A Brief Tutorial of Old Covenant Worship

List and explain in detail the various sacrifices listed in Leviticus. In what ways are these sacrifices fulfilled in the New Testament? 
  

Words Related to Offerings or Sacrifices

 

Since the word sacrifice is not clearly in the Hebrew text, nor are the same words uniformly translated as 'sacrifice', or 'offering' there is some difficulty in precisely answering this question. I am assuming the ambiguity is intentional which forces us to answer fundamentally two directions: First, What are the things brought near to God in sacrificial worship? And second, how are they commanded to be brought, offered, sacrificed?

Quorban – a gift or offering brought near. The traditional translation “offering” no longer conveys the idea of “bringing near”. Sacrifice has the idea of giving something up for someone else butappears to have very little to do with quorban. Quorban means 'to draw near', to get in close relationship with someone, namely God. It is never used for any other relationship. We do not worship God by giving him anything, it all belongs to Him and He needs nothing. We do not worship God by giving up anything good, for He is the One who has given us all good things

Zebach (n.), zabach (v.) – Refers primarily to the slaying and cutting of an animal kophar (covering); the noun refers to the animal that is slain. The word most consistently translated sacrifice in the NASB.

Minchah – Is translated variously gift, sacrifice, oblation, offering, present, and is usually used in connection with grain quorbans.

Necek – Is used to designate a drink offering or libation. Used with wine.

Chag – is translated feast, but sometimes sacrifice.

Reyach - a smell of restful fragrance, sweet smelling aroma is, is explicitly used to describe all of the offerings except the guilt offering.

The Fundamental Nature of Sacrifices/Offerings

Man is the first quorban or near-bringing. Worshipers individually and as a corporate person draw near to the Lord, to the throne of Grace. The humble and contrite heart is the primary and first sacrifice. “The sacrifices (zebachi) of God: a spirit being broken, a heart being broken, being crushed, Elohim you will not despise.”

The animal quorban was brought near and offered with the required grain and drink quorban for kophar – to provide a propitiatory shelter, covering, or atonement. The unholy, sinful worshiper, whose sin deserves death, brings himself near the holy and righteous God. He cannot offer himself, his blood, his life (the life is in the blood) as restitution and payment for his own sins, but an innocent life, a sinless guiltless life will be needed to bear the guilt of the worshiper and take the wrathful consequence of his sin. 

 

The worshiper brings with him a near-bringing, a prescribed animal without blemish for the prescribed sacrifice/offering along with grain and wine. The animal represents two things at the same time - the worshiper, and Christ, the atoning Messiah. The worshiper as a representative of the Father administers to the animal the penalty he himself deserves. 

The animal is an image of the atoning Messiah who will shed his life blood for the life of the world. The animal’s life is forfeit by cutting, shedding of its blood, and offered by fire to cover the worshiper shielding him from the just consequences for sin. The offering by fire was a sweet smelling aroma, soothing, (literally - a smell of restful fragrance) to the Lord. The sacrifices are called 'food for God.'

Memorial - Memorial is more than mere remembrance. Memorial is asking God to 'remember'; it is to “remind” God of his covenant promises. When God 'remembers' he rises, He comes, He evaluates, and then faithfully acts according to the terms of His covenants with each man, the Church, and all mankind. A portion of every grain near-bringing was to be offered as a memorial portion of the sacrifice.

The grain and drink – represent many things (this point needs to be finished)

Instructions for the Near-bringings

Order of explanation of the first mentioned five offerings in Leviticus 1-6:

• Ascension (commonly misnamed 'whole burnt')
• Grain/Memorial,
• Communion/ Fellowship/Peace,
• Sin/Purification
• Guilt/De-sanctification

Order in which they were almost always corporately offered:

• Sin/Purification, 
   and/or Guilt/De-sanctification
• Ascension
• Communion/Fellowship/Peace
• with the Grain/Memorial and Drink/Wine offerings (Leviticus 23) added to every Ascension and Communion sacrifice.

The Ascension Near-bringing.  
(Leviticus 1, 6:8-13, 8:18-21, 16:24)

 
The first offering mentioned is the Ascension Offering and offering made by fire. The animals able to be used were make from the heard - the bull, the ram, the male bird (a dove or young pigeon offered by those who are poor). This was the one sacrifice that was wholly consumed. 
 

The worshiper voluntarily:

*brings himself near to YHWH

*brings an unblemished male from the flock (sheep or goat) or herd (bull),

or (for those who are poor) from the turtledoves or sons of the doves

*brings him/them near to the doorway of the tent of meeting,

for his acceptance before YHWH

*leans his hand on the head of the ascension

(transferring the penalty for sin guiltiness to the animal)

then the animal shall be acceptable to make atonement/covering for him

*slays the son of the herd before YHWH.

