24 VAYIKRA (and he called); Lev. 1:1-6:7, Luke 1-3

[Bruce Bertram]

At first, this may not seem like a section that has much application to our lives today. But, like all such sections of our Father’s word, this isn’t true. At the very least we need to ask ourselves why God put these types of instructions into His Book, and why He told us to hear and do them. If we dismiss the words out of hand, simply because we don’t understand, then we are missing out on whatever it is God is trying to tell us. Lack of understanding doesn’t mean what He says isn’t good or applicable.

There are a number of offerings described here, and they can be viewed as general categories. First is the burnt offering, which can be a bull or goat or sheep, or turtledoves or young pigeons. The entire offering is burned on the altar with some preparation of slaughtering and washing (in the case of the bull or sheep/goat) and spilling some of the blood on the sides of the altar.

Grain offerings belong to Aaron and his sons, so only part of them are burned up. Some of them have frankincense with them, some don’t. If the offering is baked, it is to be of the unleavened variety. It also can’t be made with honey, and they must all have salt. Grain offerings that are offered for First Fruits can have honey or leaven, but not if it’s to be a burnt offering. In addition, for bringing a ‘gift’ of early ripening grain it is to be roasted before offering part of it to God.

Peace offerings can be from the flock (sheep or goat) or the herd (bulls), without defect. The offerer was to lay hands on it and slaughter it at the door to the Tent of Meeting and the priests sprinkled the blood around the altar. Parts of the sacrifice were to be burned up along with the fat around the specified organs. There is a statute in 3:17 not to eat any fat or blood, which can be understood to mean the fat deposits around certain organs.

Sin or guilt offerings were to be made for unintentional violations of God’s commands. ‘Unintentional’ is defined in chapter 5 as refusing to testify about a witnessed crime, touching unclean animal carcasses or human uncleanness, and swearing thoughtlessly. Scripture tells us that even if a person doesn’t know about it, he is still guilty. This sacrifice was a little different than the peace offering in that certain organs and fat are burned up, but the rest of the carcass was burned up outside the camp. For priestly sins a bull was commanded. For sins of the whole of Israel, a bull was also commanded. For the sins of a leader, a male goat without defect was offered. For other people, a female goat or lamb was required. The sacrifice was made similar to the peace offering, except it is unclear from this text whether or not the remainder of the animal was taken outside the camp to be burned. But it seems safe to say that all the animals were treated the same. If a person could not afford a lamb, then two turtledoves or pigeons could be substituted. If the person could not afford the birds, then grain was okay, without incense. The memorial portion was burned up, and the rest went to the priest. If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the Lord’s holy things, a ram was the answer for forgiveness, plus some restitution.

Luke undertakes the task of writing an accurate account of the things concerning Jesus that are compiled from eye-witness accounts. He starts with Zacharias as he is ministering in the Temple in a regular rotation. Zacharias’ wife is Elizabeth, and Luke says of both of them that:

6They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. (Luke 1:6 NASB95)

But Elizabeth hasn’t had children yet, and they were getting on in years. Zacharias visits with the angel Gabriel who tells him his wife is going to have a son and they are to name him John. Zacharias is a little skeptical, so the angel says he will be unable to talk until the child is born. After his rotation he goes back home and a little later Elizabeth gets pregnant.

Six months after Elizabeth gets pregnant, Gabriel visits the virgin Mary or Miriam who is engaged to Joseph, and tells her she will get pregnant but not by man. The Holy Spirit will overshadow her and cause a child to be created in her womb. The child’s name is to be Jesus, or Yeshua, because He will be great and called the ‘Son of the Most High.’ Gabriel tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth is also with child, so Mary goes to visit. When Mary greets Elizabeth the child (John) leaps in her womb, and Elizabeth cries out in the Spirit and blesses Mary. Mary composes a song and sings it to Elizabeth while staying with her for three months.

The time comes for Elizabeth to deliver, and at the circumcision ceremony the boy’s name is given as John. People are surprised, but Zacharias confirms in writing that indeed that is to be his name. Immediately Zacharias’ speech comes back and he praises God. He goes on to prophesy that John will be called the ‘prophet of the Most High’ and will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, and give people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. He eventually takes up residence in the desert until the day of his public appearance.

A decree is made by a ruler for a census, so Joseph takes Mary with him to Bethlehem to register because he is of the house of David. While there, Mary gives birth to Jesus in a manger, which is probably a tabernacle rather than a place to house animals. Angels show up to sing praises out in the fields where the shepherds are, and they go into town to find the boy. After the circumcision, where He is given His Name, and after the time of purification had passed, Mary and Joseph go to Jerusalem to make the required offerings. While there, a man name Simeon who had a promise that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Lord’s anointed, and a woman named Anna who was 84 and had been serving in the Temple for most of that time, both saw Jesus and offered praise and prophesied.

