Offerings and Feasts Page A-1

Offering and Feast

(The life of a Christian through studying the book of Leviticus)

  1. Introduction
  2. The Bible was written for us (Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:15-17).
  3. Leviticus contains the laws that must be obeyed by those who were to become the holy people; God first instructed it through Moses, after the tent of meeting was completed. The book includes the rite of offering and sacrifices, the regulations of purification, the matters of festivals, etc. All have hidden, in-depth spiritual teachings that are in great help of today’s Christians who are pursuing after holiness.
  4. This book in the Hebrew Bible is called “The Calling of God”. Septuagint named it “Leviticus”.
  5. The author is Moses. The entire book covers the history of a one-month period. It was written approximately five months after the Israelites left Mount Sinai (approx. 1420 BC).
  6. The central theme is “Holiness” (Lev 19:2; 11:45). The word “Holiness” was used 87 times. The true God revealed that He is a holy God; He wants the chosen people to become holy and to build a holy nation.
  7. The entire book has 27 chapters and can be divided into two major sections. Chapters 1-10 talks about drawing closer to God through sanctified servitude (i.e. offering sacrifices). Chapters 11-27 reveal a holy faith through living a holy life.
  8. Summary of Offering
  9. Meaning
  10. Removing woes and troubles in order to redeem from sin and pray for blessings. This is a method to drawing close to God, which prefigures Christ’s redemption (Heb 9:12-14, 23, 7:21-25).
  11. Origin
  12. After the first ancestor sinned, the Lord made garments of skin to clothe them (Gen 3:6-8, 21).
  13. Cain and Abel offer sacrifices to God (Gen 4:3-5; Heb 11:4).
  14. All the God-fearing ancestors knew to offer sacrifices (Gen 8:20-22; Job 1:5, 42:7-8; Gen 12:7-8, 26:25, 33:20, 35:1, 3, 7).
  15. Type of offerings
  16. It can be divided into burnt offerings and grain offerings according to the type of sacrifices.
  17. It can be divided into offerings of aroma and sin offering by meaning.
  18. It can be divided into the entire assembly, officials, and individuals according to the person offering the sacrifices.
  19. There are five types of sacrifices God’s people must offer: burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, sin offering, and guilt offering.
  20. The Meaning of the Five Sacrifices
  21. Burnt offering
  22. Purpose

a.For atonement (Lev 1:4, 16:24).

b.Offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord (Lev 1:9).

  1. Prefiguration

a.For the redemption of sinners, Christ completely offered Himself (Lev 1:4, 9, 13; Deut 33:10; Eph 5:2).

  1. Sacrifices

a.Male herds without blemish (Lev 1:3).

b.Sheep or goat without blemish (Lev 1:10).

c.Dove or young pigeon (Lev 1:14).

  1. Method (Using offering of the young bull as an example)

a.Person making the sacrifice:

(a)Presents the offering at the entrance of the tent of meeting, lays hands on the head of the animal, kills the animal, skins the burnt offering, and cuts it into pieces. He also washes the inner parts and legs.

b.Priest:

(a)Brings the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides, puts fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. He burns all pieces, including the head and the fat, inner parts and legs on the altar.

  1. Teachings

a.The sacrifices to be without blemish (Lev 1:3; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 1:19; Mt 5:48; Phil 2:15).

b.To lay hands on the head of the sacrifice (Lev 1:4; Isa 53:4-5; 2 Cor 5:21).

c.To sprinkle blood all around the altar (Lev 1:5; 1 Jn 2:2; Ps 107:1-3; 1 Jn 3:16; Rom 9:23).

d.To skin the sacrifice (Isa 53:2-3; Lk 18:9-14).

e.To cut into pieces (Lev 1:6; Mt 6:1-5; 1 Sam 15:24-25, 30; Mt 26:39, 16:24).

f.To wash the inner parts and legs (Lev 1:9; Jer 17:9; Mk 7:20-23; Isa 59:1-2, 7, 8; Mt 5:23-24; Jer 2:23; Prov 4:26-27; Ps 1:1-2, 19:9).

g.The offering of the head (Lev 1:8, 15; Phil 2:6-7; Mk 10:43-45).

h.The offering of the fat (Lev 1:8, 3:16; Num 18:29; Mk 14:1-9).

i.To burn all pieces on the altar (Lev 1:7-9; Deut 33:10; 1 Pet 2:5; Rom 12:1, 14:7-8).