The priest: 

*Brings near the blood

*Sprinkles the blood around on the altar

The worshiper:

*Skins the ascension and

*Cuts it (her) into its pieces

The priest:

*Puts fire on the altar and

*Arranges woods on the fire

*Then,

*Arranges the pieces (of the animal) on the altar over the fire

the head and

the suet

However,

*Washes (with water from the bronze laver)

the entrails and

the legs (shanks)

Then,

*Offers all of it up in smoke

It is an "Ascension of Fire" - a Smell of Restful Fragrance to YHWH.

For the offering of birds:

The worshiper:

*Brings the bird near-bringing

 
The priest:

*Wrings off (or pinches off) the head and

*Burns it on the altar

*Wrings out (drains) the blood on the side of the altar

*Takes away its crop with its feathers

*Casts (flings) it beside the altar eastward by the place of ashes

 
The worshiper:

*Tears the birds wings not severing them

 
The priest:

*Offers it up in smoke on the altar over the wood

It is an Ascension of Fire - a Smell of Restful Fragrance to YHWH.

This offering was voluntary as an atonement for unintentional sin in general; it is the sanctification/dedication/devotion offering symbolizing a complete devotion to God.

Grain/Memorial Near-bringing. 

 (Leviticus 2, 6:14-23)

This might be brought as grain milled as a fine flour, mixed with olive oil and incense. OR fine flour mixed with oil and baked or pan cooked. No grain offering should have yeast or honey in it. All were to be seasoned with salt. These are used with the ascension and communion offerings. The priests kept as their portion what was not used as the memorial. A voluntary act of worship for the goodness of God's provisions, the offering of life's labour's fruit for evaluation, the devotion of life to God. A portion of every grain offering was set aside as a memorial portion (see memorial above).

The worshiper:

*brings (fine flour) unto YHWH
*pours on it [her] oil

*puts frankincense on it [her]

*brings it [her] to the priest

*removes a handful of flour and oil and frankincense from it.

*If it is baked in an oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour, mixed with oil or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.

*If it is baked in a griddle/frying pan, unleavened and mixed with oil, he breaks it into bits and pours oil on it.

*If it is baked in a pan, it will be made of fine flour with oil and the worshiper brings these things to YHWH and presents them to the priest.

The priest:

*brings them to the altar.

*he burns the memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire

It is an Ascension of Fire - a Smell of Restful Fragrance to YHWH.

He keeps the remainder—a holy of holies of the fire offerings of YHWH.

Restrictions:

*No offering which you bring to YHWH made with leaven or honey will be offered in smoke as an offering by fire.

*The offering of firstfruits shall not ascend as a smell of restful fragrance on the altar.

*Every grain offering shall be seasoned with the salt of the Covenant of God.

*Early-ripened grain offerings shall be fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire and oil and incense poured on it and the priest shall offer up in smoke it's memorial portion. Part of its grits and part of its oil and all of its incense.

Peace/Communion/Fellowship Near-bringing. 
 (Leviticus 3, 7:11-34)

 
A variety of male or female animals without blemish from herd or flock could be brought near. A Peace Offering for thanksgiving will be accompanied by cakes of bread with oil and without yeast. For a vow only the animal is offered. This is the only animal sacrifice eaten as a communal meal with the worshiper and hence signifies communion with God. SMELLis a smell of restful fragrance.

The worshiper:

*leans his hand on the head of the near-bringing.

*slays him at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

The priest:

*sprinkles blood around the altar

*brings the sacrifice near, a fire offering to YHWH

*takes away the fat that covers and all of the fat on the inwards and the two kidneys, the fat on them, the lobe of the liver

*he offers it up in smoke on the altar on the ascension offering over the wood

It is a smell of restful fragrance.

If the peace offering from the flock, male or female, it shall be without blemish and the lamb brought near.

The worshiper:

*leans his hand upon the head of the offering.

*kills it before the tabernacle of the congregation.

The priest:

*shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about

*the fat, the whole rump, he shall remove close to the backbone and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails and the two kidneys with the fat on them and the lobe of the liver shall be removed.

*offers it up in smoke as food for YHWH, an offering of fire to the Lord.

If it is a goat,

The worshiper:

*shall bring it near

*shall lean his hand upon the head

*slay it before the tent of meeting

The priest:

*shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about

*the fat, the whole rump, he shall remove close to the backbone and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails and the two kidneys with the fat on them and the lobe of the liver shall be removed.

