Leviticus 1

Book Introduction - Leviticus

Read first chapter of Leviticus

LEVITICUS stands in the same relation to EXODUS, that the Epistles do to the Gospels. EXODUS is the record of redemption, and lays the foundation of the cleansing, worship, and service of a redeemed people. LEVITICUS gives the detail of the walk, worship, and service of that people. In EXODUS God speaks out of the mount to which approach was forbidden; in LEVITICUS He speaks out of the tabernacle in which He dwells in the midst of His people, to tell them that which befits His holiness in their approach to, and communion with, Himself.

The key word of Leviticus is holiness, occurring 87 times. Key verse is Leviticus 19:2.

LEVITICUS is in nine chief divisions:

  • The Offerings 1-6:7
  • The Law of the Offerings6:8-7:38.
  • Consecration8:1-9:24
  • A Warning Example10:1-20.
  • A Holy God Must Have a Cleansed People 11-15.
  • Atonement 16,17.
  • The Relationships of God's People 18-22.
  • The Feasts of Jehovah, 23.
  • Instructions and Warnings, 24-27.

burnt-sacrifice

The burnt-offering

  • (1) typifies Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father's will even in death.
  • (2) it is atoning because the believer has not had this delight in the will of God; and
  • (3) substitutionary (Leviticus 1:4) because Christ did it in the sinner's stead. But the thought of penalty is not prominent. ; Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:5-7; Psalms 40:6-8; Philippians 2:8. The emphatic words Leviticus 1:3-5 are "burnt-sacrifice," "voluntary," "it shall be accepted for him," and "atonement." The creatures acceptable for sacrifice are five:
  • (1) The bullock, or ox, typifies Christ as the patient and enduring Servant 1 Corinthians 9:9,10; Hebrews 12:2,3 "obedient unto death" ; Isaiah 52:13-15; Philippians 2:5-8. His offering in this character is substitutionary, for this we have not been.
  • (2) The sheep, or lamb, typifies Christ in unresisting self-surrender to the death of the cross Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32-35.
  • (3) The goat typifies the sinner Matthew 25:33 and, when used sacrificially, Christ, as "numbered with the transgressors" ; Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:33 and "made sin," and "a curse" ; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21 as the sinner's substitute.
  • (4,5) The turtle-dove or pigeon. Naturally a symbol of mourning innocency Isaiah 38:14; 59:11; Matthew 23:37; Hebrews 7:26 is associated with poverty in Leviticus 5:7 and speaks of Him who for our sakes become poor Luke 9:58 and whose pathway of poverty which began with laying aside "the form of God," ended in the sacrifice through which we became rich ; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-8. The sacrifice of the poor Man becomes the poor man's sacrifice. Luke 2:24. These grades of typical sacrifice test the measure of our apprehension of the varied aspects of Christ's one sacrifice on the cross. The mature believer should see Christ crucified in all these aspects.

put his hand upon

The laying of the offerer's hand signified acceptance and identification if himself with his offering. In type it answered to the believer's faith accepting and identifying himself with Christ Romans 4:5; 6:3-11. The believer is justified by faith, and his faith is reckoned for righteousness, because his faith identifies him with Christ, who died as his sin-offering ; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24.

atonement(See Scofield "Exodus 29:33").
Fire. Essentially as symbol of God's holiness. As such it expresses God in three ways:

and (3) in purification (e.g) 1 Corinthians 3:12-14; Malachi 3:2,3. So, in Leviticus, the fire which only manifests the sweet savour of the burnt-, meal-, and peace- offerings, wholly consumes the sin-offering.

fat That which burns most quickly -- devotedness, zeal.
sweet savour

The sweet savour offerings are so called because they typify Christ in His own perfections, and in His affectionate devotion to the Father's will. The non-sweet savour offerings typify Christ as bearing the whole demerit of the sinner. Both are substantial. In our place Christ, in the burnt-offering, makes good our lack of devotedness, and, in the sin- and trespass-offerings, suffers because of our disobediences.

Copyright information for Scofield