not be forgiven.

2. If not forgiven, we could not be holy.

3. If not holy, we could have no peace!

B. If we are to have peace, it must be founded upon blood.

1. If we are to rejoice, our sacrifice must die.

2. If we are to have a fellowship meal with God, the
food must come from the altar of sacrifice.

C. Any religion or belief not founded upon the bloody
death of Christ, is not soul-saving religion.

1. Instead of the blood of Christ being preached
from pulpits today, we have a whole host of
other religions.

2. These "Christian" teachings come in the form of
psychology, sociology, morality, good works,
positive thinking, possibility thinking, a belief
in the innate goodness of every man, and a belief
in God which is nothing but the heresy of Deism.

3. Our peace MUST be founded upon Christ's blood, for
without the shedding of blood there is no remission
of sins.

II. The peace offering followed the meal offering.

A. Before we can realize the fulness of Divine peace, we
must present ourselves to God in service and obedience.

B. Too many people want the blessings of God before they
do the will of God. In a sense, they desire to put the
peace offering before the meal offering.

C. If we are to be blessed by God, if we are to have inner
peace and tranquillity, we must first set out to do the
will of God.

III. The peace offering was arranged so that the most inward
and most tender parts belonged to God.

A. This represented the inner affections and emotions of
the offerer being given wholly to God.

B. We may love friends and family, but we must love Christ
more. Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me, and does
not, by comparison of his love for Me, hate his own
father and mother and wife and children and brothers
and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be
My disciple" (Luke 14:26).

IV. The peace offerings were sacrifices of gratitude and
praise.

A. The heart was to be filled with thoughts of some mercy
or blessing shown.

1. When Hezekiah abolished idolatry and saw true
worship restored, he offered a peace offering.

2. When Manasseh was brought out of his captivity and
restored to his kingdom, he sacrificed peace
offerings.

B. The true believer has been the recipient of wonderful
favors from God.

1. He has been freed from the idolatry of self-worship
and can now worship God in spirit and in truth.

2. He has been brought out of Egypt and brought into
Canaan's fair land.

3. The hand of Divine wrath was ready to strike, but
the blood of Christ has stayed the judge's hand.

4. He was once building a house upon sand, but now his
hope is built upon Christ, the Solid Rock.

5. He once dwelt upon Mt. Sinai with its thunderings
and terrors, but now he dwells amidst the fragrant
beauty and pleasant surroundings of Mt. Zion.

Oh, believer! is your heart full of these joyous blessings
today? Yes, you say? Well then, come to God with a peace
offering. Come and offer your innermost being to him this day!

V. The feasting of the peace offering was upon sacred, holy
food.

A. The world offers many joys and delights as we pass
through it. The Christian is free to enjoy this world.

1. Much pleasure can be derived from secular art,
music, literature, and activities.

2. We are free to find amazement in the wonders of
science, the intricacies of computers, and the
marvels of technology.

3. We can find contentment while enjoying the beauty
of nature.

B. But, such things are "common snacks" so to speak, when
compared to the joy and peace, the contentment and
satisfaction, and the wonderment that a believer
acquires by feeding upon the holiness and beauty of
Jesus Christ.

1. This is what sets the believer apart.

2. The unbeliever may be a lover of nature, but he
has no seat at the Lord's table.

3. The unbeliever may be a learned scientist who has
contributed much to life, but he has no place at
the festive banquet of Christ.

4. The unbeliever may receive temporal blessings from
the hand of God, but only Christ alone is able to
provide lasting, eternal, spiritual peace.

Seiss - "Whosoever will come penitently to God, and present
himself as a willing subject of Divine grace, shall from the
altar receive a portion with which he...may be glad."

The believer, who by faith offers a peace offering to God,
shall be like:

1. Enoch, who walked with God.

2. Moses, who dwelt on the mountaintop with God.

3. Noah, riding above the swelling turmoil of the flood.

4. Isaiah, with visions of the grandeur and splendor
of God.

5. John, who while leaning on the Savior's breast,
learned great lessons of truth and grace.

6. Paul, caught up into the glories of the third heaven,
lost in the contemplation of things unlawful to utter.

7. Simeon, ready to depart in peace, having seen God's
promised salvation.

8. Elijah, ascending to God in chariots of fire, not
tasting the bitterness of death.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou
disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise
Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God!"

