Background
The practice of performing sacrifices was not a new idea introduced at Mt. Sinai. We find it with Cain and Abel as they offer the Minhah or meal offering. Genesis 4:3 In Abraham's day God requested that he take his son Isaac up to a mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham learned that 'God will provide' a sacrifice. Genesis 22 Then later during the time of Moses the Passover was a sacrifice which pointed to God the Redeemer. Exodus 12 The details of the sacrificial system in Exodus and Leviticus were a reorganising of the elements introduced earlier in Israel's history. What was new was the priesthood, the sanctuary and the law.
In order to make possible the access of the sinner to God, now that they had become a theocracy an holy nation, the Sacrificial system was instituted.
They served a two-fold end.
- Expiation-sin
- Consecration-life
Only ceremonially clean animals and vegetables could be used.
| Animals | Crops |
| oxen | corn |
| sheep | wine |
| goats | oils |
| pigeons |
It did not have power to remove sin, but was typical of the one great sacrifice of Christ, and to Him it pointed forward. It is noteworthy that when the three main offerings were offered together, the sin offering always preceded the burnt offering, and the burnt the peace offerings. Thus the order of the symbolising sacrifices was the order of the symbolised graces, Atonement, Sanctification, Mystical union and fellowship.
Procedures
In all the animal sacrifices of the Mosaic Law there were six important acts.
- The presentation of a perfect sacrifice at the Sanctuary door was done by the sacrificer himself, as his personal act.
- The laying on of hands. The sacrificer leaned or pressed his hands upon the victim's head. The laying on of hands Leviticus 16:21; Numbers 27:18,20; Deuteronomy 34:9 dedicated the animal to God, and made it the sacrificer's representative and substitute. Numbers 8:10; Leviticus 1:4
- The slaughtering of the animal. The sacrificer himself slew his sacrifice (at the north side of the altar), and thus actually carried out the dedication to God which he had ceremonially expressed by the laying on of hands. The later custom was for the Levites or priests to slaughter the victims.
- The pouring out or sprinkling of the blood. The priest collected the blood of the animal in a vessel, and applied it in various ways and places according to the nature of the sacrifice. It was the priests' office to make an atonement Leviticus 4:36, and they made it by the blood. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 8:15, 16:16, 17:11 This signified the obliterated sins.
- Burning the sacrifice on the altar. After the priest had properly prepared the sacrificial victim he offered it (the whole or the fat only) upon the altar of burnt-offering. This act symbolised the consecration of the worshipper to Jehovah. The burning of certain parts of the animal upon the altar was to be a sweet-smelling odour to the Lord. Ephesians 5:2
- The sacrificial meal (in the case of the peace-offering only). The fat having been burnt and the priests' pieces removed, the rest of the flesh was eaten by the sacrificer, his household, and the poorer Levites at the Tabernacle. This sacrificial meal represented the mystical union between Jehovah and His people and the joy resulting from it.
The ritual of the three different kinds of animal sacrifices was identical in regard to the Presentation, the laying on of hands, and the Slaughtering by the offerer himself. The differences related to the application of the blood. The blood of the sin (not trespass) offering was smeared upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering in ordinary cases; it was sprinkled against the veil seven times and put upon the horns of the altar of incense of incense in the sin-offerings of the high priest and the whole congregation; it was also sprinkled on the front of the mercy-seat in the sin-offering on the Day of Atonement. The remainder of the blood was poured out at the bottom of the altar of burnt-offering. The blood of the Trespass, Burnt, and Peace offerings was sprinkled on the altar of burnt-offering round about. This symbolises sin expiated and the barrier between God and man removed.
Burnt Offerings
The burnt-offering got its Hebrew name from the idea of the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to heaven. 'olah': That which ascends. It is the upward or Godward offering. The characteristic rite was the burning of the whole animal on the altar for sinfulness in general. Leviticus 1:9; Deuteronomy 33:10 The special idea was the complete self surrender and devotion of the sacrificer to Jehovah. At the House of God the perpetual fire on the altar and the lamb offered up daily at morning and evening were to be the symbols of man's side of an unceasing communion with God.