  1. Grain offering
  2. Purpose: Offering with a pleasing aroma (2:2).
  3. Prefiguration

a.God’s acceptance of Christ’s perfect character and His suffering and sacrifice of life to become our bread of life.

b.We must follow the example of Christ’s perfection, work hard to be fruitful, and achieve holiness to be completely accepted by God (Heb 13:15-16; 1 Jn 2:6).

  1. Sacrifices

a.Fine flour (Lev 2:1-2).

b.Cake (Lev 2:4, 9).

c.New grain (Lev 2:14-16).

  1. Method

a.Grain offerings cannot be offered alone, it must be offered with brunt offering (Num 29:2-6).

b.The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar—an offering made by fire (Lev 2:2).

c.If it were to become bread, it must be mixed with oil, cut into pieces, poured on the oil, and add the milk incense to offer.

d.The salt must be added onto the sacrifices; do not add yeast and honey (Lev 2:13, 11).

e.The priest should use the remainder, but it must be eaten inside the courtyard of the tent of meetings (Lev 2:3, 6:14-16).

  1. Teachings

a.The wheat represents Christ, it also represents the believers (Jn 12:24; Mt 13: 30).

b.Fine flour symbolizes the holiness of Christ; believers must also become the holy flour (1 Cor 5:7).

c.The process of wheat becoming bread symbolizes that Christ has become the bread of life. He has endured all sorts of ridicule, toil, and trouble (Jn 6:48-51; Isa 53: 4-6). Believers must also break themselves, make sacrifices, work in unity, labor, and help others.

d.Pouring of oil. Oil represents the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Lev 2:1; Lk 4:18; Heb 9:14; Rom 15:16; 2 Thess 2:13).

e.Adding incense (Lev 2:1, 15) represents the fragrance of Christ (Eph 5:2; 2 Cor 2:14-15). Frankincense is used to create holy incense, symbolizing the fragrance of prayer (Ps 141:2; Mt 4:2, 26:36-44; Rev 8:3-4; Prov 15:8).

f.Season with salt (Lev 2:13). Salt has the function of antiseptic, harmonizing, and softening (Col 4:6). God made an everlasting covenant of salt with men (Num 18:19). We must have salt inside of us and not lose seasoning (Mk 9:50).

g.There cannot be the addition of yeast (Lev 2:14; 1 Cor 5:8; Lk 12:1; Mt 16:6, 12; Eph 4:31).

h.There cannot be the addition of honey (Lev 2:11). The Lord suffered much (Isa 53:3), and believers must have a heart of suffering and not desire for luxury (1 Pet 4:1-3; Heb 11:24-26; Num 11:4-6).

i.The wafer must be crumbled into pieces (Lev 2:6), which bears the same meaning as cutting the meat into pieces for the burnt offering.

  1. Peace offering
  2. Purpose

a.For thanksgiving (Lev 7:11-12).

b.For repaying (Lev 7:16a).

c.Freewill offering (Lev 7:16b).

  • Also called fellowship offering (Lev 3:1)
  1. Prefiguration

a.Christ shed His blood and offered His life to fulfill peace so that men can enjoy peace (Col 1:20; Eph 2:14-16).

b.Believers were able to reconcile with God through the Lord. We must give thanks to the grace of God and offer a spiritual sacrifice (Col 3:15-17; Ps 50:14, 23).

  1. Sacrifice

a.Male or female herd (Lev 3:1).

b.Male or female flock (Lev 3:6).

c.Goat (Lev 3:12).

