The
Offerings
The
Burnt Offering
The
most obvious thing that Leviticus gives us, in the offerings, a fourfold view
of the Death of Christ (the Sin and Trespass I will view as one). Just as the
Gospels give us a fourfold view of His life Jesus' life but speak of the single
and unique God-man.
In
the Burnt Offering we see the work of Christ where He humbly offers Himself to
God to do His the will of the Father even if it means going to His death.
Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled
himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8
And
going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as
you will.” Matthew 26:39
Again,
for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass
unless I drink it, your will be done.” Matthew 26:42
The
whole kit-'n-kaboodle or the whole offering, except the skin of the animal
(I imagine the hair would've smelled pretty bad), was burnt upon the altar and
all went up to God as an offering. So instead of the smell of burnt hair...we
have the smell of the summer grill (so to speak). It pictures Christ who gave
Himself completely and wholly as an offering or sacrifice.
And
walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God. ~Ephesians 5:2
Although
Christ is seen and understood to bear our sins, He is in a more profound way
but as accomplishing the Father's will which is in reality His will also
thereby glorifying Him and the Father simultaneously which thereby shows God's
righteousness and therefore vindicates God's holiness, sovereignty and many
other things too numerous to mention here.
The
Meal Offering
The
Meal Offering shows Christ as perfect and sinless. He give His very being and
faultless life to God. In the ceremonial system there was no shedding of blood
in this offering so it reflects the absolute perfection an purity of Christ
Himself and life He lived, rather focus on His death. The fine flour pictures
His sinlessness in His life with its constancy of moral character.
The oil pictures the grace and power of the Holy Spirit which characterized His
life. I was often the use of oil in anointing of Kings or others that marked
the spirit or power and authority from God being given. In this case in is the
power and authority from the Holy Spirit. To me the frankincense is symbolic of
the nature of His Person and life.
The
Peace Offering
The
Peace Offering, the blood, the fat and the kidneys of the offering were put
upon the altar...
"And
the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD."
~Leviticus 3:11
This
is the portion given to God.
Then
the breast was given to Aaron and his sons and the right shoulder to the
offering priest and those portions were to be man's part. If God and man both
partake of the same offering, there is an image of covenant or communion
between the two. This is the same communion that we as believers share in based
on the work Christ completed on the Cross to grant atonement for our sins. We
share in Christ's work that is given to the Father. Therefore we are reconciled
to God and at peace in our relationship with Him rather than enemies in our sin
(Romans 5:10, 8:7)
The
Sin Offering
The
Sin Offering is unique in that it is the entirety of a young bull being burnt
upon the ground outside the camp of Israel after the blood and fat
were put upon the altar for God. This offering should be obvious in its purpose
and overtones. Especially if we link it back to Abraham and Isaac (which
would've been a sin offering/burnt offering) In Abraham and Isaac we see a
profound shadow or typology of what was coming in Christ Jesus. It was for sin
and shows Christ who was made sin for us as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For
our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God." Jesus bore the searing judgment and
wrath of God against sin on our behalf. Alienated, ostracized and afflicted
with the wrath as a substitute in an act of propitiation, taking on the burden
that we could not. He literally became God-forsaken bearing the guilt of sin
for all humanity.
"My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from
the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by
night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they
cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." ~
Psalm 22:1-5
The
Trespass Offering
The
Trespass Offering is also a form of Sin Offering as this offering is
propitiation for violations against the command of God. Atonement was made by
the blood of the offering, and the trespasser was forgiven. This offering shows
Jesus Christ who died on a Cross for our sins (trespasses or infractions
against God). He paid the debt in blood. Why blood?
"For
the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make
atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for
one’s life." ~ Leviticus 17:11
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The Feasts
We
of course see Jesus in all of the Feasts of Leviticus 23 also referred to as
the Holy Days.
The
Sabbath (Leviticus 23:1-4)
The
Sabbath was not properly a feast, but like the feast days, it was a day
set apart unto the LORD, and so a reminder regarding the Sabbath is here.
The Passover (Leviticus
23:5)
The
Passover in Egypt points to Jesus as our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)
whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of
preparation for the Passover at the same hour that the lambs were being
slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening.
The
Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6)
Pointed
to the Jesus’ sinless life because leaven is a metonymy of sin in the Bible,
making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave
during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting
to burst forth as the bread of life.
The
Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10)
Pointed
to the Jesus’ resurrection as the first fruits of the righteous. Jesus was
resurrected on this very day, which is one of the reasons that Paul refers to
him in 1 Corinthians 15:20 as the "first fruits from the dead." More
on that idea here: First
Fruits Of The Resurrection - Part I: Jesus Christ
The
Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16)
Occurred
fifty days after the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and pointed to
the great harvest of souls and the gift of the Holy Spirit for both Jew and
Gentile, who would be brought into the kingdom of God during the Church Age
(see Acts 2). The Church was actually established on this day when God poured
out His Holy Spirit and 3,000 Jews responded to Peter's great sermon and his
first proclamation of the Gospel.
The
Feast of Trumpets or The Day of Shouting (Leviticus 23:24)
It
is possible this day points to the Rapture of the Church when the Jesus will
appear as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated
in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1
Corinthians 15:52).
The
Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)
Many
believe this prophetically points to the day of the Second Coming of Jesus when
He will return to earth. That will be the Day of Atonement for the Jewish
remnant when they "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of
their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Romans 11:1-6, 25-36).
The
Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:34)
Many
scholars believe that this feast day points to the Lord's promise that He will
once again “tabernacle” with His people when He returns to reign over all the
world (Micah 4:1-7). For the Jews it was a day of remembrance of the wilderness
wandering.
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