Leviticus 1:1-17
Bring the Offering
1Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,
2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.
3If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.
4He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
5And he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to present the blood and splatter it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
6Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.
7The sons of Aaron the priest shall put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8Then Aaron’s sons the priests are to arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, atop the burning wood on the altar.
9The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
10If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male.
11He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to splatter its blood against the altar on all sides.
12He is to cut the animal into pieces, and the priest shall arrange them, including the head and fat, atop the burning wood that is on the altar.
13The entrails and legs must be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
14If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
15Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar.
16And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes.
17He shall tear it open by its wings, without dividing the bird completely. And the priest is to burn it on the altar atop the burning wood. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD calls to Moses from the Tent of Meeting and gives instructions for anyone who brings an offering. The offering may come from the herd, the flock, or the birds. The person's resources differ, but each offering is brought before the LORD at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
For an offering from the herd, the animal must be a male without blemish. The worshiper lays a hand on its head, and it is accepted to make atonement. The animal is slaughtered, and the priests present its blood and arrange its parts on the altar.
The offering is washed and completely burned on the altar. The smoke is described as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. This is not a casual gift tossed toward God; the instructions involve a sound animal, a deliberate presentation, and the priestly work of drawing near.
The flock offering follows the same basic pattern, and a bird is offered when that is what the worshiper can bring. The size of the gift changes, but the invitation is not limited to the wealthy. Worship is ordered, costly, and open to the person who comes with what he or she has.
Questions
1 Where did the LORD speak to Moses?
AnswerThe LORD spoke to Moses from the Tent of Meeting, the place where His presence met Israel's worship.
2 What condition did a herd animal need to meet?
AnswerThe herd animal had to be a male without blemish before it could be offered.
3 What did the worshiper do with the animal's head?
AnswerThe worshiper laid a hand on its head before the animal was slaughtered and offered.
4 What kinds of animals could be brought?
AnswerA worshiper could bring an animal from the herd, a sheep or goat from the flock, or a bird.
What This Means for Us
Leviticus begins with God speaking from the place of worship and making a way for ordinary Israelites to come. The offering is not a purchase that controls God; it is an obedient response within the relationship He has established.
The burnt offering teaches that approach to the holy God requires atonement, but its repeated sacrifices could not finish the work. Hebrews 10:1-14 directs us to Christ’s once-for-all offering, which gives the household confidence to draw near through Him.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to approach you with reverence and sincerity. Keep us from treating worship as a performance or a purchase, and help us offer our lives to you with gratitude. Amen.