Chapter 12
THE BURNT OFFERING
Before we begin our study let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father we ask You to please open our ears, our eyes and our hearts so we can better understand and receive the teaching that comes from the burnt offering. Father, please bless our study and draw us close to You and Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
For our study of the burnt offering, which is sometimes identified as the whole burnt offering, we will:
1. Review the time and occasions for when this offering was to be given. In addition we will also review the manner in which this offering was to be presented to God.
2. Discover that within the burnt offering there are two major foreshadowings: (1) Jesus Christ and His relationship with God the Father and (2) the relationship that those who are born again of the Holy Spirit are to have with Christ Jesus and God the Father.
We begin our study by reviewing,
THE TIMES AND OCCASIONS FOR THE WHOLE BURNT OFFERING
As we discovered in Part I, a whole burnt offering was to be given during all the major feasts, such as the Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of First Fruits, etc. The one exception to this was the Feast of Passover.
The Feast of Passover was observed to serve as a reminder of Israel's deliverance from their bondage to the Egyptians. The Passover lamb was slaughtered to bring to remembrance that its blood was used as a covering to protect the people of Israel from the destroying angel (Exodus 12:1-14). The Passover lamb was not used as an offering to God. The offerings to God were given as part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which began on the day following the Passover supper. For a more in depth study of these feasts please see chapters 2 and 3.
In addition to the major feasts the priests, on behalf of the people of Israel, were to offer a burnt offering to God on the following prescribed days.
First of all the priests were to daily offer to God two burnt offerings. One offering was to be given in the morning and the second one was to be given at twilight. To see this, let us go to the time when Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests and read one of the commands God gave to them. To do this we go to,
Exodus 29:38-42
[38] “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. [39] One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. [40] With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a Hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a Hin of wine as a drink offering. [41] And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. [42] This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you.
Let us notice the following verse,
42 … This was to be a continual burnt offering throughout their generations.
Secondly, a burnt offering was also to be given during the day of the Sabbath. This is recorded in,
Numbers 28:9-10
""'[9] On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. [10] This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering."
In addition to the daily and weekly Sabbath burnt offerings a burn offering was also to be given on the first day of each month. This command is recorded in,
Numbers 28:11
""[11] 'On the first of every month, present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect."
In addition to the command to the priests to offer burnt offerings on behalf of all the Israelites, provisions were also provided for an individual to offer their own personal burnt offering.
With this in mind let us now review,
THE MANNER IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL WAS TO OFFER THE BURNT OFFERING
A description of these regulations can be found in,
Leviticus 1:1-14
"[1] The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, [2] "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. [3] "'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD. [4] He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. [5] He is to slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. [6] He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. [7] The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. [8] Then Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar. [9] He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. [10] "'If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from either the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male without defect. [11] He is to slaughter it at the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides. [12] He is to cut it into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar. [13] He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to bring all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. [14] "'If the offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to offer a dove or a young pigeon
Let us notice the following verses,
3 … The animal to be offered was to be without blemish.
4 … The individual who brought the whole burnt offering placed their hand upon its head. As we discovered in previous offerings this was to clearly demonstrate that the animal to be sacrificed represented the person who gave it.
5(a) … The individual who brought the burnt offering was to slaughter it. This activity would further impress upon the individual that the animal was being offered on their behalf.
5(b) … After the animal was slaughtered it was the priest who sprinkled the blood on the sides of the brazen altar. This was the altar in front of the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle.
6-9 … Everything other than the skin or hide was to be given, via fire, to God. To see this let us read from,
Leviticus 7:8
"[8] The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself."
(As of this writing I do not have any insight as to why the skin or hide was removed from the burnt offering.)
10-14 … The animal to be offered could be a bull, sheep, goat or bird. Thus, no matter the financial state of an individual, it would still be within their means to offer God a whole burnt offering. To see an example of this, let us read an excerpt from the regulations of purification for a woman who gave birth to a child.
Leviticus 12:8
"[8] If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering...'""
As a matter of fact, because of her low financial state, this is exactly what Mary did after she gave birth to Jesus.
Luke 2: 22-24
"[22] When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord [23] (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), [24] and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons.""
This now brings us to,
THE PURPOSE OF THE BURNT OFFERING
As we prayerfully consider all we have covered we come to the realization that the whole burnt offering was the vehicle by which the priests were to outwardly express the nation’s complete and total dedication to God. In addition, the regulations for the burnt offering also gave each individual a means by which they could also outwardly or symbolically express their complete love, devotion and surrender to God. I believe this is why the whole burnt offering was a pleasing aroma for God.
In addition, as it was with the other offerings or sacrifices, the burnt offering was also established to be a foreshadowing. The burnt offering was pointing to the Messiah, the Messiah's relationship to God the Father and the relationship His disciples were to have with Him and God the Father. With this in mind let us now begin our study of,
THE FORESHADOWINGS OF THE BURNT OFFERING
As noted above, within the whole burnt offering there are two great foreshadowings. These foreshadowing are:
1. The burnt offering itself represents our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His relationship with God the Father.
2. The individual presenting their burnt offering was a model to help us understand the relationship the born again believers in Jesus Christ are to have with Him and God the Father.
We begin with,
THE FORESHADOWINGS OF JESUS CHRIST
In our review of the occasions and manner in which the burnt offering was to be offered to God we found at least the following five characteristics.
1. Every day the offering was given to God the Father. As we saw in Exodus 29:42, it was to be a continual burnt offering.
This was a foreshadowing to teach us that every moment of every day Jesus Christ is now in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father. To see this let us read from,
Hebrews 12:1-2
"[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
To expand upon this truth a bit more let us read from,
John 1:17-18
"[17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."
