INTRODUCTION: The Levitical sacrificial system had five separate and distinct offerings that could be made to the Lord. They mark a progression of closeness with the first offering mentioned being the closest to God and the last one being the first step in approaching God. This seemingly backwards approach is not unusual in the Bible. God usually begins from His perspective, not ours. He describes the furniture of the most holy place first and then proceeds to the holy place and the courtyard. He creates heaven and then earth (Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
See All...). Notice the following table with the offerings given in reverse order and their symbology explained.

The offerings of the law almost require a threefold approach. First, we should understand them as a way for the OT saints to make and keep a right relationship with God. Second, we should see the typology of these offerings as they point to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. Third, we should see their application in our own approach to God.

The burnt offering is the first offering specified by name in the Bible. Noah offered burnt offerings when he left the ark (Genesis 8:20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
See All...). Abel’s offering was certainly a burnt offering as well although it is not called such (Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
See All...). The burnt offering is also the most common of the offerings mentioned in scripture and probably the most commonly offered. The table shows the five offerings in rank as to which of them are mentioned most in scripture.

1. THE OFFERING WAS BROUGHT (Leviticus 1:1-2 [1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
   See All...)
1. To the Tabernacle of the Congregation (Leviticus 1:1-2 [1] And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
   See All...)
2. Of the Herd and of the Flock (Leviticus 1:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
   See All...)
2. IF THE OFFERING WAS OF THE HERD (Leviticus 1:3-9 [3] 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. [4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. [5] And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. [7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: [8] And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: [9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...)
1. The Nature of the Offering (Leviticus 1:3If 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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1. A male without blemish (see 1 Peter 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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2. Offered of his own voluntary will
2. The Acceptance of the Offering (Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
   See All...)
1. Identification
1. The offerer identified with the offering
2. By putting his hand on the head of the offering (see also Leviticus 3:2And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
   See All..., 8, 13; Leviticus 4:4And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
   See All..., 24, 29, 33)
3. The laying on of hands in the Bible usually meant the bestowing of something to another.
1. Blessing (Genesis 48:14-15 [14] And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. [15] And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
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2. Sin (Leviticus 16:21And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
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3. Honor (Numbers 27:18-20 [18] And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; [19] And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. [20] And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 4:14-16 [14] Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. [15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
   See All...)
4. In Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
   See All..., the putting of the hand on the head of the offering was a bestowing of responsibility or guilt.
1. The burnt offering was not dealing with specific sins that had been committed.
2. The burnt offering was an indication that the offerer wanted to give himself to God and be acceptable unto Him.
3. The laying on of the hand indicated a desire that the offering take the place of the offerer.
2. Imputation – Substitution
1. The offering took the place of the offerer.
2. It was accepted in his place – “accepted for him.”
3. Atonement
1. The offering made atonement for the offerer.
2. The offerer received the benefit paid for by the offering.
3. The Killing of the Offering (Leviticus 1:5And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
   See All...a)
1. It was killed by the one making the offering.
1. The work of the offerer
1. He determined to make the offering “of his own voluntary will” (Leviticus 1:3If 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.
   See All...).
2. He brought the offering to the tabernacle door (Leviticus 1:3If 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.
   See All...).
3. He laid his hand on the head of the offering (Leviticus 1:4And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
   See All...).
4. He killed the offering.
2. As far as the law allowed, the offerer was identified with the offering. In bringing the burnt offering, he was in a sense bringing himself to the altar (Psalm 40:6-8 [6] Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. [7] Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, [8] I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
   See All...; Psalm 51:16-17 [16] For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
   See All...).
2. It was killed before the Lord.
1. Practically, this meant that it was killed in front of the tabernacle, a place which represented the presence of the Lord.
2. Symbolically, this meant that it was killed for the sake of the Lord in total surrender to Him.
4. The Blood of the Offering Was Sprinkled (Leviticus 1:5And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
   See All...b).
1. A common practice under the law
1. To hallow or sanctify (Exodus 29:21And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
   See All...; Leviticus 8:30And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
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2. To cleanse the impure (Leviticus 14:51-52 [51] And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: [52] And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:
   See All...; Leviticus 16:19And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
   See All...; Hebrews 9:13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
   See All...)
