Why Study the Offerings? (Part 1)

The first 7 chapters of the book of Leviticus describe the main types of offerings that God commanded for Israel under the Old Covenant. Many more chapters throughout the law provide additional instruction. Why did God direct Moses to spend so much time writing about them? Do they have significance for God's people in modern times?

If I were to ask whether there are still sacrifices in the New Covenant, hopefully you would answer yes - with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins being the chief example. But did God devote so many chapters in the law and put so much ceremony into the daily lives of Israel for hundreds of years just so that we, two thousand years later, could give mere passing acknowledgement to this fulfillment in Christ? Moreover, is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the entire substance of God's system of offerings? I hope to not only persuade, but to convict you otherwise!

More Than Just Forgiveness

There were, in fact, offerings which did not involve a sacrificial animal at all. This may seem like an unimportant distinction under the New Covenant, but notice the way the words "offering" and "sacrifice" are paired together in reference to Jesus Christ:

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2)

Consider that Paul and the people he wrote to would have personally seen - and smelled - burnt offerings and sacrifices, and they would have been intimately familiar with the intricacies of how each one was performed. Even if they had not seen it with their own eyes, they would have studied the scriptures regarding them and endeavored to understand this system, knowing that the glory of God in Jesus Christ is revealed in it. The imagery that Paul was evoking would have had a very clear meaning for them, but it will be lost on us if we do not put in the effort to meditate on God's law as they did!

The phrase "offering and sacrifice" may sound redundant. We understand that Jesus Christ was a sacrifice for our sins, but He was also a "fragrant offering"(as the NIV puts it) before God on our behalf. Far from being redundant, this sheds new meaning on the sacrifice of Christ if we have the patience to seek it out! The first thing to realize is that out of the 5 main categories of offerings listed in Leviticus 1-7, only TWO of them were for the forgiveness of sins! Moreover, the "sweet-smelling aroma" is primarily identified with the three types which were NOT about forgiveness. If you have until this point only considered Christ as a sacrifice for sin, then you have missed the MAJORITY of God's intent - at least in terms of the sheer number of God's words on the subject.

As I recently wrote about the priesthood, God's system of offerings was not established on a whim or because God thought that Israel just needed ceremonies! Rather, this system was carefully designed by our Creator as part of His eternal law before time began - we should show reverence for it. Moreover, we should take the time to appreciate the building blocks of understanding in God's law because they can lead us to a more complete appreciation of the work of Jesus Christ.

I have one more introductory article planned for this series before I get into a detailed study of each of the sacrifices. In the meantime, I invite you to read Leviticus 1-7 and meditate on it. Consider for yourself the purpose of God in establishing each type of offering, the differences between them, and what each one reveals about our Savior. As you read, keep in mind that He is not only a sacrifice for us, but also our Priest.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. (Psalm 119:18-20)