*offers it up in smoke as food for YHWH, an offering of fire to the Lord.

This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings. You shall not eat any fat or blood.

Thanksgiving Peace Offering

If the peace offering is also offered by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, he will offer it with unleavened cakes mixed with oil. He's supposed to take a portion of each of those offerings, but the rest belongs to the priest who assists with the sacrifice.

The flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offering shall be eaten on the day of the offering. None shall be left till morning.

Votive or Free-will Peace offering

It shall be eaten on the day it is offered and on the next day. Any left til the third day is burned with fire.

Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten but will be burned.

Only clean people may eat the flesh.

Any person eating uncleanly will be cut off from his people.

Fat rule:

You shall not eat any fat from ox, sheep or goat or of dead animals torn by beasts.

When a person brings a peace offering, the breast along with the fat is presented as a wave offering before YHWH. The fat is offered up in smoke on the altar, but the breast belongs to the priest. The right thigh is also given to the priest.

Sin/Purification Near-bringing. 

(Leviticus 4:1-5:13, 6:24-30, 8:14-17, 16:3-22)

This is a mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sins. It is for the confession of sin, forgiveness of sin, and cleansing from defilement. Animals brought near: Young bull for the high priest and congregation. Male goat for the (civil) leader. Female goat or lamb for the common person. Dove or pigeon for the poor. Tenth of an ephah of fine flour for the very poor. It is a Smell of Restful Fragrance.

If the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt upon the people he is to:

*bring a bull without defect to the door of the tent of meeting before YHWH

*lean his hand upon the head of the bull

*slay the bull

*bring the blood

*dip his finger in the blood

*sprinkle seven times before YHWH in front of the veil of the sanctuary

*put blood on the horns of the altar of incense

*pour blood out at the base of the altar

*the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails and the two kidneys with the fat on them and the lobe of the liver shall be removed.

*offers it up in smoke offering on the altar of ascensions for YHWH, Lord.

*bring the head, hide flesh, legs, entrails and refuse to a clean place outside the camp, the place where the ashes are poured out and to burn it with fire there.
 

Anyone who touches the flesh of the sin offering will become consecrated. 
Blood splashed on garments in a holy place you shall wash.
Earthenware vessels in which the flesh is boiled shall be broken. 
Bronze vessels shall be scoured and rinsed. 
Every male among the priests may eat of it.

If the congregation of Israel commits error the assembly:

*brings the bull from the herd before the tent of meeting

*the elders of the congregation lean their hands on the head of the bull

*slays the bull

The priest:

*brings the blood to the tent of meeting

*dips his finger into the blood

*sprinkles it seven times before YHWH in front of the veil of the sanctuary

*puts blood on the horns of the altar of incense

*pours blood out at the base of the altar

*removes all the fat from it and offers it up in smoke on the altar

...so the priest will make atonement for them and they shall be forgiven

When a leader sins unintentionally he will:

*bring a goat, a male without defect

*lean his hand upon the head of the goat

*slays the goat

The priest:

*puts blood on the horns of the altar

*pours blood out at the base of the altar

*removes all the fat from it and offers it up in smoke on the altar as in the case of peace offerings

...thus atonement is made for him and he is forgiven.

* eats it in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting

When a common person sins unintentionally he shall:

*he shall offer a female goat/lamb without blemish

*lean his hand upon its head

*slay the goat

The priest:

*puts blood on the horns of the altar

*pours blood out at the base of the altar

*removes all the fat from it and offers it up in smoke on the altar as in the case of peace offerings

...thus atonement is made for him and he is forgive.

*eats it in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting

Guilt near-bringing 

 (Leviticus 5:14-6:7, 7:1-6)

 
The only animal allowed for this sacrifice is the ram or male lamb. It is a mandatory atonement for unintentional sin (particularly those sins that lean toward transgressing, especially the holy, requiring restitution, for cleansing from defilement, for making restitution and paying the 20% fine.

When a witness fails to testify after public adjuration to do so, or when a person touches any unclean thing or swears thoughtlessly, must:

confess his sin

bring a guilt offering a female lamb or goat

offer it like a sin offering

The POOR worshiper:

*brings two turtledoves or two pigeons one for a sin offering and one for an ascension offering to the priest

The priest will:

*nip the head at the front of its neck but not sever it

*sprinkle some of the blood on the side of the altar and the rest shall be drained at the base of the altar.

*prepare the second bird according to the ordinance for ascension offerings.