2. It was sprinkled by the priests as mediators for the offerer.
3. It was sprinkled on the altar to make the offering acceptable to the Lord.
4. It is a type that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
   See All...; 1 Peter 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
   See All...).
5. The Flaying of the Offering (Leviticus 1:6-9 [6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. [7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: [8] And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: [9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...a)
1. The offering was prepared (Leviticus 1:6And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
   See All...).
1. It was flayed; that is, the skin or hide was cut off (Micah 3:3Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
   See All...).
1. The skin, being considered unclean, was not to be part of the burnt offering. It was to be removed before the offering was sacrificed.
2. The skin could be kept by the priests who made the offering (Leviticus 7:8And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.
   See All...).
2. It was cut into pieces.
1. Each part must be separate from the others.
2. Each part must be sacrificed.
2. The fire was prepared (Leviticus 1:7And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
   See All...).
1. The priests put fire on the altar.
1. A continual fire burned on the altar (Leviticus 6:12-13 [12] And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. [13] The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
   See All...).
2. But the fire was built up for the particular offerings.
2. The priests laid wood on the fire.
3. It was laid in order on the altar (Leviticus 1:8And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
   See All...).
1. The parts; a picture of the various areas of the person’s life
2. The head; the mind and soul of the man
3. The fat; a picture of the pleasures and joys of life; these also must be given to the Lord in a complete sacrifice.
4. The inward parts were washed (Leviticus 1:9But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...a).
1. Some parts were washed in water before being offered; washing in water is a picture of the cleansing of the word of God.
2. The inwards; a picture of the inward man, the heart
3. The legs; a picture of the works of man
6. The Consummation of the Offering (Leviticus 1:9But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...b)
1. The entire offering was burned.
2. It was a sweet savor unto the Lord.
1. It was especially sweet unto the Lord.
2. It was a complete sacrifice made willingly.
3. NOTE: The first three offerings (burnt, meat, peace) are both voluntary offerings and a sweet savor unto the Lord. The last two offerings (sin, trespass) are required and are not called sweet savors to the Lord. It is evidently sweet to the Lord when we serve Him because of love and not because we must (see Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
   See All...; Philippians 4:18
   See All...; Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
   See All...).
3. IF THE OFFERING WAS OF THE FLOCK (Leviticus 1:10-13 [10] And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. [11] And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. [12] And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: [13] But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...)
1. Namely of the Sheep or Goats (Leviticus 1:10And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
   See All...)
2. The Work of the Offerer (Leviticus 1:10-11 [10] And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. [11] And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
   See All...)
1. He shall bring a male without blemish (Leviticus 1:10And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
   See All...).
2. He shall kill it on the north side of the altar (Leviticus 1:11And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
   See All...).
3. The Work of the Priest (Leviticus 1:11-13 [11] And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. [12] And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: [13] But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...)
1. He shall sprinkle the blood round about the altar (Leviticus 1:11And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
   See All...).
2. He shall cut it into pieces (Leviticus 1:12And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
   See All...).
3. He shall lay them in order on the wood (Leviticus 1:12And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
   See All...).
4. He shall wash the inwards and the legs with water (Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...).
5. He shall burn it all upon the altar (Leviticus 1:13But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...).
4. IF THE OFFERING WAS OF THE FOWLS (Leviticus 1:14-17 [14] And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. [15] And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: [16] And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: [17] And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
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1. The Offering Shall Be Turtledoves or Young Pigeons (Leviticus 1:14And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
   See All...).
2. The Work of the Priest (Leviticus 1:15-17 [15] And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: [16] And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: [17] And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...)
1. He shall bring it unto the altar (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
   See All...).
2. He shall wring off its head, and burn it on the altar (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
   See All...).
3. He shall wring out the blood at the side of the altar (Leviticus 1:15And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
   See All...).
4. He shall pluck away his crop with his feathers (Leviticus 1:16And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
   See All...).
5. He shall cleave it with the wings thereof (Leviticus 1:17And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...).
6. He shall burn it upon the altar (Leviticus 1:17And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
   See All...).

CONCLUSION: The burnt offering was a complete sacrifice. In the burnt offering, nothing was to be eaten by man. It was all to be consumed on the altar as a gift to God. We need to look at our sacrifice to God in the same way. We need to give ourselves entirely to Him. This is, after all, only our reasonable sacrifice (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
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