The Burnt and Sin Offerings
Hebrews 10:18: Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Introduction. The sin offering (Leviticus 4:1 - 5:13) in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament most directly represents the death of Christ for our sins, given that this is the only offering where the blood of the sacrificed animal was taken into the tabernacle and sprinkled on the veil that hung inside the tabernacle. This sacrifice was designed to make atonement for the individual and to allow him to be forgiven (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13). Yet, the first offerings mentioned in the book of Genesis and in Exodus (10:25) were of the burnt offering type, where the sacrificed animal was completely consumed by fire on an altar made of stones. In the Levitical system, the burnt offering was the most common sacrifice offered both on its own or in conjunction with other sacrifices. These two offerings, the burnt and sin offerings, are examined further below.
Burnt offering. In the Levitical system, this sacrifice was completely consumed at the altar in the courtyard of the sanctuary. It's purpose was "to make atonement" (Leviticus 1:4). No blood of this animal entered the holy places of the Tabernacle within the sanctuary. Only the blood of a sin offering was taken into the tabernacle. (Leviticus 6:30). In contrast, the blood of the burnt offering was thrown against the sides of the altar in the courtyard (Leviticus 1:5). The details of this offering are found in Leviticus 1:1-17. The many occasions where this offering was used include:
- Each day. The "continual burnt offering" was done every evening and morning (Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3, 6, 9-10)
- Each Sabbath. Which was double the daily one (Numbers 28:9-10)
- Each month. The beginning of each month (Numbers 28:11; 29:6)
- At Passover. (Numbers 28:19)
- At Pentecost. (Numbers 28:27)
- At the Feast of Trumpets. (Numbers 29:1)
- At the Day of Atonement. (Leviticus 16)
- Other occasions. Dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:5, 62-64), accession of a king to the throne (1 Chronicles 29:21), reformation (2 Chronicles 29:31-35, and free-will burnt offerings.
The burnt offering is described in Leviticus as being "a pleasing aroma to Yahweh" (Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17). It is understood that while sin offerings atoned for specific sins, burnt offerings atoned for general sinfulness and for total dedication to God.
- PP 352.3: Every morning and evening a lamb of a year old was burned upon the altar, with its appropriate meat [i.e. meal] offering, thus symbolizing the daily consecration of the nation to Jehovah, and their constant dependence upon the atoning blood of Christ. God expressly directed that every offering presented for the service of the sanctuary should be “without blemish.” Exodus 12:5. ...
With respect to Jesus, this offering typifies his life and experiences on the earth. The secondary meaning is in how it applies to our lives. Paul urged the fulfilling of this symbolism in Romans 12:1, "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
- Hebrews 5:7-9: In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
- 1 Peter 2:21: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
- Matthew 10:39: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Sin offering. The sin offering detailed in Leviticus (4:1 - 5:13) is a sacrifice consisting of a beast (i.e. bull, goat or lamb) or a fowl or, if very poor, fine flour which was offered on the altar to atone for a sin committed unwittingly. In the case of the sacrfice of the beast, the individual was required to lay his hands on the animal and killing it himself.
The two facets of salvation. Life and death. Forgiven by the blood of Christ and newness of life by the life of Christ in the soul. In the sanctuary system, by blood (altar of burnt offering) and by incense (altar of incense) the priest (representative of the people) approached God.
- PP 353.2: The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of perpetual intercession, before the holy, an altar of continual atonement. By blood and by incense God was to be approached—symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through whom sinners may approach Jehovah, and through whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul.
First sacrifice
The first animal sacrifice mentioned in the Bible is that of Abel (Genesis 4:4). However, EGW states that Adam made the first animal sacrifice as follows:
- PP 68.1: The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his faith in the promised Redeemer. They were intended to impress upon the fallen race the solemn truth that it was sin that caused death. To Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to God, there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim, he trembled at the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This scene gave him a deeper and more vivid sense of the greatness of his transgression, which nothing but the death of God's dear Son could expiate. And he marveled at the infinite goodness that would give such a ransom to save the guilty. A star of hope illumined the dark and terrible future and relieved it of its utter desolation.
These animal sacrifices were of the "burnt offering" variety where the entire animal was consumed. This typified not only a surrender of sin, but a consecration of the entire life to the service of God.
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