Sacrifice, Atonement, and Worship
The Israelites have safely arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai, where the Tabernacle has been completed. They will remain there for an extended time as God teaches them a new way of life, providing clear instructions on how sinful people can approach a holy God. Leviticus continues the narrative from Exodus, where God comes to dwell among the Israelites. Because of His holiness, specific arrangements were necessary for Him to reside in their midst.
We may be tempted to dismiss Leviticus as a record of bizarre rituals of a different age. But its practices made sense to the people of the day, and they offer important insights for us. The instructions teach us about the nature of God and can help us develop a right attitude toward worship. Through the offerings, we learn of the seriousness of sin and the importance of bringing our sins to God for forgiveness. Ultimately, Leviticus foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and grants believers direct access to God through His atonement.
A key focus of Leviticus is the system of sacrifices. Leviticus describes five major offerings, each with its own characteristics. The five major offerings include:
The burnt offering (1:1–17)
The grain offering (2:1–16)
The fellowship (peace) offering (3:1–17)
The sin offering (4:1-5:13)
The guilt offering (5:14-6:7)
Leviticus 1 begins where the book of Exodus ends—at the foot of Mount Sinai. The tabernacle was just completed, and God was ready to teach the people how to worship there. Beginning in verse 1, God is speaking to Moses from the tent of meeting, instructing him to tell the Israelites that when any of them bring a burnt offering, they are to bring an animal from either the herd or the flock (v. 1-2)
The specifics of the burnt offering are then outlined in detail. If the offering is a bull, the offerer must bring it without defect to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for acceptance by God. The offerer is to lay their hands on the head of the animal, symbolizing the transfer of their sins or guilt to the animal (v. 4). The bull is then slaughtered, and the priests are to sprinkle its blood on the altar (v. 5). The whole animal is then to be burnt completely on the altar as an offering to God (v. 9).
In cases where the offerer cannot afford a bull, they are permitted to bring a ram (v. 10). The same procedures are to be followed, with the laying of hands on the animal’s head and its slaughtering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The blood is to then be sprinkled on the altar, and the ram is to be entirely burned on the altar as well (v. 13). If the offerer is even poorer, they can bring a bird, either a dove or a pigeon (v. 14). The procedure for birds is slightly different: the priest is to wring its neck, and its blood is drained near the side of the altar. However, the entire bird is not to be completely burned. The crop and the feathers are to be removed and thrown down east of the altar where the ashes are (v. 15-17).
The ritual of the burnt offering, like all the Levitical sacrifices, significantly involved the worshiper in the sacrificial procedure, for he performed the acts of presenting the animal, laying on hands, slaughtering, skinning, dissecting, and washing. But all ritual procedures involving contact with the altar were reserved for the priest, including the manipulation of blood, the arrangement of the wood, and the appropriate parts of the sacrifice for incineration on the altar. The burnt offering is the most costly offering since it is completely burned up with nothing left (except for the skin). This signified the worshiper’s act of complete dedication or surrender to God.
The burnt offering teaches us the importance of offering our whole selves to God. Just as the entire animal was consumed, we are called to offer our entire lives to God in worship (Romans 12:1). This can be applied in everyday decisions, where we should live as though every aspect of our lives, whether our work, relationships, or personal pursuits, belongs to God. Worship is not just limited to church services but extends to how we live and act in all circumstances.
The burnt offering also emphasizes the need for atonement and reconciliation with God. It serves as a reminder that sin requires a sacrifice, and while we no longer offer animal sacrifices, Jesus Christ has made the ultimate atonement through His death on the cross (Hebrews 10:12). Through Christ, we can be reconciled to God, but we must still approach Him in humility, recognizing the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance.
Leviticus 2 outlines the grain offering, a non-blood offering that was to be presented to God. This offering consisted of fine flour and was part of the sacrificial system, distinct from animal sacrifices like the burnt offering. Grain offerings typically consisted of four elements: fine flour, oil, frankincense, and salt. They could be brought either uncooked (v. 1–3) or cooked (v. 4–10). The grain offering was to be free of yeast and honey but was to be salted like all offerings for the altar (v. 11-13). When presenting first fruits, the Israelites were to bring roasted grains of the new crop mixed with oil and frankincense. Like other grain offerings, part of the first fruits was burned on the altar, and the remainder was given to the priests (v. 14-16). A grain offering could be offered by itself as a distinct sacrifice. However, its more common use was as an accompaniment to either a burnt or a fellowship offering and probably served the same purpose as the offering it accompanied, whether for a petition or for praise.
The absence of leaven in the offering symbolized purity and holiness, as God requires purity in worship and relationship with Him. Just as the offering was to be without leaven, we are called to approach God with pure hearts. Sin must be removed from our lives to worship God in spirit and truth. We must strive to live holy lives, free from the corruption of sin. Additionally, the salt represented the covenant, reminding the people that their relationship with God was eternal, faithful, and unbreakable.
Leviticus 3 details the fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering. This offering represents and symbolizes peace, fellowship, and communion with God. It represents a communal meal shared by the offerer, the officiating priest, and the Lord. In the Old Testament, such meals were a way of affirming the covenant relationship. Like the burnt offering, there were various reasons for offering a peace offering, from petition to praise.
The formal structure of the law of the fellowship offering, like that of the burnt offering, was determined by the types of animals sacrificed. The fellowship offering could be a bull, a lamb, or a goat, and the animal must be without defect. Unlike the burnt offering, an animal brought as a fellowship offering could be either male or female.