When Jesus is twelve, the family goes to Passover at Jerusalem as they did every year. After the feast the family leaves but Jesus stays behind without them knowing. When they discover Jesus is gone, they return to Jerusalem frantically looking for Him. When they find Him He is sitting with the learned men at the Temple, who are amazed at His learning and wisdom, and tells mom and dad that they should have known that He would be at His Father’s House.

Years later, John gets the word from God to begin his ministry, and goes to the Jordan area preaching a baptism for the remission of sins. Part of his message is that being a ‘son of Abraham’ is not enough, and that God is able to raise sons for Abraham from stones if He wants to. What really counts is to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. When the crowd asks for guidance, he tells them various things in keeping with righteous behavior as outlined in the Law. Some people want to know if he is the Messiah, but he tells them that he baptizes with water but the Messiah will baptize with fire. Luke mentions that later John would be put in prison by Herod for preaching against Herod’s marriage to Herodias Herod’s brother’s wife. Jesus comes out to John to be baptized also. After baptism, the Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice is heard from heaven saying, “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” The rest of chapter 3 of Luke is another genealogy of Jesus of the males all the way back to Adam.

[Jesse Bramhall]

There's a two way veil over people's eyes (this is the one we're on, we're catching up.) One, Jews can't see the Messianic message in the sacrificial system. Two, Christians can't see the Jewish Jesus (he goes to Passover as a kid to basically discuss the Torah with the Pharisees).

What is the cultural significance of the animals, any reason for different animals for different types of sins?

[Bruce Bertram]

I do not know for sure. There is an idea heard from Mike (Florian) that fewer male animals are needed in a flock for reproduction or defense, and the females are more valuable because they can produce more offspring. Outside of this, and the admonition to make sure the animals are clean and without defect, I do not know the significance. There may be other conjecture, but I am not aware of any Scripture that explains.

Shalom

[Jesse Bramhall]

I believe different animals to even out the depletion of one's flock while not giving them the choice to "choose" which they wanted to give up.

[Bruce Bertram]

In Leviticus 4:20 (whole congregation), 4:26 (leaders), 4:31 and 4:35 (individuals) there are extensive instructions for obtaining the forgiveness of sins, all of which involve animal sacrifices. But in Luke chapter one, it looks like John is tasked with some sort of different system for forgiveness.

76“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79 NASB95)

“To give to His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins.” How was John going to accomplish this? By instituting more animal sacrifices? No. We get more detail in Luke 3, when the start of John’s career is described for us.

2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; (Luke 3:3 NASB95)

In Leviticus the way to get sins forgiven is to slaughter an animal, but John does it by dunking people in the Jordan river. So, are these two plans mutually exclusive? In other words, are there two ways to obtain the forgiveness of sins, one with the blood of animals, and one by just taking a bath? If they are both the same, why didn’t God just tell people in Leviticus to go jump in a lake? Well, in a way He did.

I believe the difference in methods has to do with actions as opposed to the condition of the heart. With animal sacrifices the slaughter of the animal was payment for a broken law. This law was set up to regulate the relationships between people in a national or civic situation. Break a law, pay the payment. Part of the payment was public acknowledgement of the sin and restitution. Note that there was no police agency in God’s economy, no one to chase you down if you broke a law. Unless you offended someone (like stealing something and they know about it) there was no one to make you pay. Who was going to make you pay if you coveted something? How would anyone know you coveted unless you proceeded to the action of robbing or stealing? If you steal something and don’t get caught, is it the same sin as when you do get caught? And isn’t coveting the same degree of sin as the stealing?

See what I mean? There are sins (actions) and there is sin (condition of the heart). The sacrifices had a somewhat voluntary aspect, especially in regards to sins that stayed in the heart or where there was no one to see (other than God, who sees everything). Many people think there is a large difference between a sinful action and the sin tendency, when in reality there is no difference. Jesus illustrates this in much of His teaching.

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28 NASB95)

Some people define sin as action only (and some only define the action as sin if you get caught!), but Jesus says real sin is in the heart. His teachings while incarnated, however, are not the first time we hear of this concept in the Word. John’s baptism is also not the first place we hear of washing. God says in numerous places that sacrifice without repentance and ‘cleanliness’ or continued right action is worthless.

10Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. 11“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12“When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13“Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14“I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:10-17 NASB95)

Animal sacrifices served as payment for an action, or ‘the flesh,’ but could not do anything about the heart.

13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14 NASB95)

Even though animal sacrifices were offered and accepted as payment, didn’t people have to do them over and over? Was it possible to have an action forgiven and yet miss out on eternal life because the heart wasn’t right? Animal sacrifices were only acceptable in the first place as Luke 2:78 says, “because of the tender mercy of our God.” Hebrews tells us that the sacrifices couldn’t go all the way in cleansing or forgiving.

1For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4 NASB95)

The ideal response to God has always been one of confession, repentance, and restitution or restoration. But the permanent answer to the entire sin problem was provided for us in the form of a baby.