  1. Method

a.Bring the animals to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Lay hands on the sacrifice by the altar, and then kill the animal (Lev 3:7-8).

b.The priest to sprinkle blood by the altar and offer the fat, tail, and kidney by burning it with fire (Lev 3:9-11).

c.Offering leaven bread and peace offerings together (Lev 7:13).

d.The breast and the right thigh of the fellowship offering shall be given to the priest as contribution (Lev 7:31-34).

e.The person offering the sacrifices, along with his families may eat the sacrifices in the outer courtyard (Lev 7:15-21; Deut 12:5-12).

  1. Teachings

a.The meaning of killing the sacrificial animal and sprinkling of blood is equivalent to offering the burnt offering.

b.Of the three items offered, fat is the choicest from the body, and it belongs to God (Lev 3:16). The kidney represents strength—one must labor for the Lord wholeheartedly (1 Chr 29:11-17; Job 40:16). The tail represents the end part, which means that one should have a humble heart in front of God (1 Pet 5:5-6; Lk 17:9-10; Phil 2:3-9).

c.Using leaven bread as sacrifice means that believers are not perfect; however, after the trial of fire, they’ve become perfect and worthy of being offered to God (1 Pet 1:7; Job 23:10; Isa 1:25).

d.The person offering shares the sacrifice with his family (Lev 7:15-21): offering is accepted so that the one who offers and his family will receive peace, joy, and blessing (Heb 13:15-16; 2 Cor 9:7-8).

e.Those who are unclean may not eat the sacrifice (Lev 7:20-21).

  1. Sin offering
  2. Purpose

a.To redeem sins committed “accidentally” (Lev 4:2-13, 22-27).

  1. Prefiguration

a.Christ shed His blood for us to redeem us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7, 9).

  • Sin offering is not taking away original sin or natural sin; it is to redeem one from accidentally committing sin that goes against God’s commanded us not to do (Lev 4:2, 13; Heb 10:26)

b.If believers accidentally committed sin, they must earnestly repent and ask for God’s forgiveness (1 Jn 2:1-2).

  1. Sacrifice

a.If the priest or the entire assembly commits sin, offer a male bull (Lev 4:3,14).

b.Officials to offer a male goat (Lev 4:23).

c.Individuals to offer a female goat (Lev 4:28).

  1. Method

a.Person offering must bring the sacrifice to the entrance of the tent, lay hands on the sacrifice’s head, and kill with his own hands (Lev 4:4).

b.The priest must sprinkle some of the blood on the curtain of the sanctuary seven times,and rub some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense. The rest of the bull's blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (Lev 4:5-7). The priest will put the fat and the kidney on the altar to burn. The remaining skin, meat, head, thigh, and inner parts must be burnt outside of the camp (Lev 4:8-12).

  1. Teachings

a.The higher the status, the greater the value of the sacrifice (Lk 12:47-48).

b.Sprinkling blood on the curtain represents that we get in front of God through the blood of the Lord. We must completely confess our sins and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness.

c.Rubbing blood on the altar of fragrant incense teaches us to pray to God in all aspects through the blood of the Lord (Rev 8:3-4; Heb 4:15-16).

d.Pouring blood at the base of the altar represents having a guilty conscience toward the Lord’s cross, and humbly repenting and asking for forgiveness (Ps 51:17).

e.Offering fat and kidney on the altar represents making a determination to love and serve the Lord.

f.Discarded bull outside of the camp (Lev 4:11-12):

(a)Skin – Outer appearance, reputation, self-righteousness, vanity

(b)Meat – Flesh, desires (Rom 8:6)

(c)Head – To become the leader, self pride

(d)Thigh – Sinful deeds (Prov 6:18)

(e)Inner parts – Evil desires and thoughts of the heart (Mk 7:20-23)

(f)Excrement – Remaining evilness (Jas 1:21)

  1. Guilt offering
  2. Purpose

a.To redeem all sins; “wrong doings, minor sins” (Lev 5:5-6, 19).

