Leviticus 1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish… I. The offerer was to BRING IT TO THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE. 1. A voluntary act. (1) Christ died willingly. (2) So should we in all our services be a willing people. 2. This points every way to Christ as the cause of our acceptance with God. He is both Door and Tabernacle, Altar and Priest. 3. We are to see God in all oar services, in and by Jesus Christ. 4. We are to worship God in His Church. II. The sinner that brought the sacrifice was to LAY HIS HAND UPON THE HEAD OF IT. This ceremony relates to the confession of sin, and the translation of the guilt of it upon the sacrifice (Isaiah 53:4, 5; 1 John 1:7, 9). III. The sacrifice must be KILLED AND SLAIN, and that upon the north side of the altar. 1. The death of Christ (Daniel 9:26; Isaiah 53:10). 2. Christ was killed in Jerusalem and Mount Sion, which was on the sides of the north. IV. THE BLOOD WAS POURER FORTH at the foot of the altar, and sprinkled upon it round about. 1. Christ's blood was shed (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 26:28). 2. Sprinkled (Hebrews 12:24; 1 Peter 1:2). V. THE PRIEST IS TO FLAY IT, AND CUT IT INTO ITS PIECES. 1. This related in general to the sufferings of Christ (Micah 3:2, 3; Psalm 22:15, 16). 2. As the sacrifice, being dead and slain, did leave a skin for clothing to the priest by whose hand he died, so Christ, our true sacrifice, who was led as a lamb to the slaughter, leaves a garment of righteousness to clothe believers with (Romans 13:14). 3. Whereas the sacrifice in this action was laid open, and the inward parts of it discovered to open view: so is Christ fully and openly discovered in the preaching of the gospel (Galatians 3:1). 4. The skin of the sacrifice went to the priest. It was part of his maintenance (see Corinthians 1 Corinthians 9:13,14). VI. THE PIECES WERE TO BE SALTED (Leviticus 2:13; Mark 9:49). 1. This signifies the perpetuity of the covenant of grace. 2. Its wholesomeness. VII. THE LEGS AND INWARDS MUST BE WASHED. So the bodies of believers are said to be washed with pure water, and their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. VIII. The several parts of the offering must be LAID UPON THE ALTAR, AND BURNT WITH FIRE, TILL CONSUMED. This is the fire of the justice and wrath of God from heaven, which seized upon Christ; and every part of Him was burnt: His head crowned with thorns, His side pierced with the spear, His hands and feet with nails, His whole body did sweat drops of blood, His soul was heavy unto death, yea, burnt to ashes, as it were, brought to the utmost extremity of misery. His saints also endure the fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12). IX. THE ASHES MUST BE CARRIED OUT of the camp into a clean place (Leviticus 6:10, 11; see Hebrews 13:11-13). Christ's crucified body was not buried within the city, but placed in a new sepulchre where never any man lay before (John 19:41). So the dead bodies of all His saints, when they are spent and consumed to ashes, are regarded and preserved in the dust by God as sacred relics, and He will raise them up again unto eternal life. Lessons: 1. See here the difference between God's ceremonies and men's. Divine ceremonies are full of light and spirit; human ceremonies are full of darkness and vanity. 2. See the fierceness of the wrath of God against sin. It is nothing but death and blood and slaughter that will appease offended justice. 3. Direction under the guilt of sin what to do, and what course to take, to make atonement and reconciliation between God and thee. Go and bring your sacrifice to the Priest, and by Him unto God. 4. Unspeakable consolation unto them that have taken this course. (S. Mather.) Parallel Verses KJV: If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. |
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