"Let them that put their trust in the Lord rejoice!"

"Let the saints be joyful in glory."

"Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God."

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself, continually grant you peace
in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all."

THE SIN OFFERING

Leviticus 4:1-35

1 John 2:1 - "My little children, I am writing these things to
you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

1 John 1:8 - "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving
ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

The first 3 chapters of Leviticus are designed to show us the
way to communion with God and how to have fulness of joy in
Christ. In chapter 1 the believer is seen as JUSTIFIED. In
chapter 2 the believer is seen as SANCTIFIED. In chapter 3 the
believer is seen AT PEACE WITH GOD.

Now, in chapter 4 and those that follow, we are shown that
continual purging is needed in a life given to God. We see
that although pardon has been acquired and sin dethroned in the
heart, the believer is still influenced by remaining indwelling
sin. We come to Calvary as a sinner, our burden is lifted, and
immediately we are full of zeal, love, and happiness, and ready
to give all for the Savior. Yet, how well we know that we
shall soon sin again.

The SIN OFFERING deals with sins committed after atonement has
been made and accepted. More specifically, it deals with sins
which are committed in ignorance or without thinking. It deals
with unintentional sins. The Psalmist has said, "Who can
discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults" (19:12).
Things to keep in mind in the Christian experience:

1. Sin is deceitful.

2. The best of men are only men at best. In spite of
all his/her efforts, prayers, joys, and good works,
the best Christian is still very faulty.

Bonar - "So deceitful is sin, we may be committing that
abominable thing which cast angels into an immediate and
eternal hell, and yet at the moment be totally unaware."

Let us now examine some aspects of the SIN OFFERING.

I. There is a noticeable gradation in the sins of ignorance.
(Note: Sin is sin, but in some people it is more serious
than in others. READ 1 Timothy 5:24.)

A. Sins of the Priest (the high priest).

1. Ministering before the Lord involved grave
responsibilities not to be taken lightly.

2. A public man is like a town clock. When one man's
personal watch is off, only he suffers. But when
the time standard is off, everyone suffers.

3. So much stress is placed upon sins in the ministry
for many reasons.

a. When a man enters the ministry, he is to be
aware of the serious nature of the task.

b. The man in the ministry sets a pattern or
example which those in the flock will copy.

Seiss - "Some people are very feverish and ambitious for place.
They wish to be conspicuous, influential, and prominent. They
covet office. They long for power. They will do almost
anything for an exalted position. But they seldom sufficiently
consider the increased responsibilities involved in the
fulfillment of their desires."

4. The Priest's sacrifice was costly (a bull).

a. No cost was spared in seeking forgiveness.

b. The large animal made it more obvious to
the congregation that he was sorry.

c. His example taught people to take sin seriously
and to spare no cost in bringing their sins
under the atoning blood.

5. The congregation as a whole offered the same type
of sacrifice for their sins. This foreshadows the
work of Christ, who as our substitute, had to offer
exactly the same type of sacrifice as we would have
had to offer. If sin is found in the Priest, his
offering can be no less than that of the whole
congregation.

B. Sins of the congregation.

1. The sin of overlooking sin in its members.

2. The sins of murmuring and complaining.

3. The sin of allowing divisive spirits.

4. The sin of allowing false doctrine in its midst.

Questions - When is the last time you can recall church
discipline be exercised upon a member who is lack in attendance
or who is living in open sin? When is the last time you know
of anyone being disciplined for teaching false doctrine?

The thing that is lacking the most in churches today, is the
exercise of church discipline! Would to God that we would
return to the Scriptural use of it.

C. Sins in leaders and individuals.

1. No one escapes the necessity for forgiveness.

2. Each class of person had a specific type of
animal to offer. This showed that God marks
and recognizes sin in all people, not just
those in the public ministry.

II. The ceremony involved in the offering.

A. In all the offerings of Israel, Christ was prefigured
in some way.

1. One Savior and one atonement was represented.

2. The sin offerings represented "tributary streams"
so to speak pouring into one great ocean (Bonar).

3. All the blood sacrifices are summed up in the
words of the Apostle, "For Christ also died for
sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in
order that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter
3:18).

4. The offering for sins committed in ignorance is
represented in the words, "If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
(1 John 1:9).