  • When one does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about (Lev 5:1)
  • If a person touches anything ceremonially unclean (Lev 5:2-3)
  • If a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything (Lev 5:4)
  • When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things (Lev 5:15)
  • If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands (Lev 5:17)
  • If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him (Lev 6:2-3)
  1. Prefiguration

a.Christ has died for us so that we may become perfect and holy so that all loss will be restored (Col 2:13-14; Heb 10:22).

b.Believers should deal with sin in a very strict manner. Do not neglect the minor sins but pursue perfection with utmost efforts (Jas 1:15; Prov 9:18, 10:1; 1 Cor 5:6).

  1. Sacrifice

a.One female lamb or goat (Lev 5:6).

b.Two doves or young pigeons (Lev 5:7).

c.One tenth of an ephah of fine flour (one day’s portion of food for one person) (Lev 5:11).

  1. Method

a.At the entrance of the tent, lay hands on the head of the animal and kill (Lev 5:5-6).

b.The priest is to sprinkle the blood all around the altar and offer the tail, kidney, and fat on the altar as a burnt offering (Lev 7:3-5).

c.If using dove and pigeon, one must wring its head from the neck, but not severing it completely (Lev 5:7-8).

d.If using the fine flour, do not add oil or frankincense (Lev 5:11).

e.When one sins in regards to any of the Lord’s holy things or cheats money from others, they must make restitution for what he has taken and add a fifth of the value to that (Lev 5:14-16, 6:4-5).

  1. Teachings

a.Believers must remove all sins from their life and enter into the level of “justification” and “sanctification” (1 Jn 3:7; 2 Thess 2:13).

b.Type of sins and spiritual teachings

(a)Sins against self:

(i)Should testify, but cannot speak up (Lev 5:1; Prov 24:11-12)

(ii)Touching anything ceremonially unclean (Lev 5:2; Jas 4:4; Ps 49:20; 2 Cor 6:16-17)

(iii)Carelessly swearing (Lev 5:4; 1Sam 14:24; Mk 6:22-23; Mt 18:7)

(b)Sins against God:

(i)Taking holy objects deliberately

(ii)Not offering what is required

(iii)Going against commandments (i.e. Does not observe the Sabbath or love his brethren)

(c)Sin against men:

(i)Failing to live up to what others has entrusted to you

(ii)Doing treacherous deeds

(iii)Oppressing the neighbors

(iv)Keeping things that does not belong to you

(v)Lying and swearing

(vi)Not repaying debt and breaking contracts, etc.

c.Sheep, bird, and flour can be used as sacrifices. This means that everyone can achieve without pushing away responsibilities.

d.Wringing the head of the bird during the offering represent sin. We cannot become stiff-necked; but rather, confess our sins in front of God (Lk 18:8-14; Ps 40:12, 38:4).

e.Fine flour without addition of oil and frankincense represents the loss of spiritual blessings and fragrance of a sinner (Ps 34:18; Num 5:15).

f.Those who took other’s possessions not only need to repay what they took, but also they need to admit their guilt and compensate.

  1. Regulations of the Priest

The five sacrifices are ways sinners can draw closer to God. The sacrifices must be done according to instructions. The offerings cannot have any blemish. The person making the offerings must be cautious and respectful and cannot be hasty. There are detailed instructions regarding the regulations of the priest. Now is the era where there are tens of thousands are priests (1 Pet 2:9), and we must study the true meaning so that it will help us understand the correct path to tread.

