One commentator I read for this Lesson says that the sin offering is the most important of them all! It introduces to us (as its fundamental emphasis) the idea of atonement. (Other offerings may “whisper” it, but this one “shouts” it!)

I have found that many, many times as Israel worshipped God … as she offered her burnt offerings and peace offerings … the sin offering was also proffered (at the same occasion) and was offered first on that occasion!

When Aaron was inaugurated as Israel’s first High Priest, for example … and watch the sequence here … “And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the SIN offering, and the BURNT offering, and PEACE offerings.” Leviticus 9:22 … even though the burnt offering and the peace offering (both) were discussed before the sin offering was introduced … in Leviticus chapters 1-7. But clearly here … the sin offering is given the prominent place, first place!

The sin offering is the first in the whole palette of offerings (acceptable ways to approach God in worship) that highlights “sin” and its only method of “forgiveness,” that being “blood atonement!” (As in Hebrews 9:22 … “Without shedding of blood is no remission.”)

The burnt offering … Jesus’ total dedication to His Father, even on Calvary!

The meat (meal) offering … Jesus as perfect in His LIFE, even prior to His Death!

The peace offering … Jesus as our Means of fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit … and frankly, with our Christian brothers and sisters as well!

Then (and not until Leviticus chapter 4, though lapping over into chapter 5) comes mention and discussion (and instruction, in much detail) of the sin offering … and its vital Truth about an innocent animals having to die (bloodshed) for the covering (atonement) of sins!

Jesus, on Calvary, becomes our SIN OFFERING!

God there (on the Cross) made Jesus “to be sin” for us! (See 2 Corinthians 5:21 for absolute “proof.”)

Jesus is that innocent Sacrifice … symbolically pictured by the little lambs or huge oxen or inexpensive doves!

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity (sin) of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

By the way, the sin offering is also the offering Israel most often seemed to forget, or let slide a bit! Because man does not like to focus on his own filthy transgressions!

Wow!

And I still this morning have not discussed what I thought would be the main thrust of this Lesson!

That being the different grades of animals allowed for the sin offering … depending on WHO was making the sacrifice, who the worshipper (confessor of sins) was!

That tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

God (surprisingly) to Cain, after he had murdered his own brother Abel … “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, SIN (“chattaah”) lieth at the door.” Genesis 4:3, where the noun “sin” can be translated “sin offering.” (In fact, “chattaah” is translated “sin offering” 116 times in the King James Version of the Bible!) God was offering Cain forgiveness, even after his committing such a cruel act!

.

Of the five Levitical offerings, the first three primarily focus on Jesus as the PERFECT Saviour! They teach the children of God (specifically the Jews in historical context) how to appreciate, honor and WORSHIP the Lord God.

The Burnt Offering … Jesus dedicating His ALL to the Father, His Father in Heaven.

The Meat Offering (which actually consisted of finely ground flour, grain) … Jesus as the Perfect Man, pleasing His Father in all His days here upon the earth. Yes, even prior tot he Cross!

The Peace Offering … Jesus offering Himself not only to commune with His Father, but also with His priests (which we are in New Testament vernacular) … inviting us into fellowship with the Godhead!

NONE OF THESE THREE DEAL WITH SIN! THEY ARE A MATTER OF SEEING JESUS IN A DEEPER WAY! BETTER UNDERSTANDING HIS LIFE AND DEATH, HIS PRESON AND WORK!

But next come the Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering … which do focus on sin (or sins) in the life of a believer, of a godly Jew.

1 John 2:1 beautifully captures this sequence … “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

“That ye sin not” … which is the goal of the Burnt and Meal and Peace Offerings, looking unto Jesus!

“And yet if any man sin” … which demands the detailed instructions of the Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering! (Providing atonement, forgiveness for our wrongdoings!)

Wow!

But even at that … the sins for which the last two offerings make atonement … are specifically said to be “sins of ignorance!”

Here is the second verse of the “Sin Offering” chapter, Leviticus 4: “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin THROUGH IGNORANCE against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them …”

This “sins of ignorance” caveat applies also to the Trespass Offering! (Hint: “caveat” is from Latin, meaning “Let a person beware!”)

This means something like: “sins about which we did not pre-ponder our intent!” (Sins we did not commit deliberately, with forethought!)

Sins like are described in Psalm 139: 23-24 … “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Clearly, sins about which the offender had no knowledge!

Sins committed knowingly … called “presumptuous sins” in the King James Version (literally “high handed” sins) … are NOT covered by the Sin Offering, not at all!

May be this is one reason Hebrews 10:26 warns us so sternly: “For IF WE SIN WILFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”

Wow!

Plus this, I can easily find where the first three Offerings are labeled as being of “sweet savour” unto our great God! Jesus being so pleasing to His Father!

But I cannot find a shred of evidence that the Sin Offering (or the Trespass Offering) is called “sweet savour!”

Why?

Because God takes no pleasure in sin whatsoever!

In fact, God hates sin!

Just some thoughts, introducing the Sin Offering … with more to come tomorrow.

JESUS BECAME SIN FOR US … THAT WE MIGHT ENJOY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR ALL ETERNITY!

Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. (Well, here it is: “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.)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

I soon plan to preach a Series of Sermons based some of the “Greatest Paragraphs of Paul!” Sort of highlighting what I feel are the most fundamental Doctrines Paul ever taught.

Among those … I have discovered what I’m pretty sure is a reference to Leviticus chapter 3, to its astounding “Peace Offering.”

We journey today to the Book of Romans, with Leviticus 3 in the background, though still in view.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus Paul exults in Romans 5:1.

Look at that Verse!

