Lesson 5

SACRIFICES OF ISRAEL 

Reading: Gen. 4: 1-15; Lev. 1 -7

Memory Verses : Heb:1,14

Theme: To learn that worshiper can attain perfection, not through the Old Testament sacrifices which were merely shadows, but only by the sanctification possible through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

Introduction: Sacrifices were prevalent in the world from the beginning of history. The clothing of skin given by God to the first parents after they sinned can be considered as pointing to the redemptive death of Jesus Christ and as the beginning of sacrifices. Later we see sacrifices being offered by faith by Abel, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Job and others. It was through the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai that God revealed the importance and meaning of sacrifices. All sacrifices were shadows of the single most important sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The study of various sacrifices will lead us to the understanding the sanctification, perfection, and blessings available through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Levite sacrifices: The commandments given by God regarding sacrifices are recorded in the first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus. Hence they are called Levite sacrifices. There are five important sacrifices. They are burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering 

Details of these five offering are found in the first five chapters of Leviticus. The next two chapters give conditions governing the offerings. Apart from these, there are drink offering, free will offering, thanksgiving offering.

Sacrifices: two types: Out of five Levite sacrifices, the first three are sweet savor offerings and the other two are non-sweet savor offering. Sweet savor offering are those in which sweet smelling materials are also added to the sacrificial animals. These are not added in the non-sweet savor offerings. Sweet savor offerings are associated with worship and non-sweet savor offering are associated with remission of sins. Sweet savor offering tells us how God sees Jesus Christ and the other two offerings show what Jesus Christ has accomplished for mankind. Sweet savor offerings are brought by worshiper voluntarily. On the other hand, worshiper is commanded to bring sin and trespass offerings, A sinner must offer sin and trespass offering first. After that, he is entitled to offer the other sacrifices which are thanksgiving offerings.

Meaning of sacrifices:  Various sacrifices were offered continually in the Old Testament age. They were all shadows of the single sacrifice of Jesus on the Calvary.

 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:10-14)

The essence of all the five sacrifices is contained in that single sacrifice. The death of Jesus Christ brought glory and honor to the name of God. Therefore, Jesus Christ became a sweet smelling sacrifice for God. Moreover, His death was sufficient for the remission of the sins of mankind. "In the end of the world, He appeared to 

 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself..(Hebrews 9:24-26)

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(1 John 2:1-2)

Therefore, the substance of all the propitiatory offerings is Christ, Himself.

Jesus Christ was not only the sacrificial animal But also the High Priest who offered the sacrifice and even the altar where the sacrifice was offered, In the Old Testament sacrifices, the alter the sacrifice and the priest were all different. But in the ultimate sacrifice, all these three have merged into one person, Jesus Christ. Let us praise God for the unique sacrificial death of the unique Christ. At the same time let us offer our selves as sacrifices in the presence of God.