Leviticus 1-7 Daily Study Questions

Leviticus 1-7 Daily Study Questions – Jumping Through Hoops

The Big Idea: Our dedication to God and the restoration of our relationships can occur only through sacrifice.

I.Law of Burnt Offerings (1:1-17, 6:8-13) / Key Idea: The burnt offering was an opportunity to show constant dedication of oneself to the Lord.
1. Look at Leviticus 1. Identify this offering (v1-3) and the 3 types of sacrifice (v3, 5; 10; 14). How was it to be offered (v5-9, 11-13, 15-17)? What was its purpose (v3) and what do you think it symbolized? / The first offering was the burnt offering, symbolizing complete dedication to God, because the entire sacrifice was burned up. The types of this sacrifice could be a male young bull, sheep or goat, or it could be a turtledove. This made the sacrifice possible for every economic level. The offerer was to lay his hand on the head to identify with it, he would slay it, and the priests would offer its blood and sprinkle its blood on the altar. He was to skin the offering and cut it into pieces, then the priests would arrange these pieces, head, and suet over the fire. The entrails were to be washed and all was to be offered up in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord. The same thing was done with the offering from the flock, except they were to be killed on the north side of the altar. The birds, though, were to have their heads wrung off by the priest and their blood drained to the side of the altar. The feathers were to be placed where the ashes were, it was not to be severed, but torn by its wings, and it was all to be offered up in smoke on the altar. The purpose of the burnt offering was for atonement, that the offerer might be accepted by the Lord.
2. Read 6:8-13. What were the rest of the priest’s instructions for the burnt offering (v9, 10-11, 12-13) and why do you think each was important? / In addition to the general outline of the burnt offering the priest was also to let the sacrifice burn on the altar all night, then, after putting on his linen robe with its undergarments, he was to take the ashes and place them beside the altar. Then he was to change back to his first garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. This would keep the camp and the priests clean. The fire was to burn continually and never go out, which would allow the fat from the various offerings to be burned on it. Symbolically, the continual burning implies that we should always be dedicating ourselves to God.
II. Law of Grain Offerings (2:1-16, 6:14-23) / Key Idea: The grain offering gratefully acknowledged God’s provision for His people.
3. Using Lev 2 outline the types of grain offerings (v1, 4, 5, 7, 14) and how they were to be offered (v2, 6, 8-9, 15-16). How were they to be prepared (v11, 13) and who received the remainder (v3, 10)? / The grain offering could be ground into flour, baked, cooked in a pan or on a griddle, or it could be raw heads of roasted grain. The flour would have oil and frankincense poured on it, and a portion of it would be offered up by the priests on the fire. The remainder of the grain offerings was for the priests to eat. The baked goods could be cakes or wafers and would only have the oil. They were to have no leaven or honey in them and if they were an offering of the first fruits of the harvest they were not to be offered by fire. They would all have salt on them because it customarily symbolized loyalty to the covenant.
4. In Lev 6:14-23 how was the priest to handle the grain offerings (v14-15, 16, 17, 22-23)? How was grain offering for their day of anointing to be done (v19-20, 21)? / The grain offering had a memorial portion to the Lord offered up by fire, but the remainder was to be eaten by the priests in a holy place – the court of the tent of meeting. This was one of the means of provision for the priests, along with the portions from the sin and guilt offering. These offerings were holy so that any priest who touched them would become holy. On the day they were ordained or anointed a tenth of an ephah (about six tenths of a gallon) of flour was to be presented, half in the morning and half in the evening. It was to be well stirred, baked and presented by fire. The high priest would present it. Whenever he was anointed it would be offered this way by fire, rather than eaten. This was to be a special day of dedication rather than ongoing sustenance.
III. Law of Peace Offerings (3:1-17, 7:11-18) / Key Idea: The peace offering was given to express thanksgiving for restored fellowship with God .
5. Scan Lev 3. Describe the peace offerings (v1, 3-4, 6, 9-10, 12, 14-15) and procedures (v2, 5, 7-8, 11, 13, 16). What was prohibited (v17)? / The peace offering was the only one that the ordinary people could eat. It was to be offered from the herd (sheep or goats) without defect, but it could be male or female. The offerer would lay his hand on the animal’s head, kill it in the doorway of the tent, and the priests would sprinkle the blood around the altar. The fat from the animal and the kidney and liver would be offered up in fire on the altar by the priests as a soothing aroma to the Lord. The fat and the blood were offered up on the altar as food to the Lord – they were not to be eaten by any of the Israelites. The reasons for this are not given, but besides the health benefits, these were considered life and abundance. The Lord would be therefore honored by the best.
6. From 7:11-18 what additional instruction was given for the peace offerings (v11-13, 14, 15, 16-18)? What do you think the peace offering signifies? / If the peace offering was one of thanksgiving it would be offered with unleavened cakes or wafers spread with oil, or cakes of well stirred flour with oil, or with cakes of leavened bread. All of these were for the priests, and not to be burned up. The flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings was to be eaten on the day it was offered, but it if was a votive or freewill offering (no specific reason) it could be eaten the day after as well. But none of it was to be eaten on the third day; if it was the one sacrificing would not be accepted. The peace offering was also known as a “fellowship” offering; it showed peace between God and man, that sin had been dealt with, and fellowship had been restored. In a sense it was an offering celebrating what had already been accomplished.
IV. Law of Sin Offerings (4:1-35, 6:24-30) / Key Idea: The sin offering allowed the sin to be confessed and forgiven and a right relationship with God restored.