Now some might ask, "What is Jesus doing at the right hand of God the Father?" The Bible teaches us that He is praying or interceding for you and me. To see this let us read the following passage from Paul's letter to the Romans.
Romans 8:34
"[34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
2. The burnt offering was to be without blemish.
This was a foreshadowing to help us understand the sinless perfection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His sinless character is recorded for us in,
1 Peter 2:22
""[22] He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.""
3. The burnt offering, which was a pleasing aroma to God, was a substitute for the individual who offered it.
This was a foreshadowing to teach us that Jesus Christ, who is also our burnt offering, gave Himself on our behalf. To see this let us read the following excerpt from the letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:1-2
"[1] Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children [2] and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
4. Except for the skin, the whole burnt offering was totally given to God.
This was a foreshadowing that Jesus Christ was and is in total submission to God the Father. The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ only did what He saw God the Father do.
John 5:19
"[19] Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
We also find that Jesus spoke exactly what the Father told Him to say.
John 12:49-50
"[49] For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. [50] I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.""
In other words, Jesus Christ humbled Himself to be in total obedience and submission to God the Father. To see this, let us read where we are instructed to live our lives with a similar attitude of humility. This instruction is recorded in,
Philippians 2:5-8
"[5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"
5. The particular animal to be offered was to be affordable.
In other words, the ritual of the whole burnt offering was to be available for all peoples, that is for those of financial means and for those who were poor. This was a foreshadowing that Jesus Christ came to save us all. To see this let us consider the following Scripture,
John 3:16-17
""[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Summary
Thus we find that the Old Testament whole burnt offering was also a foreshadowing to help us understand some of the attributes of the Messiah, who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In other words, the Old Testament burnt offering pointed to the time when the true whole burnt offering would come. Specifically, it pointed to Jesus Christ who is: (1) without blemish, (2) completely dedicated to the Father, (3) gave Himself on our behalf, (4) is available to all who would call upon Him and (5) is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father praying and interceding for all those who are His.
In addition to being a foreshadowing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we also find the burnt offering was a foreshadowing of those who, through faith, would be born again in Him.
This brings us to,
THE FORESHADOWINGS OF THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER
For this portion of our study there are at least two significant characteristics of the whole burnt offering that warrant our attention.
The first characteristic that warrants our attention is that the burnt offering was the vehicle by which the nation of Israel or an individual person were to symbolically express their total love, dedication and commitment to God.
In other words, as we read the Old Testament we discover that this offering was to be an outward expression to reflect the love and dedication that was to reside within the hearts of His people. Specifically, this offering was not meant to be an end to itself or an empty ritual.
To see that God was (and still is) more concerned about our hearts, which is revealed through our life style, rather than what we offer to Him let us consider what He said through the prophet Micah.
Micah 6:6-8
"[6] With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? [7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? [8] He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
The burnt offering was an outward expression to symbolically represent the heart or attitude of the individual who gave it. Thus, if the life style of the individual who gave the offering was not consistent with their profession of dedication, God would not accept it. This is revealed to us where, through the prophet Amos, God chastises the people of Israel for not following Him or His ways. The passage of interest is in,
Amos 5:21-24
""[21] I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. [22] Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. [23] Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. [24] But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"
So what was and is the attitude of our heart that God desires for His people? Perhaps the answer to this question is best summarized by reading how Jesus responded to the lawyer who wanted to know what the greatest commandment was. Jesus’ answer is recorded for us in,
Matthew 22:35-40
"[35] One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: [36] "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" [37] Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.""
Let us notice the following verses,
37 … We are to love God with our whole being. First of all, this means that we are to love Him and trust Him not only in the times that are good to us but also during those times when we experience rough patches. In other words, our attitude should be like that of Job. To get a flavor of Job's love and dedication to God let us read what he said to his wife after they experienced the loss of their children, the loss of their possessions and after Job was afflicted with extremely painful sores. His response is recorded for us in,
Job 2:9-10
"[9] His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" [10] He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Secondly, if we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind then to please Him we will do what He says. In other words, if we truly love Him we will do what He asks us to do. To see this let us read the following excerpt from the first letter of John.
1 John 5:3
"[3] This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,"
Let us now return to the 22nd chapter of Matthew and examine verse,
39 … Jesus teaches us that the second commandment is to love our neighbor as we love our selves. In other words we can do a lot of good things. We can serve others through various ministries and give all we have to the poor but, if we do not love them then all this effort does not profit us. This is clearly revealed to us in,
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
"[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
The second characteristic to warrant our attention is that the whole burnt offering was to be given every day.
This is also a foreshadowing to teach us that every day the born again believer is to live their lives in total submission and devotion to God. To expand upon this let us consider the following excerpt from Paul’s letter to the church in Colosse,
Colossians 3:12-17
"[12] … as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. [15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Perhaps another way to look at this is by recognizing that every day we are to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices. In other words, we are to live like a whole burnt offering. To see this let us read from the following excerpt from Paul's letter to the Romans.
Romans 12:1-2
"[1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Notice that when we offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices, then we will discern and know His will. The question becomes, "how?" How do we offer ourselves as living sacrifices? We do this by having the same attitude in our hearts that Paul had. The apostle Paul describes it for us in,
Galatians 2:20
"[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
In other words, we must consider ourselves dead to self and truly desire that Jesus Christ live His life, as He pleases, in and through us. Then, we must have faith and trust in Him to do it.
CLOSING
Let us now close our study by reading the following Psalm of praise,
Psalm 145:1-13
"[1] I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. [2] Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. [4] One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. [5] They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [6] They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. [7] They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. [8] The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. [9] The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. [10] All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. [11] They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, [12] so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made."
AMEN and AMEN