B. A portion of the blood was sprinkled before the veil.

1. A threshold of blood was formed.

2. The High Priest would pass over this as he went
into the Holy of Holies on the day of atonement.

3. Blood opens the door into the presence of God.

4. Sprinkling 7 times represented a perfect and
complete action, just as Christ's one-time
sacrifice was perfect and complete.

C. Some blood was put on the horns of the altar.

1. The horns symbolized power.

2. Blood upon the horns of the altar of incense
represented the power and strength of this method
of approaching God.

3. The burning incense represented prayer and praise.

4. The power of the sacrifice, as well as prayer and
praise, let us "draw near with confidence to the
throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may
find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

D. The inward parts were offered to God.

1. The same as in the peace offering.

2. Even with our many sins each day, once we ask for
forgiveness, we can have peace.

3. It was a sign of reconciliation. As the fatty
portions were burned, it was as if God spoke to
the offerer as Christ did to the waves of the
sea, "Peace! Be still!"

E. The rest of the animal was taken outside of the camp
to a clean place.

1. The ash heap was considered clean because the
sacrifices had been consumed and symbolically
purged of all guilt.

2. The burning of the animal in this place symbolized
torment and suffering away from the presence of
God. It is a picture of hell.

3. This is also a foreshadowing of the suffering of
our Savior who was taken outside of the city, away
from the temple and presence of God, and crucified.
"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the
people, through His own blood, suffered outside the
gate. Hence, let us go to Him outside the camp,
bearing His reproach" (Hebrews 13:12, 13).

CONCLUSION:

We are to constantly keep in mind the spectacle of Christ
crucified and his atoning work for us.

Christ has not given us pardon only to leave us to manage as
best we can from day to day. He ever lives, continually making
intercession on our behalf so that daily and hourly we might
receive pardon; a pardon that flows without interruption or
exhaustion; a pardon that is always fresh and available to the
one who will come for cleansing.

Christ! Christ! Christ alone! He is our surety and our
advocate.

Five bleeding wounds he bears,

Received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers,

They strongly speak for me;

Forgive him, O forgive they cry,

Nor let that ransomed sinner die.

The Father hears him pray,

His dear anointed One;

He cannot turn away, Cannot refuse His Son;

His Spirit answers to the blood,

And tells us we are born of God.

THE TRESPASS OFFERING

Leviticus 5:14 - 6:7

We shall not dwell on the first 13 verses of chapter 5, except
to make 5 comments about them:

1. They deal with lesser offenses which are related to
the sin offering of chapter 4.

2. These lesser offenses would not have been committed
had the offender not been so careless and paid more
attention to detail.

3. The touching of the various unclean things shows us
that any degree of pollution is an offense to God. We
are thus taught to keep ourselves clean from even the
slightest defilement of the world.

4. Many times, our sins and errors will be hidden from
our own eyes. They are made known to us by:

a. Conviction through the Word by the Spirit.

b. Conviction of our conscience by the Spirit.

c. The admonition and rebuke from our fellow
members of the body of Christ.

Galatians 6:1 - "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any
trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit
of gentleness."

Hebrews 3:13 - "Encourage one another day after day, as long as
it is still called today, lest any one of you be hardened by
the deceitfulness of sin."

James 5:19, 20 - "My brethren, if any among you strays from the
truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death,
and will cover a multitude of sins."

5. When a sin or error is made known unto us by whatever
means, there must be confession of that sin in order
for pardon to take place and for God to be honored and
glorified.

Now then, let us fix our attention upon the trespass offering
of 5:14 and following. Let us first notice some differences
between the trespass offering and the sin offering:

1. The trespass offering was offered on account of injury
to someone else or his property, as well as injury or
sin against God.

2. The trespass offering was always accompianied by a
fine equal to the value of the injury or property,
plus an additional one-fifth.

3. The victim used for atonement in the trespass offering
was a ram instead of a sheep, a goat, or birds.

4. There was no gradation of offerings to suit the class
or circumstances of the offender.

In the trespass offering we are shown two points or avenues of
possible transgression. First, we see "FRAUD AGAINST GOD,"
which is a breaking of the greatest commandment of God's moral
law - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew
22:37).

Second, we see "FRAUD AGAINST MAN," which is a breaking of the
second greatest commandment of God's moral law - "You shall
love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).