7. Using Lev 4 who had to give a sin offering (v3, 13, 22, 27) and why? What type of sin was paid for (v2, 13, 22, 27) and how (v4-12)? What does this tell us about any sin? / The sin offering was a bull without defect given for anyone who had unintentionally sinned (there was not an offering for defiant sin). Their hand would be laid on its head, it would killed at the doorway of the tent, the high priest would take the blood to the tent, dip his finger in it and sprinkle it seven times before the veil. Some would also be placed on the horns of the altar (of incense) and the rest of the blood poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. All the internal fat was to be removed and offered up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering, but the hide and refuse was to be taken out to a clean place outside the camp and then burned.The ones who had to give this offering were first the high priest, because he represented the people. The whole congregation could unintentionally sin and when they became aware of it they would need to offer a sin offering. The elders would lay hands on the bull that was offered to identify everyone with it; the rest was essentially the same. The next one singled out for the sin offering was a leader. His offering was to be a male goat without defect. Most of the ritual was the same as before, except the blood was not sprinkled seven times before the veil and the carcass was not burned outside the camp. This shows that the leaders have a responsibility to lead the people well, even though the leadership may not be spiritual in nature. Finally, if any individual of the common people sinned they were to bring voluntarily a female goat or sheep without defect, laying their hand on its head and killing it at the place of the burnt offering. The blood was to be put on the horns of the altar and the rest poured out at the base. The fat was to be removed and offered up in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord; then he would be forgiven. This offering shows that everyone’s sin matters to God, even if it is intentional. He has a standard that is not to be violated. It also shows that a whole group of people can sin, and that the sin of the spiritual leader, the regular leaders and of individuals each has a significance all its own.
8. According to 6:24-30 what extra details are given relating to the sin offering (v24-25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)? What do you think each signifies? / The sin offering was to be killed in the place of the burnt offering. The priest who offered it was then to eat the rest of it as part of the ritual. The flesh and blood of this offering were both holy, and made anyone touched by them holy, too. So, the garment touched was to be washed and any earthenware vessel in which the sacrifice was boiled prior to eating was to be broken. If it was boiled in a bronze vessel it was to scoured and rinsed in water. The sin offering was to be eaten by the priests, but the sin offering whose blood was taken into the tent of meeting on the day of atonement was not to be eaten. It was to be burned with fire. This all shows the sacredness of the sin offering as well as the nature of sin to taint every thing it touches. Thus, it had to all be eaten and it all became holy when offered, because that’s how far sin permeated.
V. Law of Guilt Offerings (5:1-6:7, 7:1-10, 19-38) / Key Idea: The guilt offering represents the fact that all the damages to a relationship have been made so that it can be restored.
9. Based on 5:1-6:7 what brought guilt (v1, 2-3, 4, 14, 17; 6:1-2, 3) and what should be done (v5, 6, 7-10, 11-13, 15-16, 18-19; 6:4, 6-7)? / Guilt was incurred when a witness to the truth was omitted, when something unclean was touched intentionally or otherwise, when a thoughtless oath was given, when a person unfaithfully touched something holy or did something accidently that the Lord had prohibited, or deceived his companion relating to a security deposit, or had lied about it when he found something lost by someone else. In all of these things he must confess and then make a guilt offering. This offering was to be a female goat or lamb through which the priest would make atonement for his sin. If he was too poor for this he could bring two turtledoves or pigeons, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. Their heads were nipped, not severed,. Some blood sprinkled on the side of the altar, and the rest drained out at the base of the altar. If this was even too expensive flour could be brought without oil or incense and offered up in smoke on the brazen altar. In some cases restitution of the damage plus an extra fifth was to be given.
10. In 7:1-10 and 19-38 how was the guilt offering treated (v1-2, 3-5)? What could the priest eat (v6-10, 28-34, 35-36) and what could not be eaten (19-21, 22-25, 26-27)? / The guilt offering was to have the blood sprinkled on the altar, the fat was to be offered up in smoke, and the male of the priests were to eat of it. The priests would eat the meat from the offering, and would receive the hide of the burnt offering, and the remainder of the grain offering. He would also have the breast and thigh of the peace offerings to eat. This would be God’s provision for His priests. They were not to eat blood, fat, or any flesh that touched anything unclean.
11. Outline the 5 offerings (7:37-38) and what you think is the purpose of each one. How did Christ fulfill each of these sacrifices? What does that mean to you? / The burnt offering was to symbolize total dedication to the Lord and was made for atonement for sin. The grain offerings were a grateful acknowledgement of God’s provision and were often given in addition to the other offerings. This showed the overflow of a grateful heart. The peace offerings were indicative of the restored relationship between the repentant sinner and God so they could sit down and have dinner together. The sin offering was the means of receiving forgiveness for sin against God and thus would be eaten by the priests to symbolize God’s acceptance of the sacrifice. The guilt offering would be given to admit the need for making right damages that had been done to another. Thus, restitution was involved in this sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice was like the burnt offering in that He completely gave Himself for us and atoned for our sin. He is our provision as the grain offering portrays and His sacrifice was the overflow of His heart of love for the Father. He is our peace, our means for fellowship with the Father, like the peace offering, and He is our sin offering, paying the penalty for our sin and being accepted by God fully. Finally, He is our guilt offering – there was a price to be paid and He did that for us. He has made restitution for us with the Father and one another by His blood. It is a wonderful fact that in one sacrifice that Jesus offered, Himself, we receive all of these benefits. All glory to Him.