I learned this earlier today, studying for this morning’s Lesson. A fact about the BLOOD of the animals (whatever type; ox or goat or lamb or dove) offered … was to be handled in slightly different ways!

If the offender was one of the “common people” … just a regular member of society … “The priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.” Leviticus 4:30 and 34, both verses being identical. The blood is “put” (the verb “nathan” in Hebrew, meaning “given”) on the tip ends (the horns) of the big brass altar at the door of the tabernacle. On the most prominent part of that altar! Then the remainder of the blood is to be poured out at the base of that altar. THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE TABERNACLE TO WHICH THAT COMMON MAN HAD ACCESS! THE ONLY PLACE HE COULD WITNESS THIS CRITICAL BLOOD RITUAL!

But if the man was a “priest” (a leader among the Israelites) … his sin being more visible and his access to God being more intimate … “The priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Leviticus 4:5-7, in this case the blood was clearly taken further into the tabernacle! Sprinkle that blood right before the vail hiding the Ark of the Covenant! And place some of the blood on the horns of the “incense (golden) altar,” within the Holy Place! Then there’s even more … pour the rest of the bullock’s blood at the “front” door of the tabernacle, where the brass altar sits!

Why?

Because the priests are held more responsible (their sins being more egregious, dangerous, influential) that the “average” man! Thus the blood is to be sprinkled and poured and touched … further into the tabernacle, where the priests worked day by day!

Wow!

But again, why?

Because our Holy God demands that blood be the “price” for forgiveness! For remission of sin!

This “blood ritual” is NOT just for man’s sake! It is for God’s Eyes, God’s Satisfaction, primarily so!

The brass altar … a bloody place!

The golden altar … also a bloody place!

Even the curtain (vail) before the Holy of Holies … a bloody place!

And (looking ahead to Leviticus 16) on the Day of Atonement, with the sins of the whole nation being considered … that blood must be taken into the Holy of Holies Itself .. and sprinkled upon and around the very Mercy Seat Itself! (God’s Abode … “between the cherubims.”)

Yet again, why?

To appease God Almighty!

To satisfy His Wrath!

To fulfill the requirements of the Law!

To bring that blood as close to God as one is capable!

By the way, our dear Lord Jesus has taken the Blood (His Blood shed on Calvary) into the Heavenly Temple, depositing it There, before the very Throne (Face) of God!

“By His Own Blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12

Glory!

God sees that precious Blood … on our behalf!

Hebrews 10:19-20 goes so far as to say that the Blood of Jesus there in Heaven constitutes for us a “new and living way” to enter “into the holiest!” And that word “new” means “freshly slain!” Jesus’ Blood in Heaven is NOT old and dried and obsolete! IT IS STILL FRESH AND POWERFUL AND GLISTENING AND ETERNAL!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder we sing about the Blood so very much!

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By that word, “gradations,” I just mean the different “levels” of application … specifically taught/required by God to atone for mankind’s sins.

Let me show you what I mean.

For the “priest” on duty, in order to deal with his own “sin” … Let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young BULLOCK (an ox) without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:3, an ox … not a little lamb, mind you!

For the “whole congregation,” a national sin one might say … “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; when the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young BULLOCK for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.” Leviticus 4:13-15, another huge animal, another (rather expensive) ox!

Then for the “ruler” who sins … “When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the GOATS, a MALE without blemish: and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:22-24. a goat, unusual indeed, but it still must be a male! ! (Though of less value … this is is still a blood sacrifice!)

Then last of all, for the “common person,” for the individual Jew in the community … “He shall bring his offering, a kid of the GOATS, a FEMALE without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering.” Leviticus 4:28-29, here even a female is allowed! (Of far less value, in that ancient culture, than a male!)

Wow!

The priest, the whole congregation, the ruler, then the individual … “gradations” of erring people who need blood atonement!

And I am sure you noted the descending quality/value of the offerings, too. Of the sacrificial animals themselves!

From oxen to male goats to even female goats! (God making it possible for “whosoever will” to have access to His Presence! To have the wherewithal to come!)

In fact, if we glance into Leviticus 5, we soon learn that the common man (if unable to afford a goat or lamb) could even acceptably bring “two doves,” easily accessible and affordable! And if he could not even afford those … a small amount of “fine flour” would suffice, if handled properly by the priest on duty! (God is really making concessions, now! “Flour” instead of “blood?” (Yes … if that man’s heart was right. If he had been WILLING to bring an ox, had he owned one!)

Amazing!

God wants to commune/fellowship with His creation … to that astoundingly deep extent!

Note this too: the higher the position of leadership a man held in Israel … the more significant his sacrifice needed to be! THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP! James 3:1 here comes to mind: “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers, leaders), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (judgment).”

Gradations of people, but not exempting a single person who chose to come to God, obediently.

Gradations of animals to be sacrificed, making it possible for even the poorest of the poor to come worship God freely!

Hallelujah!

Since the sin offering is a vital requirement … God makes it accessible to all Israel!

By the way, this Same God … yet today … “is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

That’s why I believe Jesus died for everybody!

God has made salvation accessible (“gradations”) for all!

Oh, I love Him!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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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!

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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

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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

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