Summary of Old Covenant Sacrificial Offerings

Leviticus 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Outline

1 | The Law of Burnt Offerings
1:1-9 | Animals from the herd – cattle
1:10-13 | Animals from the flock –
sheep or goats
1:14-17 | Birds – turtledoves or young
pigeons
2 | The Law of Grain Offerings
2:1-3 | Of fine flour with oil &
frankincense
2:4-10 | Of offering baked in an oven
2:11-13 | No leaven; with salt
2:14-16 | Of early ripened things
3 | The Law of Peace Offerings
3:1-11 | Animals from the herd or flock
– cattle or sheep
3:12-17 | Animals from the flock –
goats
4 | The Law of Sin Offerings
4:1-12 | Unintentional Sins – bull
4:13-21 | National sins – bull
4:22-26 | A leader sins – male goat
4:27-31 | Common People sins –
female goat
4:32-35 | Common People sins –
female sheep
5 & 6 | The Law of Guilt Offerings
5:1-6 | False testimony, dead things,
unclean things – female sheep or goat
5:7-10 | – Or two turtledoves /
two young pigeons
5:11-13 | – Or a bushel of fine flour
5:14-16 | Unintentionally against holy
things – ram
5:17-19 | Breaks the law – ram
6:1-7 | Robbery, Extortion, Swindling –
Repay plus 20% and a ram
6 & 7 | The Priest’s Part in the Offerings
6:8-13 | Responsibilities for burnt
offerings
6:14-18 | Responsibilities for grain
offerings
6:19-23 | When a priest is anointed
6:24-30 | Responsibilities for sin
offerings
7:1-10 | Responsibilities for guilt
offerings
7:11-14 | Responsibilities for peace
offerings
7:15-18 | Responsibilities for
thanksgiving peace offerings
7:19-21 | Disposing of unclean
sacrificial meat
7:22-27 | Restriction on eating
fat or blood
7:28-34 | Responsibilities of the
sacrificer & the priest
7:35-36 | Portions to Aaron &
his sons
7:37-38 | Summary

Reflections

There are a few New Testament texts to remember while reading the Old Testament laws.

Matthew 5:17-20 NASB  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  18  “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  19  “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20  “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Galatians 3:19-29 NASB Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

In particular with regard to the current chapters, we need to read them in light of the following, keeping in mind the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God perfect Passover Sacrifice and final “once for all” atoning sacrifice.

Romans 6:8-11 NASB Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 7:26-27 NASB For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 9:11-14 NASB But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 10:10-14 NASB By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

I Peter 3:18-22 NASB For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

We also have these from the Old Testament.

I Samuel 15:22 NASB Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Psalms 50:7-8 NASB “Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God. 8 “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.

Proverbs 21:3 NASB To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 NASB Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

Isaiah 1:9-18 NASB Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. 11 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”

Jeremiah 7:22-23 NASB “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’

Hosea 6:6 NASB For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

God’s intent for sacrifices was not for the to be used like a “prescription” but they were to be a response to a broken relationship.  The one that might be an exception to this would be the Peace or Thanksgiving Sacrifice.  It was to be presented every time a person wanted to express his thanks to God for anything.  A portion was to be given to the priest and the rest was to be eaten within 24 hours.  There was usually more than one person or even family could eat so this meant the person offering the sacrifice would call his family and friends to share in the happy occasion.

For Christians, communion might be seen as an expression of this very same sacrifice.  Jesus the sacrificial lamb was offered as a peace offering and there is more than enough of Him, as depicted in the bread and the cup, so that all peoples everywhere can partake in the celebration.


See the Outline for the book on the Downloads page for discussion on authorship and content summary.

Leviticus 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 - Summary of Old Covenant Sacrificial Offerings
Leviticus 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 - Summary of Old Covenant Sacrificial Offerings
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