The POOREST worshiper shall:

bring a 1/10 of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering

not put oil on it or place incense on it for it is a sin offering

The priest will:

*take a handful of it for its memorial portion

*offer it up in smoke on the altar

If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against YHWH's holy things, he shall:

*bring a ram without defect from the flock

*make restitution against the holy thing and add a 1/5 a part from it and give it to the priest

The priest will:

*make evaluation in silver by shekels according to the offense

If a person sins and does anything which the Lord does not command and is unaware he shall:

*bring a ram without defect...

*according to the priests valuation for the guilt offering

When a person deceives his companion with regards to a security or deposit, or through robbery or extortion, or has found what has been lost and lied about it or sworn falsely, he shall:

*restore what he took by robbery/extortion/or the deposit entrusted to him/or anything about which he swore falsely

*make restitution for it in full and add 1/5 more.

*give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering.

The priest shall:

*slay the animal on the north side of the altar

*sprinkle the blood around on the altar

*take from it all it's fat, fat over the entrails, fat on the entrails

*offer them up in smoke on the altar.

Every male among the priests may eat it in a holy place for it is holy of holies.

The sin offering and the guilt offering are usually offered at the same time.

Drink/Libation/Wine Near-bringing

 (Leviticus 23:13, 18, 37)

It is offered at the Feast of Firstfruits “when the sheaf of the first-fruits was waved before the Lord, a grain offering was to be burned, along, with “its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine.” Similarly, libations were to be offered with the lambs, bull, and rams offered on the day of Pentecost. And we find this general statement which we suppose affirms what we just mentioned: “these are the appointed times of the Lord which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the Lord – ascension offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and libations, each day's matter on its own day.”

Incense

Exodus recipe: Leviticus 2:15-16; 4:7; 5:11; 6:15; 

(10:1 unauthorized fire and incense); 

16:12-13; 26:30.

 Frankincense alone: Leviticus 2:1-2; 24:7)

When incense is mentioned we assume it refers to the recipe of Exodus 30:34-35 unless specifically referring only to frankincense. It is added to the grain offerings and sin offerings. When the high priest enters the most holy place on the Day of Atonement it is used to make atonement for the high priest along with two goats and the bull of a sin offering. Incense is to be offered inside the veil, the holy of holies, so that a cloud covers the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die.

Oil
Leviticus 2:1-7, 15-16; 5:11; 6:15, 21; 7:10-12;
 (8:2,10,12,26,30 regarding the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood) 
 9:4; 10:7;
 (14:10-21, 24-29 oil used in cleansing rites); 
23:13; (24:2 the making of oil for the lights)

Oil is offered with grain offerings and is used for the ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. The tabernacle and everything that was in it was anointed. It was sprinkled on the altar seven times and used to anoint the altar, its utensils, the bronze laver, its stand. Oil was poured on Aaron's head. It was sprinkled on the priestly garments at the ordination.

Oil is used for the cleansing of the one having a touch of affliction (Leviticus 14). Blood from the guilt offering is used in the cleansing of the one touched (the leper) by being placed on the right earlobe, the right thumb and the right big toe (just as in the ordination of priests). Then, oil from the log of oil brought by the worshiper is placed in the palm of the priest's left hand and his right finger after being dipped into the oil and sprinkles the oil seven times before the Lord. Some of the remaining oil in his left hand is placed over the blood on the right earlobe, the right thumb and the right big toe of the one to be healed. The rest of the oil in his palm is put on the head of the one being cleansed. (Signifying re-admittance to the general priesthood of every Israelite.)

Clear olive oil is used to make lamps burn continually in the holy place.

Wave Offering 
(Leviticus 7:30,34; 8:27,29; 10:14-15; 14:12,21,24; 23:11-12, 15,17,20)

When the peace offering is brought to YHWH, the breast of the offering may be presented as a wave offering before YHWH.

At the consecration of Aaron and his sons, after the ram of ordination is offered, from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord, Moses took one unleavened cake and one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer and put them on the portions of fat and the right thigh. Then he put all these things in the hands of Aaron and the hands of his sons and presented them as a wave offering before the Lord.

The breast of the peace offering is a wave offering and able to be eaten by the priest and his family. The wave offering is called a perpetual offering for and due to the priests and their sons.

In the law of cleansing the one touched with affliction (the leper), the breast of the male lamb and the log of oil brought by the worshiper are to be presented as a wave offering to the Lord.

In the feast of first fruits, the sheaf is brought to the priest and he shall wave it in front of the Lord so that the worshiper will be accepted. It will be waved on the day after the Sabbath when a male lamb, one year old, without blemish, is also offered as an ascension offering to the Lord.