34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35 NASB95)

“Thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” is the true path to long lasting peace and righteousness with God. Jesus offered Himself once for all, and we are made perfect (lacking in nothing) by our acceptance of that offering.

10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:10-14 NASB95)

Jesus paved the way for us and shows us how to follow, by doing the will of God.

6Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. 7Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:6-8 NASB95)

Justification is by faith and faith alone. It always has been and always will be that way, even when animal sacrifices were regularly practiced.

21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Romans 3:21-28 NASB95)

That’s because faith is also always required in a relationship with God.

6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB95, quoted from )

However, works are a part of faith as it says in James, hence the need to do something as God requires.

24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24 NASB95)

Doing what God requires means bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, as John tells us.

8“Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9“Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:8-9 NASB95)

As I was reading this week’s portion, especially that of Leviticus chapter four, I was struck by the awareness that sin offerings could get real expensive. What I mean is that the offerings described in that chapter for the forgiveness of sins would be quite costly if I were to have to do them today. I imagine they were also quite costly then. A yearling bull now would cost around $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 or more, depending on pedigree (some prize bulls can cost as much as my house!). A lamb or goat would be a little less expensive, anywhere from ‘free’ to several hundred dollars. So, since I tend to sin on a daily basis (I’m thinking here of thinking, mostly), I would be going through a whole herd or flock of livestock about every few months. And like I said, if I had to use livestock on a regular basis to get forgiveness in this day and age I would soon be broke. Thank God that He provided the Sacrifice, and that it doesn’t cost me anything!

So what should we do about this Sacrifice? Go out and kill a calf or a sheep? Or perhaps the offering of our bodies is the only thing left to do?

1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3 NASB95)

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 (6:7); Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23; Luke 1 through 3; Romans 8:1-13; Hebrews 10:1-18, 13:10-16
This article is based on the section in my book ‘Whole Bible Christianity.’ I changed it a little bit because the articles in this part of Manna already covered some of the material.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. (Isaiah 43:19–24, ESV)

Let’s talk a little about animal sacrifices, or what I like to call God’s barbecue. Animal sacrifices were never, ever, intended to save anyone. There is no mention anywhere in the Word of eternal life given through the blood of an animal. The best that an animal sacrifice could ever do (in terms of gaining eternal life) was show obedience.

By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. (Proverbs 16:6 NASB95)

According to Isaiah 43, a sacrifice is for honoring God, calling on Him, and satisfying Him. All of these are also hallmarks of love. If a person’s sacrifice was accepted, then the person was accepted. This was because the sacrifice was accepted based on a person’s heart, as well as his or her actions. A person who loves God and wants to do what He says will try to present a sacrifice the way God wants. The person who is sloppy about it shows how little they care. Just like Cain (Genesis 4:3-5).

Animal sacrifice was a shared experience with God and with others in the community. Most sacrifices were parceled out to the people involved (Leviticus 7). Part of it was God’s (the part that was burned up) part was for the priests (for the work of cooking) and part was for the person doing the offering (and usually family and friends). That’s why I call it God’s barbecue.

The sacrifices were also a reminder of Jesus. They were stand-ins, so to speak, for what would eventually happen with, by, through, and for Him. We can think of them as memorials, because that’s how God thought of them. The blood and the burning were like a constant prayer, asking God to treat the people with mercy and grace on the basis of the Ultimate Sacrifice (Jesus).

People also needed to be reminded of their sin and the price of disobedience (Hebrews 10:3). That’s why the humble submission of the person doing the offering was just as important as the barbecue. If sacrifices were offered merely as part of lip service, they didn’t work. The death of the animal was not as important as faith (trust and action). God tells Isaiah in Isaiah 1:10-17 that He “had enough of burnt offerings” because they were only lip service. He was not making an arbitrary change. Sacrifices and holy days were (and are) rendered ineffective if they were mixed with iniquity or lawlessness (Isaiah 1:13).

If our hands are “covered with blood,” which isn’t from the sacrifices (Isaiah 1:15), the sacrifice isn’t acceptable. The effectiveness of the sacrifices was based on the future final sacrifice of the only Son of God, or they never would’ve worked (such as they did) in the first place. The sacrifice of the Christ allowed God to dwell in the midst of Israel in a tent.

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24 NASB95)

There are lots of reasons for animal sacrifices, including thanksgiving, fellowship, and peace. But salvation was never a reason. If salvation were the point, then when Solomon offers 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (2 Chronicles 7:5) was he ‘more saved’ than the person who could only afford a couple of birds (Leviticus 5:7)? Of course not.

Sacrifices were well known long before Sinai and in many other countries. Most of these were perversions of the original sacrifices God ordained way back with Adam and Eve. None of them ‘saved’ anyone. The 70 bull sacrifices during Tabernacles in Numbers 29:12-35 are generally understood as being for the nations. Did the sacrifice of bulls ‘save’ the nations? Did the bogus sacrifices performed by many other people save them? The short, easy answer: “no.”

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:10–16, ESV)

Shalom
Bruce