The Burnt-offering might be made with male bull, rams, or he-goats without blemish; turtle-doves or pigeons of either sex in cases of poverty. The whole of the burnt-offering, after the priest removed the skin, was burnt upon the altar.
What does it teach?
- It was an offering of the best that one could bring, the more costly animal, the male.
- Laying the hands on the animal expresses the worshipers intimate association with the victim.
- It was for the purpose of atonement of sin.
- The preparing and burning of the victim, reveals the orderly thoroughness which God requires.
Peace Offerings
The Peace Offering also goes by various names which seem to have different forms of the peace offering. It is known as the fellowship, votive, freewill or thank offering.
The Peace-offering might be made with oxen, sheep, or goats without blemish, whether male or female. The fat of the peace-offering was burnt upon the altar. The wave offering is the priest's portion of the peace offering which comprised the breast. The heave offering is the officiating priest's portion of the peace offering which comprised the thigh. These were eaten by their sons and their daughters in a clean place. The rest was given back to the sacrificer's for them with their families and the Levites to eat at the Sanctuary in a sacred feast.
As the name suggests, the offerer was in a state of peace with God. Reconciled by sacrifice the offerer and his family were allowed to feast on most of the flesh of the offering. This was the feast of communion which involved a communion meal with God. Luke 14:15; Psalm 23:5; Matthew 22:1 It was also used celebrate family anniversaries. The worshipper and those whom he had invited, were required to be ceremonially clean, for they were eating before the Lord.
There seem to have been three different kinds of Peaceofferings, known by the name of Thank-offerings, Votive offerings, Freewill offerings. Leviticus 22:18,29 The most common being the thank offerings which were grateful acknowledgements of mercies received, and were offered on festivals. Leviticus 23:19; 1 Kings 8:63 The votive offerings were the payment of promised vows. The last type of freewill offerings were made freely without compulsion. Peace-offerings of this kind were offered along with the burnt-offerings in times of trouble to obtain the needed blessings. Judges 20:26, 21:4; 1 Samuel 13:9; 2 Samuel 24:25
The joy and happiness of the occasion did not lessen its holiness. It teaches
- Fellowship with God.
- Fellowship in His service.
- Fellowship with one another.
Sin Offerings
The fundamental idea of the Sin and Trespass offerings was atonement, expiation. They implied that an interruption of friendly relations between Jehovah and the sacrificer had taken place. There was a sin, or some uncleanness akin to a sin, which needed covering, atoning for, before fellowship with Jehovah could be renewed. While the burnt offering dealt with sinfulness in general, the sin offering dealt with an individuals overt transgressions. Sins committed with a high hand, and for which the punishment was death, could not be atoned for under the Mosaic Law. Numbers 15:30,31 Atonement could be made for:
- unconscious, unintentional sins. Leviticus 4:2,22,27, 5:15,17
- non-capital crimes (e.g. theft), after punishment had been endured. Leviticus 6:2,6; 19:20-22
- crimes which a man voluntarily confessed, and for which he made (if possible) compensation. Leviticus 5:5
The sacrificial animals used varied with rank.
| Group | Sacrifice used |
| High priest, congregation | Young bull |
| A ruler | Male goat |
| A commoner | Ewe or lamb |
| A poor person | Two turtledoves\pigeons sometimes 1\10 of ephah of fine flour |
The blood was handled with special ceremony. For the sin of the High priest and the whole congregation, the blood was sprinkled with the finger seven times before the veil, (and once a year within the veil) then part was put on the horns of the incense-altar in the sanctuary and the rest poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
The fat, kidneys and liver of the Sin (and Trespass) offering, was burnt upon the altar. The carcass was taken outside the camp to a clean place where the ashes of other sacrifices were poured out and there it was destroyed by fire. The remainder of the flesh was eaten in a holy place by the priest and his sons.
