Today's Reading:

Leviticus 1
Leviticus 2
Leviticus 3
Leviticus 4

 
The sacrifices in Leviticus were like putting a Band-Aid on a deep wound over and over, or making the minimum payments on a massive credit-card debt that never goes away. They brought temporary relief and held things together for a time, but the root problem remained. Jesus is the ultimate Healer who doesn’t gloss over the problem—He pays the entire debt in full through His blood. Rejoice in Christ: you are fully covered, owing zero.

 

Leviticus is the third book of the Torah (the “teachings” or Law—the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The previous book, Exodus, tells how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, gave the Ten Commandments, and provided detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle.

Leviticus continues the story by explaining how a holy God could dwell among a sinful people. It gives specific laws for worship, purity, and daily life, showing Israel how to live set apart in holiness. There are five main offerings: Burnt, Grain, Peace (Fellowship), Sin, and Guilt.

Atonement means “to cover” or “to make reconciliation.” Through sacrifices and rituals, the broken relationship between God and people was temporarily restored. The animal died in place of the sinner, pointing forward to a greater sacrifice yet to come.

Burnt Offering (Daily): (Leviticus 1)

• Purpose: Complete surrender and devotion to God
• Meaning: Atonement, prayer, praise; a pleasing aroma to the Lord
• Voluntary, expressing wholehearted dedication
• Worshiper laid a hand on the animal’s head, symbolizing substitution
• Offered daily (morning and evening), doubled on the Sabbath, with additional offerings on festivals
• Animals: Male bull, sheep, goat, or bird without defect
• Portions:
  • God: Entire animal burned (except the skin)
  • Priest: Could keep the hide
  • People: None (nothing was eaten)
• Internal organs and legs were washed, symbolizing purification of both inner life and outward actions
  • Fulfillment in Christ: Jesus is the perfect Burnt Offering—fully devoted to the Father, giving Himself completely for us. His sacrifice is described as a “fragrant offering” (Ephesians 5:2).

Grain Offering: (Leviticus 2)

• Purpose: Thanksgiving and recognition of God’s provision
• Meaning: Dedication of daily work and life to God
• Voluntary
• No blood involved
• No yeast (leaven)—a symbol of sin and corruption
• Made of fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense, seasoned with salt
• Could be raw or baked; often accompanied other offering
• Portions:
  • God: Memorial portion burned
  • Priest: Remaining grain
  • People: None
• Fulfillment in Christ: Jesus reflects the Grain Offering in His sinless life, fully anointed by the Spirit. There is no “leaven” of sin in Him to corrupt His offering.

Peace (or Fellowship) Offering: (Leviticus 3)

• Purpose: Celebration of peace and restored fellowship with God
• Offered for thanksgiving, fulfilling a vow, or freewill devotion
• Voluntary
• A shared meal symbolizing communion
• Animals: Male or female from herd or flock, without defect
• Portions:
  • God: Fat, kidneys, and lobe of the liver
  • Priest: Breast and right thigh
  • People: Remaining meat, shared with family
  • Fulfillment in Christ: Through Jesus, we now enjoy true peace and fellowship with God—fulfilled ultimately in communion with Him.

Sin Offering: (Leviticus 4-5:13)

• Purpose: Atonement for unintentional sins and ceremonial uncleanness
• Restored access to God after defilement
• Mandatory once sin was recognized
• Animals varied by status:
  • Bull: High priest or entire congregation
  • Male goat: Leader
  • Female goat/lamb, birds, or flour: Common person (depending on means)
•  Portions:
  • God: Fat portions
  • Priest: Meat (except when offered for a priest or the whole community)
  • People: None
  • Fulfillment in Christ: Jesus bore both our unintentional and intentional sins. His blood accomplished once and for all what animal sacrifices could only temporarily cover (Hebrews 9).

Guilt Offering (Trespass): (Leviticus 5:14-6:7)

• Purpose: Atonement for specific sins involving desecration of holy things or harm to others (fraud, theft, deception, misuse of sacred property)
• Required restitution plus an additional 20%
• Mandatory
• Animal: Ram without defect (with alternatives for the poor)
• Portions:
  • God: Fat portions
  • Priest: Meat
  • People: None
  • Fulfillment in Christ: The guilt offering points to Jesus as the ultimate satisfaction for our debt. Where the Law required repayment plus interest, Christ repaid the infinite debt we owed to God—fully restoring us and adding grace beyond what was required.

In the end, Leviticus shows us both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s desire to dwell with His people. Every offering pointed to the same truth: sin brings separation, and restoration requires blood, obedience, and surrender. Yet these sacrifices were never the final solution—they were shadows of something greater. Jesus fulfills every offering perfectly: our surrender, our gratitude, our peace, our purification, and our restitution. What the Law could only cover temporarily, Christ completed fully. Because of Him, we no longer approach God through repeated sacrifices, but through a finished work, living in restored fellowship, grateful obedience, and lasting peace.

 
Today's Discussion question: 

In a grateful response to God’s work in our lives, we “repay” Him by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. What does this look like in your daily life: surrender, heartfelt worship, obedience, and lovingness to serve others?

 
Click here to link to our Facebook group for discussion, questions, and additional content.