Leviticus

1611 King James Version (KJV)

 

Leviticus
Chapter 1

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1 And the Lord called vnto Moses, and spake vnto him out of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, saying,

2 Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them, If any man of you bring an offering vnto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattell, euen of the herd, and of the flocke.

3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his owne voluntary will, at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the Lord.

4 And he shall put his hand vpon the head of the burnt offering: and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

5 And he shall kill the bullocke before the Lord: and the Priests Aarons sonnes shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about vpon the altar, that is by the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

6 And hee shall slay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.

7 And the sonnes of Aaron the Priest shall put fire vpon the Altar, and lay the wood in order vpon the fire.

8 And the Priests Aarons sonnes shall lay the parts, the head and the fat in order vpon the wood that is in the fire which is vpon the altar.

9 But the inwards and his legges shall he wash in water, and the Priest shall burne all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet sauour vnto the Lord.

10 ¶ And if his offring be of the flocks, namely of the sheepe, or of the goates for a burnt sacrifice, he shall bring it a male without blemish.

11 And hee shall kill it on the side of the Altar Northward, before the Lord: and the Priestes Aarons sonnes shall sprinkle his blood round about vpon 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 vpon the altar:

13 But hee shall wash the inwards and the legs with water, and the Priest shall bring it all, and burne it vpon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet sauour vnto the Lord.

14 ¶ And if the burnt sacrifice for his offring to the Lord be of foules, then he shall bring his offering of turtle doues, or of yong pigeons.

15 And the Priest shall bring it vnto the altar, and wring off his head, and burne it on the altar: and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar.

16 And he shall plucke away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the East part, by the place of the ashes.

17 And hee shall cleane it with the wings thereof, but shall not diuide it asunder: And the Priest shall burne it vpon the altar, vpon the wood that is vpon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire of a sweet sauour vnto the Lord.

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Commentary for Leviticus 1

God ordained divers kinds of oblations and sacrifices, to assure his people of the forgiveness of their offences, if they offered them in true faith and obedience. Also he appointed the priests and Levites, their apparel, offices, conduct, and portion. He showed what feasts they should observe, and at what times. He declared by these sacrifices and ceremonies, that the reward of sin is death, and that without the blood of Christ, the innocent Lamb of God, there can be no forgiveness of sins.The offerings. (1,2) From the herds. (3-9) From the flocks, and of fowls. (10-17)1,2 The offering of sacrifices was an ordinance of true religion, from the fall of man unto the coming of Christ. But till the Israelites were in the wilderness, no very particular regulations seem to have been appointed. The general design of these laws is plain. The sacrifices typified Christ; they also shadowed out the believer's duty, character, privilege, and communion with God. There is scarcely any thing spoken of the Lord Jesus in Scripture which has not also a reference to his people. This book begins with the laws concerning sacrifices; the most ancient were the burnt-offerings, about which God here gives Moses directions. It is taken for granted that the people would be willing to bring offerings to the Lord. The very light of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour to his Maker, as his Lord. Immediately after the fall, sacrifices were ordained.

3-9 In the due performance of the Levitical ordinances, the mysteries of the spiritual world are represented by corresponding natural objects; and future events are exhibited in these rites. Without this, the whole will seem unmeaning ceremonies. There is in these things a type of the sufferings of the Son of God, who was to be a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world? The burning body of an animal was but a faint representation of that everlasting misery, which we all have deserved; and which our blessed Lord bore in his body and in his soul, when he died under the load of our iniquities. Observe, 1. The beast to be offered must be without blemish. This signified the strength and purity that were in Christ, and the holy life that should be in his people. 2. The owner must offer it of his own free will. What is done in religion, so as to please God, must be done by love. Christ willingly offered himself for us. 3. It must be offered at the door of the tabernacle, where the brazen altar of burnt-offerings stood, which sanctified the gift: he must offer it at the door, as one unworthy to enter, and acknowledging that a sinner can have no communion with God, but by sacrifice. 4. The offerer must put his hand upon the head of his offering, signifying thereby, his desire and hope that it might be accepted from him, to make atonement for him. 5. The sacrifice was to be killed before the Lord, in an orderly manner, and to honour God. It signified also, that in Christians the flesh must be crucified with its corrupt affections and lust. 6. The priests were to sprinkle the blood upon the altar; for the blood being the life, that was it which made atonement. This signified the pacifying and purifying of our consciences, by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ upon them by faith. 7. The beast was to be divided into several pieces, and then to be burned upon the altar. The burning of the sacrifice signified the sharp sufferings of Christ, and the devout affections with which, as a holy fire, Christians must offer up themselves, their whole spirit, soul, and body, unto God. 8. This is said to be an offering of a sweet savour. As an act of obedience to a Divine command, and a type of Christ, this was well-pleasing to God; and the spiritual sacrifices of Christians are acceptable to God, through Christ, #1Pe 2:5|.

10-17 Those who could not offer a bullock, were to bring a sheep or a goat; and those who were not able to do that, were accepted of God, if they brought a turtle-dove, or a pigeon. Those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were mild, and gentle, and harmless; to show the innocence and meekness that were in Christ, and that should be in Christians. The offering of the poor was as typical of Christ's atonement as the more costly sacrifices, and expressed as fully repentance, faith, and devotedness to God. We have no excuse, if we refuse the pleasant and reasonable service now required. But we can no more offer the sacrifice of a broken heart, or of praise and thanksgiving, than an Israelite could offer a bullock or a goat, except as God hath first given to us. The more we do in the Lord's service, the greater are our obligations to him, for the will, for the ability, and opportunity. In many things God leaves us to fix what shall be spent in his service, whether of our time or our substance; yet where God's providence has put much into a man's power, scanty offerings will not be accepted, for they are not proper expressions of a willing mind. Let us be devoted in body and soul to his service, whatever he may call us to give, venture, do, or suffer for his sake.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

Discussion for Leviticus 1

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