On the feast of Pentecost, the worshiper will bring two loaves of bread made from new grain for a wave offering. They are made of 2/10 of an ephah of flour baked with leaven as firstfruits to the Lord.

The Offering of First Fruits 

(Leviticus 2:12, 23:10, 17, 20)

Once Israel enters the land sheaves and grains of things newly ripened are to be brought to the priest and waved before the Lord on the eighth day, the day after the Sabbath in order that the worshiper might be accepted. A portion of the fruit of the man's labour represents the life of the man. The sheaf is offered at Pentecost/Shavuot along with the sacrifice of a male lamb one year old, the sacrifice most nearly associated with the Lord, the Lamb of God. A grain offering is presumably made from the sheaves into the two loaves baked with leaven and they are waved as offering of first fruits but will not ascend as a soothing aroma on the altar.

The Cleansing Sacrifice of Leviticus 14

This is really combinations of offerings. A sacrifice that initially takes place outside the camp to begin a process of restoring one who has been unclean to the community of believers and to sanctuary worship. After the declaration of 'clean', the priest takes with him two live clean birds, cedar wood, a scarlet string, and hyssop, and a vessel that contains living water (water taken from a running stream or spring). MORE... One bird's neck is wrung over the living water in the earthen vessel and the blood is poured into the vessel. The believer washes all his clothes, shaves his whole body, and bathes in water to be clean. He is then readmitted to the community. He stays outside his tent for seven days. On the eight day he brought near to the sanctuary for sin, guilt, and grain offerings along with blood and oil anointing for the believer to restore him to the OC holy priesthood of all believers.

The Day of Atonement 

(Leviticus 23:26-32; 25:9; Numbers 9:7-11)

In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month is the Day of Atonement. 

The high priest will:
* enter the holy place once a year 
*and come with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for an ascension offering.
*wear his holy attire,
*bathe his body 
*take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for an ascension offering.

The priest first takes care of himself by offering the bull of the sin offering. Then he takes the two goats, presents them before the Lord. He casts lots for the two goats, one for the Lord and one for the scapegoat. The one for the Lord is offered for a sin offering. The scapegoat is presented alive and then turned out into the wilderness. Then Aaron offers the bull of the sin offering for himself and his household. He offers incense inside the veil of the holy of holies to cover the mercy of the ark of the testimony otherwise he will die.

Blood of the bull is sprinkled with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side. In front of the mercy seat, blood is sprinkled with his finger seven times. He slaughters the goat of the sin offering which is for the people and brings its blood inside the veil to do the same as he did with the blood of the bull. In this way he makes atonement for the Holy place because of Israel's impurities and their transgressions with regards to their sins. He also makes atonement for the tent of meeting.

When he goes to make atonement, he goes alone and no one may be with him in the tent of meeting. Then he takes blood from the goat and bull and puts it on the horns of the altar on all sides. With his finger, he sprinkles some of the blood seven times all around it to cleanse it. Then he leans both his hands on the head of the live goat and confesses over the goat all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions with regards to all their sins. And he shall lean them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. The goat bears on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land. Aaron then undresses, bathes his body, and puts on his regular clothes and offers an ascension offering for himself and the people to make atonement. Then he offers up the smoke of the fat of the sin offering on the altar. The man who released the scapegoat washes his clothes. The hides and left over flesh and the refuse of the bull sin offering and the goat sin offering are burned in a fire outside the camp.

The Fulfillment in the New Covenant.  
(This section still needs to be finished)

The old covenant near-bringings are the rainbow created from the white light of Christ's perfect sacrifice. Its meaning, its explanation, and the enormity of Christ's human blood sacrifice was the consummation or fulfillment of all the bloody rites and the bloody sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Jesus is both great high priest who offers Himself as the Great Atonement for each person and all men; He is both priest and sacrificial victim. He accomplished in the one sacrifice of His sinless life once offered a full, perfect and sufficient, sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. Through the 'crushing' of His body, and the shedding of His blood, Christ was able to remove the guilt of sin especially high-handed sin. The apostle Paul describes this as the sweet smelling aroma. FINISH.

Jesus is the sin offering, the guilt/desanctification offering, the ascension/whole burnt offering, the grain/memorial offering, the communion/fellowship/peace offering, the drink/libation offering, the scapegoat, the cleansing offering, the oil, incense, and salt, the atonement offerings. Jesus is the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies and he bears much fruit and is called the first fruits of the new creation.

 
The bloodless grain (crushed wheat) and wine (crushed and fermented grape blood) are retained but modified and fulfilled in Holy Communion where they become the Body and Blood of Christ for the consumption of New Covenant saints. Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away the sins of the world and we eat Him as our communion offering.