The word “Leviticus” comes from a Latin word that is based on a Greek word which means “the law of the priests.” The book of Leviticus includes the sacrificial system as given by God. It teaches men how they are to approach God to seek for His forgiveness of sins. The sacrifices are a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Perfect Sacrifice when He came and died on the cross for the remission of our sins. Although the sacrifices do not apply to us today, the principles and purposes of them are still very applicable in our walk with God.

Leviticus chapter 1 describes the elaborate process of offering the burnt offering. The term “burnt offering” means to ascend to God in heaven in a smoke. The worshipper is to offer it voluntarily at the altar by sacrificing a male animal (either ox, sheep, goat, turtledove or young pigeon) that is without blemish. The worshipper’s killing of the animal is a deliberate act that allows the worshipper to identify with the suffering and death of the sacrificial animal for the atonement of his own sins. It is not to be carried out ritualistically.

The purpose of the burnt offering is for the worshipper to make an atonement (i.e. to wipe clean) his guilt and sin. It carries the notion of paying a ransom for one’s debt. This demonstrates God’s mercy because God has wiped clean our debt of sin which we can never repay. However, the burnt offering through animal sacrifice is only a temporary means of atonement, which must be done repeatedly (Heb 10:4).

The Lord Jesus Christ, being the Perfect Lamb of God, is a once-for-all, permanent burnt offering for our sins. Jesus Christ is the propitiation of our sins; and the shedding of His blood and His death on the cross had paid the ransom for our sin. As such, God’s wrath upon man’s sin is appeased and He accepts us as His children because of Christ.

Even though the burnt offering as described in Leviticus is no longer applicable to us today, its significance must not be lost. We must identify with the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for the atonement of our sins. It must be what Christ has done for us that we must pull ourselves away from sinning against God. We receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour not just because we want to go to heaven. Our sins have caused His death. We must hate sin and not let sin dwell in our lives. When we fall short and sin against God, we must quickly confess, seek His forgiveness and repent of our sin, so that we may return to worship Him in holiness and in truth.