First, we have been justified. We have come to God by faith, trusting the shed Blood of Jesus to wash away our sin(s)! This step is only possible because of Jesus, God’s “delightful, sinless, totally dedicated Son.” That’s the Truth behind the “Burnt Offering” of Leviticus chapter 1.

Second (though not mentioned until Romans 5:10) we think of the beautiful LIFE Jesus lived, even prior to His Death on Calvary! There Paul writes “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS LIFE.” This is the central Lesson of the Meat (Meal) Offering of Leviticus chapter 2.

Now third, the Peace Offering is in Paul’s mind. Back to Romans 5:1 … “Therefore being justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Peace Offering … where in type we sit down with God and enjoy fellowship, eating together as it were at the foot of the old rugged Cross!

Hallelujah!

These five Offerings (we have only noticed three of them, so far) work their way into the overall Fabric of Scripture again and again! Leviticus to Revelation, and even foreshadowings of them all the way back to the Garden of Eden, to the Passover, and such.

Then too, with the Peace Offering still in mind … Isaiah 53:5 thunders: “But he (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our PEACE was upon him.” Amazing, no doubt a reference or allusion to the very Offering we’re studying!

I today enjoy Peace with God … because of JESUS!

I can commune, fellowship with God Almighty … via the Death our Saviour suffered on Calvary!

I think 1 John 1:1-3 says this well, where that precious old Apostle is testifying: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, THAT YE ALSO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US: and TRULY OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER, AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.”

Glory to God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

In reading Leviticus 3:1, the Bible’s first stipulation about the “Peace Offering,” we find: “And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.”

Remember that the noun translated “oblation” is “qorbam,” which (its root “qarab”) means a “drawing near” unto God! (God inviting us, what a thought!)

And note that the noun “sacrifice” used here (in Hebrew “zabach”) means “something slaughtered,” with an emphasis on the “bloody” aspect of that ordeal. Quite graphic!

Then the term “peace offering” must be considered. Spelled “shelem,” its a derivative of “shalom” (specifically “shalam”) of Hebrew fame, “PEACE!” Life’s ultimate “blessing” … harmony, communion with God!

The “heard” means of one’s “cattle.” (Including the huge ox, if the offerer was so disposed, so endowed.)

But now comes an unusual aspect of the Peace Offering. It could be either a male or female! “Whether it be a male or female,” allows our amazing God!

Why?

Do notice that this is not a “loosening” of the “no blemish” disqualifier! A Jew still could not bring a diseased calf! Or one with a broken leg, or birth defect of any kind! GOD WANTS (AND DESERVES) OUR BEST! “Whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it WITHOUT BLEMISH before the LORD.”

By the way, “without blemish” (spelled “tamiym”) literally means “whole,” missing no body parts! Then it eventually came to mean “wholesome, healthy,” and finally … “perfect.”

But still, why the “female,” and why now?

I believe God is “broadening” the “acceptability range” for this “Peace Offering” because (as we shall see more clearly tomorrow) it emphasizes God and humanity … eating (fellowshipping) together around Calvary!

Look at Psalm 22:26, the Premier Old Testament Passage on Calvary … “The meek shall EAT and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” Eating (spiritually) because of the old rugged Cross! (I have been feasting on Calvary for years now!)

And both men and WOMEN can come and so enjoy the Saving Grace of God! Thus … male and female sacrificial animals are permissible, allowed!

NO FEMALE CATTLE (OR LAMBS) in the Burnt Offering, however. The emphasis there is JESUS giving His ALL to the Father, even as He shed His incorruptible Blood for you and me! And Jesus was a Man, a “male!”

But worshippers of God (having been saved via Jesus’ Blood) may approach Him for fellowship … men or women, no matter!

Ladies, rejoice today!

He included YOU as well!

That “whosoever” is a great big word, isn’t it?

Romans 10:13 … “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

The meal offering (fine flour, oil, frankincense and salt) was partly burned upon the altar, a symbol of Jesus giving His Incarnate Life to God in total dedication! But only a “handful” of it was so burned, incinerated by those holy flames! (“And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his HANDFUL of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar.” Leviticus 1:2)

But what of the rest of the offering?

The majority of it we presume? (All but a “handful,” for sure!)

“And the REMNANT of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.” Leviticus 2:3

The meal offering … mostly eaten (with God’s tacit approval) by the priests!  (1 Corinthians 9:13 … “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?”)

Watch carefully!

So … Jesus as the MEAL OFFERING … not only pleased His Father in His earthly Life, His Body, His physical Existence and Behavior … the small part of the meal offering that was burnt on the altar!

Jesus … as the MEAL OFFERING … also fed the priests (which we all are as New Testament Christians) with His holy unselfish, sinless Life!

He lived physically to please God.

And He (a new truth to me) lived physically to meet the needs of mankind as well!

Wow!

Now as a priest, practically speaking … have I “eaten” Jesus today; loved Him, internalized Him, trusted Him, leaned on Him?

Have I feasted on His (perfect) Life (so dramatically emphasized here in the Meat or Meal Offering)?

Remember … the accomplishments of His (vicarious) Death (as dedication to God the Father) have already been emphasized in His Offering Himself as the Whole Burnt Offering, Leviticus chapter 1.

No wonder Paul wrote, rather cryptically, in Romans 5:10 … “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.”

Hallelujah!

Enjoy the peerless LIFE Jesus lived today, ponder every aspect of it you can recall. Then worship Him for His Coming to earth … “to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In a way, as viewed from the Burnt Offering … Jesus died (in the first place) to please His Father!

Then in a way, as viewed from the Meat Offering … Jesus lived (in the main) to feed those all around Him! He really was the divine Servant of God! He lived for “others!”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.