Tresspass Offerings
Trespass or guilt offerings were a particular kind of sin offerings. All sins were transgressions of the laws of the covenant; but certain sins might be regarded as a robbery, or a violation of right, or an injury, whether in relation to God or Man by depriving him of some just claim and right. In either case these sins were regarded as breaches of the covenant between Jehovah and His people, requiring compensation. This compensation was made ethically, by the trespass-offering Leviticus 5:15, and materially, by making restitution. The amount defrauded was to be repaid plus 20%. In certain cases this compensation was made by suffering punishment. The trespass-offerings were the same for all kinds of persons. The sin-offerings were graduated according to the position of the offerer.
The Trespass-offering was a ram; except in the cases of lepers and Nazarites, when it was a lamb. The priest sprinkled the blood around the altar. Then the animal went to the priest for food. In the case of the cleansed leper some of the blood was then applied to the tip of his (leper's) right ear and to his right thumb and his right big toe. The healed leper had deprived God of service while a leper and required a Trespass offering. Leviticus 14:12-18 Other violations include eating unlawfully of the 'holy things' Leviticus 5:4-19, violation of property rights, cheating in deposits, robbery or oppression, failing to report lost property or false swearing.
In each case the guilty party must
- Confess his sin.
- Make full restoration plus the fine of 1\5
- Offer the guilt offering.
Grain Offerings
The Grain offering goes by various names in the scriptures. It is sometimes called the meal, cereal, drink, or libation offering. This offering was offered along with the burnt and peace (but not sin) offerings.
A Minchah was frequently used of gifts made to men Genesis 43:1, or the tribute due to a superior. The essential materials of the Minchah were corn and wine. The corn was either corn in the ear, fine flour, or unleavened cakes. Oil was never absent from the Minchah, but whether as an essential or accompanying element is doubtful. It was always seasoned with salt Leviticus 2:13, and was offered along with incense usually frankincense. This would take the form of baked loaves, or wafers. No leaven or honey, as fermenting substances, were allowed in its preparation.
The Minchah could not be offered with a sin-offering, and on the other hand no burnt or peace offering was complete without it. A portion of the Minchah, called the memorial, was placed on the altar of burnt offering, the remainder was treated like the remainder of the sin offering, viz. eaten by the priests in a holy place. The wine was probably poured out on the sacrifice, or at the base of the altar. A handful was burnt on the altar by the priest, for a sweet savour and then the rest was his to be eaten in a holy place.
Unbloody offerings, of the nature of a Minchah, were offered in the Holy Place on its three pieces of furniture, viz. oil in its candlestick, incense on its altar of incense, loaves with incense and a drink-offering on its table of shewbread.
Drink Offerings
The Drink offering consisted of wine. It never accompanied the sin or guilt offering. God requires of His worshippers not only the costly decision of total self-dedication pictured in the costly sacrifice of the burnt offering but with it the offering of common ingrediance of life. The Drink offering teaches that God reuires thetotal dedication of all we have, both the exciting and the mundane.
Efficacy of Sacrifices
Only sins committed unintentionally could be atoned for by sacrifices and only after the offender had come to the realisation of his fault. (Could apply to some sins committed consciously. Dishonest dealing, failure to speak of sin).
But sins of the upraised hand or high handed sins could not be atoned for by sacrificial ritual. For these only the death penalty would due. These would be classified as any violation of the Ten Commandments or rejection of the Covenant.
Sometimes forgiveness could be granted to one with a broken and contrite heart even when the offences (adultery and murder) were too great for atonement by sacrifice. Examples of these would be David who committed murder and adultery but who also repented 2 Samuel 4:1 and Moses pleading for the people after the golden calf incident. Exodus 32:4 True repentance brings real forgiveness. The outward act of sacrifice was always to include the inward attitude of contrition. Isaiah 66:2-4; Jeremiah 6:20; 7:22-24
The sacrifices themselves had no power to forgive or remove sin. Their purpose was in pointing to Christ who alone is the sacrifice for sin and who can grant forgiveness and deliverance from the wrath of God. The meal and drink offerings were used in the daily food of the people and offered to God in worship. They owe their efficacy however to the animal sacrifices as it was on this basis that the people approached God for acceptance.