  1. The duty of the priest
  2. To be in charge of all things within the sanctuary (Num 18:4-7; Heb 5:1).
  3. The instruct the people regarding the measures of litigation (Lev 10:11, Mal 2:6-7; Deut 33:10, 17: 8-12, 21:5; 2 Chr 19:8-10).
  4. Be the mediator between men and God, also pray for the blessings of the people (Num 16:46-48; Deut 10:8; Num 6:23-27).
  5. The calling of the priest
  6. It is not self-appointed (Heb 5:4; Num 16:1-3).
  7. It is the calling from God (Ex 28:1; Num 18:7; 1 Sam 2:28).
  8. The priest carries on the sacrament of the holy position
  9. Wash one’s body with water (Lev 8:6, 16:24; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 3:21).
  10. Wear holy garment (Lev 8:7-9; Ex 28:2-3), set aside to become holy, resplendent, and glorious.
  11. The holy garment consists of seven elements: Tunic, robe, ephod, breastplate, woven waistband, turban, sacred diadem etc. (Ex 28:6-39)
  12. Anointing oil (Lev 8:10-12) represents being ordained with holy position, and being given the power and filled with the Holy Spirit (Ex 28:41, 30:30; Isa 61:1; Acts 10:38; Jn 3:34; Heb 1:9).
  13. Sacrament of performing sacrifices
  14. First offer the sin offering (Lev 8:14-17), and then redeem own sins
  15. Second, offer grain offerings (Lev 8:18-21; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:14-15; 1 Tim 1:12)
  16. Finally, offer peace offerings (Lev 8:22-36)
  17. Moses rubbed blood on Aaron’s left ear, right thumb, and right big toe (Ex 21:6, 30:30)
  18. Do no depart from the sanctuary for seven days (Lev 8:33-36)
  19. Priest would depart from secular world and become holy (Leviticus 21)
  20. Regular priest

a.Cannot contaminate oneself from the dead (1-3).

b.Cannot contaminate oneself from the world (4).

c.Cannot let the head become bald. Do not shave around the beard; do not use knives to cut one.

d.Cannot blaspheme against God’s name (6).

e.Cannot marry prostitutes, contaminated women, or those who were divorced (7).

f.If the daughter commits adultery, she must be burned with fire (9).

  1. High priest

a.Cannot uncover their head or tear their clothes (10).

b.Do not touch carcasses, not even if they belong to your parents (11).

c.Must not leave the sanctuary or blaspheme the sanctuary of God (12).

d.The woman he marries must be a virgin (14). He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people.

e.He will not defile his offspring among his people (15).

  1. Man who has the following defects cannot become priests (16-24):

a.Blind (1 Jn 2:11; 2 Pet 1:9; 2 Cor 15:19).

b.Crippled (Jas 1:22-23; Heb 12:12-13; Mt 23:16).

c.Flat nosed (Isa 5:20).

d.Extra body parts (Jas 1:21; Heb 12:1; Eph 4:28).

e.Broken leg and arm (2 Thess 3:10-11).

f.Slouched back (Col 3:2; 2 Cor 4:18).

g.Midget (Eph 4:13-14; Heb 5:12-14).

h.Illness of eyes (Mt 5:28; Job 31:1).

i.Ringworm and scabies (Mk 7:15-23; Rom 1:32).

j.Bad kidney.

  1. The Regulations of Cleansing (regulations of food, birth, leprosy, and discharges)
  2. Regulation of food
  3. Animals that live on land (Lev 11:1-8).
  4. Clean and that may be eaten: Chew cud and have a split hoof, such as cow, sheep, etc.
  5. Unclean: Split hoof, but do not chew cud, chew cud, but do not have split hoof, or neither, such as rock badger, rabbit, pig, and camel

a.Split hoof: Set apart to be holy. Mature in all matters and having a beautiful footstep (2 Cor 6:14-18; Ex 23:2; Jn 17:19; Phil 4:8).

b.Chew Cud: Represents constantly pondering upon God’s words (Ps 1:1-2; 119:97; Josh 1:8; Lk 1:29, 2:19, 51).

c.Both split hoof and chew cud (Jn 23:12; 1 Jn 3:10; Eph 5:7-11).

  1. Fish (Lev 11:9-12).
  • Clean and that may be eaten: Has fins and scales
  • Detestable and cannot be eaten: No fin or scales

a.Fish that has fins can go against the current, representing that Christians can go against the evil trend of the world, the cult, and temptations so that they will not get lost (Rev 12:15; Heb 2:1; Eph 4:14; 1 Jn 2:16).