The ritual of the fellowship offering paralleled that of the burnt offering up to the point of the use and distribution of the pieces of the dissected animal. These identical procedures were four: (a) the presentation of the animal by the worshiper, (b) the laying on of the worshiper’s hand, (c) the worshiper’s slaying of the animal at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and (d) the manipulation of the blood by the priest who splashed the blood against the altar on all sides.
The sacrifice diverged, however, in terms of the portions of the animal that the priest burned on the altar. Only the fatty parts of the animal, instead of all of it, are to be burned up. Specifically, only the fat that covers the intestines, both kidneys with the fat around them, and the covering (long lobe) of the liver were burned on the altar. The fat in ancient Israel represented the very best part of the animal. To present this to the Lord was a way of acknowledging that he was the One worthy of most honor (v. 16).
Since the peace offering was the one offering of which the offerer partook, it makes sense for this chapter to end by underscoring the two parts of the animal of which the offerer was never to partake, namely, the fat and the blood (v. 17). The fat represented the very best part of the animal. As such, it was to be given to the Lord as the One worthy of most honor. The blood was reserved for a very special purpose: atoning for the life of the Israelites. As a result, it, too, must not be consumed.
The peace offering was about fellowship and reconciliation with God. It emphasized the joy of communion and restored relationship, symbolizing the believer’s desire to be at peace with God and with others. The peace offering is a powerful reminder that through Christ’s sacrifice, we have been restored to fellowship with God. If we have strayed, we can come before God with repentance, knowing He desires to restore us to peace with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). This also invites us to seek peace and reconciliation in our relationships with others (Matthew 5:23-24).
The burning of fat on the altar is a significant symbol in this offering, representing the holiness of God and His pleasure in the offering. The burning of the fat symbolized dedication to God. We are called to offer our best to God, to present our lives as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This means dedicating our time, resources, and energy to honoring Him in all things, as the peace offering encouraged the worshiper to offer the best portions.
The challenge for us today is to reflect on our own offerings to God—whether in time, talents, or resources—and ensure they reflect our best and purest devotion. Just as the Israelites brought the best, we should bring the best of ourselves to God in worship and service. How can we offer our best to God in all areas of life, ensuring that our worship is pleasing and faithful to Him?
Leviticus 4 outlines the sin offering, a sacrifice intended to atone for unintentional sins committed by individuals or the community. The chapter provides detailed instructions on how different individuals or groups should present this offering based on their role in the community. The individual’s role in the community determines which animal is to be used: a young bull for a priest or the congregation (v. 1-21), a male goat for a leader (v. 22-26), and a female goat or lamb for an individual (v. 27-35). Similar to all is that the animal’s blood is sprinkled on the altar, and the fat is burned as a pleasing aroma to God.
The sin offering highlights the serious consequences of sin - whether intentional or not intentional - and the need for atonement, demonstrating God’s provision for forgiveness. Sin separates individuals from God, and without atonement, there can be no restored relationship. The fact that unintentional sins also require sacrifice demonstrates God’s holiness and the fact that no sin, intentional or not, is overlooked by Him. The sin offering underscores the principle that forgiveness and restoration come only through sacrifice.
Animal sacrifice seems obsolete and repulsive to many people today, but animal sacrifices were practiced in many cultures in the Middle East. God used this form of sacrifice to teach his people about faith. Sin needed to be taken seriously. When people saw the sacrificial animals being killed, they were sensitized to the importance of their sin and guilt.
Our culture’s casual attitude toward sin ignores the cost of sin and the need for repentance and restoration. Although many of the rituals of Leviticus were designed for the culture of the day, their purpose was to reveal a high and holy God who should be loved, obeyed, and worshiped. God’s laws and sacrifices were intended to bring out true devotion of the heart. The ceremonies and rituals were the best way for the Israelites to focus their lives on God, and these guidelines should remind us not to take our relationship with the same holy God lightly.
Leviticus 1-4 describes the different types of offerings that the Israelites were commanded to bring before God. These sacrifices were not just rituals but acts of worship, repentance, and dedication. Each offering symbolized a deeper spiritual truth that still applies to us today.
Personal Challenge:
Reflect on Your Worship (Leviticus 1 - Burnt Offering)
The burnt offering was completely consumed, symbolizing total devotion to God. Ask yourself: Am I fully surrendered to God? Are there areas of my life I am holding back?
Challenge: Dedicate a specific area of your life to God this week. Pray and commit it fully to Him.
Give Your Best to God (Leviticus 2 - Grain Offering)
The grain offering represented gratitude and giving the best to God. Are you offering God your best in time, talents, and resources?
Challenge: Find a way to give your best this week—whether it’s in prayer, serving others, or giving generously.
Seek Peace and Fellowship (Leviticus 3 - Fellowship Offering)
This offering was about fellowship and thanksgiving. Is there a broken relationship you need to reconcile?
Challenge: Reach out to someone you need to make peace with, or express gratitude to someone who has blessed you.
Confess and Turn from Sin (Leviticus 4 - Sin Offering)
The sin offering was for unintentional sins. Even when we don’t realize it, sin can affect our relationship with God.
Challenge: Ask God to reveal any hidden sins in your life. Confess and seek His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Ultimately, these sacrifices point forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Just as the Israelites needed the blood of an animal to atone for their sin, we need the blood of Christ to atone for ours. Our sin cannot be covered by our efforts but only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. As we reflect on these chapters, let us approach God with humility, repentance, and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made for our sin.
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