3/23/25 Weekly Bible Lesson: Up in Smoke

Background — Many Christians struggle with the book of Leviticus and the detailed instructions it contains. The reason the newly consecrated Israelite priests were given such detailed instructions about the care of God’s sanctuary was to ensure His continuing presence with His people. In the covenant relationship, God made specific promises to them, contingent upon their obedience to His commands.  

God’s tabernacle had been constructed according to precise instructions and was the symbol of His presence amongst the Israelites. Scrupulous care had to be taken, therefore, to observe the regulations safeguarding the holiness of the tabernacle which God had glorified, lest His presence be removed through defilement of that sacred place. The regulations found in Leviticus presuppose man is a sinner and make provision accordingly for the forgiveness of various kinds of inadvertent or accidental sins. Through the appropriate kind of offering, the transgressor can receive forgiveness from God. 

Leviticus teaches atonement for sin must be by substitution. The sinner must bring an offering which he has acquired at some cost as a substitute for his own life. His formal identification with the offering is followed by the presentation of the offering to God, and a declaration by the priest that atonement has been made. God is a holy God, and any sin is an abomination to Him. The underlying goal of the entire sacrificial system was to ensure God’s holiness regulated every area of an Israelite’s life. 

Verses 1-6 — The offerings described in the early chapters of Leviticus are voluntary and personal in nature. Private sacrifices would be offered to express thanksgiving, the desire for renewed fellowship with God, and to obtain the forgiveness of sin. 

The burnt offering was required to be an unblemished male. This requirement underlines the importance of the burnt offering in that offerings to God had to be the best. In addition, male animals were also regarded as more valuable than females. An important principle underlying Old Testament sacrificial system is seen here, namely that any sacrifice must represent a specific cost to the one who offers it to God. 

The ritual included bringing the offering to the door of the Tabernacle. The one who brought the sacrifice placed his hand on its head of the sacrifice. The word put in verse 4 has the idea of “lean into or press against.” The word picture is that the worshipper established a close connection to the sacrifice as if his sins were transferred to the animal. 

The animal was then killed and the blood sprinkled around the altar. The killing of the animal taught vividly the seriousness of sin and that the wages of sin is death. 

The Israelites understood the necessity of blood sacrifice for the atonement for sins. This concept dates to the Garden of Eden where an innocent animal must have died to cover Adam’s sin. Observe in Gensis 3 that Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together as a covering. God, however, made tunics of skin to clothe them. 

Of course, the blood of Christ is infinitely more efficacious than that of any Old Testament offering in purging the human conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). 

Verses 7-9 — The burning of the burnt offering on the altar differed from other kinds of offerings. Some of the Levitical offerings were only partly consumed, but the burnt offerings were totally consumed. This ritual symbolized the complete commitment of the worshipper to God. This also pictures the atoning work of Jesus Christ, whose life was totally consumed in sacrificial service to God. Only through the redemptive work of Christ is the forgiveness of sins and restoration of fellowship with God possible. 

Verses 10-17 —  

The instructions God gave the priests were very specific: Receive it right, kill it right, clean it right, cut it right, lay it on the altar right, and sacrifice it right. Anything less than that was not acceptable to God. 

Peter tells us to offer ourselves right: “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). 

It is hard for us to understand some animal that is wholly burnt is good (because we only think of eating it when it’s cooked). However, there is much to learn. First, the burnt offerings were voluntary. Secondly, the symbolism of total elimination of the animal on the altar was a cleansing as well as an atonement for sin. Thirdly, the sacrifice to God was especially pleasant to Him, “a sweet aroma.” 

Paul tells the Philippian Christians their sacrifices (gifts, not burnt offerings) were a sweet-smelling aroma to God (Philippians 4:18). 

God requires commitment from us. If our hearts are clean before Him, we will offer what is pure and complete. 

Paul’s exhortation to the Romans is timeless, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).