Yesterday we looked at the Bronze altar just inside the gate. We focused on the sin offering of the substitutionary lamb, but that was not the only offering that God required. In the Old Testament, the altar was the central point of worship. It was a place where a holy God met sinful humanity. In Leviticus 1–7, God outlined five distinct offerings. Rather than being redundant rituals, each offering revealed a specific dimension of God’s holiness, human need, and the ultimate work of Jesus Christ.
In Leviticus 1:2-3, we have a burnt offering. God said: “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. This is the offering we mentioned yesterday, where they put their hand on the head of the animal while it was being sacrificed. The animal must be the best of the flock, without any blemish. The entire animal was consumed by the fire on the altar. This showed complete dedication to God, wholehearted devotion, and recognition that everything belongs to God. This is a reminder to us of Jesus total abandonment of His perfect, sinless life without reservation. He gave all for us!
Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
There was also a grain offering. The full account of this offering is in Leviticus chapter 2. It was an offering of thanksgiving for the provisions God supplied. It was a giving of the best fruits of their daily labor. This represented the sinless, perfect life of Christ offered in daily obedience and service to God. Matthew Henry explains it like this. “This offering made by fire is here said to be of a sweet savor unto the Lord; particularly that of almsgiving, which is said to be an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
Philippians 4:18 “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 13:16 “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Next, there was a peace or fellowship offering. This is detailed in Leviticus 3. It was an offering for reconciliation, fellowship, and communion. This symbolized restored harmony with God. For us, Jesus is our peace. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn, and we could be reconciled to God and come into His presence.
Hebrews 10:19-20 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”
The fourth offering we will look at is the one we can all relate to daily. This is detailed in Leviticus chapters 4 and 5. The focus is on the purification of specific unintentional sins. Sometimes we omit doing something we should; these are sins of omission, and then there are sins of commission. Both need to be forgiven. Here, the blood of the animal was sprinkled before the veil and applied to the horns of the altar to clean moral defilement. Today, we are thankful that Jesus became sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God, cleansing our conscience from the guilt of our sins.
II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Last, we have the guilt or trespass offering. This one is outlined in Leviticus chapters 5 and 6. Its significance is restitution and satisfaction. This was required when a sin caused damage to God’s holy things or a neighbor’s property. It demanded full restitution plus an added fifth of its value alongside the sacrifice. I am so thankful that Jesus paid the debt I could not pay, not partially, but He made full restitution for my sins that violated God’s divine standard.
Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
When we look at the Old Testament altar, you see a complete picture of salvation. We see restoration in the sin and guilt offering. We find reconciliation in the peace offering, allowing us an intimate relationship with a holy God. In the burnt and grain offerings, we find dedication. It is a response of total devotion and grateful service.
I am so thankful for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, which fulfilled every requirement of the law. Now, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, and completely devoted to Him. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1 that this is the only reasonable response. This is the least we can do for all He has done for us.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