Let us, then, briefly examine these two areas of transgression.

I. Fraud against God 5:14-19

A. Duty to God is the highest duty of man. The one who
loves God must constantly scrutinize his or her life
to see that God is being honored in all ways, at all
times.

B. The passage here speaks about things done
unintentionally against God.

C. Some of these unintentional things were:

1. Not checking an animal carefully, thus bringing
one with some defect or blemish.

2. Not calculating wealth properly, thus not giving
God an exact tenth.

3. Overlooking some small bit of idolatry within the
family or personal life.

4. Not coming to worship with a proper attitude;
perhaps dwelling on the pressing situations of
daily living, thus not giving complete attention
to God.

5. Having made a vow in haste at some time, then
forgetting to keep it.

6. Not being aware of a law, thus transgressing
against it in ignorance.

D. When a man became aware of committing such a trespass,
he was duty bound to come to the Lord and make
confession and restitution.

E. We, as Christians, can also be guilty of such
trespasses.

1. Loving God, yet somewhat desiring the praise and
approval of man.

2. Allowing the pressures of daily living to interfere
with our devotional life and our worship.

3. Unconsciously building up little idols that detract
us from full submission to the will of God (things
such as hobbies, work, family, etc.).

4. Making vows and promises to God that we do not
keep.

F. If we have sinned in such a manner, what are we to do?

1. We obviously do not offer a sacrifice since a
sacrifice has already been made for us (Christ).

2. We confess our sins and plead the blood of Christ.

3. We must make restitution.

a. By sweeping away the idols.

b. By arranging our schedules so that the things
of God have the right priority.

c. By preparing ourselves more adequately for
worship.

d. By reading the Word and studying it more, so
that we know more about what God demands of us.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Thy Word" (Psalm 119:9).

"Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin
against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).

REPENTANCE MUST BE ACCOMPIANIED BY RESTITUTION!!!

II. Fraud against man 6:1-7

A. We must first of all notice that to sin against a
brother or companion is also a sin against God. We
may not always sin against another human being, but
EVERY sin is a SIN AGAINST GOD.

B. We see in this passage, three specific classes of sin
against man.

1. Sins of deceit.

a. Keeping a deposit.

b. Failure to keep a pledge.

c. Unjustly appropriating another's property.

d. Extortion.

2. Sins of selfishness. Finding another's money
or property, and instead of seeking to find the
owner, we keep it for ourselves, saying as does
Bonar, "The owner may never miss it - God has
thrown it into my hands." The Lord teaches us
not to build up our own joy at the loss or sorrow
of others.

3. Sins of speaking. Denying that we have not done
one of the above sins. By nature, none of us
like to admit that we are wrong. We would rather
lie and make excuses.

"The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity" (James 3:6).

The trespass offering teaches us that the Christian is to be a
person of upright character; honest in personal and business
affairs; a man or woman of clean lips, who seeks to glorify and
honor God by his or her conduct towards those round about; a
person whom others can respect and trust.

Once again, REPENTANCE MUST BE ACCOMPIANIED BY RESTITUTION!!!

NOW, we have concluded our studies of the Levitical offerings.
To summarize, we might ask, "What have we learned from these
offerings of the Old Testament economy?"

1. The burnt offering tells that by nature we are all sinners,
guilty before God and under his wrath. But, God in his mercy
and grace, has provided a means of atonement, through the shed
blood of Christ, his Son.

2. The meal offering teaches us that it is imperative that
once we are justified, we are to dedicate ourselves wholly for
God's service. We are to seek to manifest the fruits of
sanctification.

3. The peace offering shows us that God desires sweet
communion and fellowship with his chosen people, and that God
desires and deserves out most tender affections and love.

4. The sin offering teaches us the necessity of becoming more
aware of our remaining sins, seeking Christ's forgiveness and
cleansing from defilement.

5. The trespass offering teaches us that, where possible,
restitution is to be made with our repentance.

But, most of all, each offering teaches us great truths about
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Our
justification is possible only because of Christ; our
sanctification is possible only because of Christ; our freedom
from the pangs of guilt is possible only because Christ ever
lives, interceding on our behalf before the throne of grace.

The offerings teach us that we are great sinners in need of a
great Savior. Either Christ dies, or we must die.

May we be drawn into a closer walk with our Lord through the
study of his Word.
