Sanctuary lesson 05 - Sacrifices (part 2)
When we last studied together, we were discussing the importance of sacrifice and what it means to the Christian faith. We spent time studying the burnt offering and found that it symbolized a consecration of life - our entire being belongs to God. Today we will go through the other four offerings. We will first discuss the grain offering, which is also referred to as the meat offering.
Let's turn to Leviticus 2:1.
- According to this verse, what was the grain offering?
- Answer (highlight to read): It was an offering of fine flour.
The grain offering is the only offering out of the five offerings where bloodshed was not involved. You might be asking yourself, how does this offering point to Jesus? You see, there actually is an element of death involved. The grain had to go through a process from being grain to flour. The grain had to be beaten until it "dies" and becomes fine flour.
The grain offering reminds us to be completely dependent on God. The grain offering comes from the Hebrew word "minchah" - a gift to a superior. You see the "minchah" used in Genesis 32:13, Genesis 43:11, and 2 Samuel 8:1-2. The grain offering is, in a sense, like tithe.
Note that the burnt offering comes before the grain offering. Consecration of life comes before consecration of means. When God has full ownership of you, then He has full ownership of everything you own. If we serve God, we must serve with all that we are and with all that we have.
In order to transition from grain to flour, man must cooperate with God. God gives grain to man. God's part is getting the grain to grow. Man's part is in beating the grain into fine flour. Let's turn to 1 John 1:9 for an illustration of this.
- According to this verse, when will God forgive our sins?
- Answer: God will forgive our sins when we confess them.
In the same sense, when we confess our sins (our part), God is faithful to forgive our sins (His part). Likewise, God made the provision for salvation, but it is only when someone individually believes that they will be saved (John 3:16).
Next, we will discuss the peace offering. Let's turn to Leviticus 3:1-17 and Leviticus 7:11-20.
- According to these verses, who partook of the peace offering?
- Answer: God, the priest, and the offerer
The peace offering taught the concept of communal fellowship (Matthew 18:20). It is important to come together as a group to worship God in one location (Hebrews 10:24-25). There can be character building in meeting with fellow brethren (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Additionally, the peace offering was an expression on the part of the offerers of their peace with God and their thankfulness for the many blessings they have received. As Christians, we should be the happiest people on earth!
Let's take a look at the sin offering. Let's turn to Leviticus 1:35 and Leviticus 6:25-30.
- According to these verses what was the purpose of the sin offering?
- Answer: To atone for unintentional sins
The sin offering was only for sins done through ignorance. This would include sin of errors, mistakes, or rash acts of which the sinner was unaware of the time, but was made known to him or her afterwards.
The sin offer reminds us that we are all sinners, even when we think we are doing well on our own and have done nothing bad Romans 3:23). Jesus' sacrifice points out that eternal life can only be found through His precious blood (2 Corinthians 5:21). Nothing else can make us whole or wash our sins away, no matter what we try to do on our own.
Finally, let's go through the trespass offering together. Let's turn to Leviticus 5:1-19 and Leviticus 6:1-9.
- According to these verses, what was the purpose of the trespass offering?
- Answer: To atone for sins against others, which including paying for damages with interest
The trespass offering teaches us that sin creates a barrier or a debt that must be paid (Isaiah 59:2). Conviction of sin is not enough. Sorrow for sin is not enough. Confession of sin is not enough. There needs to be repentance so deep and thorough that the soul will not rest until every step has been taken and every effort made to rectify past mistakes. and wrongs. It is only by a sacrifice that the debt can be paid (Matthew 20:28). Jesus' sacrifice paid the debt for our sins!
Friend, I hope now you can better appreciate what Jesus has done for us from our study on sacrifices in the Old Testament. Can you see God's love and mercy through the various burnt sacrifices and offerings? Jesus' fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifical system can be best described by the familiar chorus:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
