Sacrifices

Any sacrifice not offered with sincerity of heart and with an accompanying change of life was repugnant.
Each part of the animal’s body was in similitude for various aspects of a person’s life:
A. The head - a person’s thought
B. The legs - a person’s walk
C. The inwards - a person’s feelings and affections of the heart
D. The fat - general health and condition of the whole person.
The leg became the peace offering and was presented to the priest for his service. The breast became a wave offering unto G-d. In addition to the breast, wheat cakes made with oil and salt but without leaven were also waved before G-d and transferred to the priest. The remaining portions were taken by the offerer to his home as part of a feast.
Salt represented the lasting nature of the covenant. Oil was a symbol of the Holy Ghost. Frankincense suggested prayer and fervency of supplication.
The earliest sacrifices and offerings were a form of prayer and when the Temple was destroyed. Prayer replaced sacrifice as an incense going up to G-d. (Ps. 141:2)
The common elements in the ordinance of sacrifices were:
A. A sacrifice
B. An offerer killed and skinned the sacrifice.
C. The place of offering
D. The laying on of hands to impart
E. A priest - pure of heart and clean of hands
F. The salt - purifying the covenant
G. The fire - to purify and refine
H. The blood - symbolizes life, dabbed upon the horns, sprinkled on the sides of the altar and poured at the foot of the altar.
There were two types of sacrifice: burnt offerings and slain offerings. The slain offering was designed to represent the living fellowship of communion with G-d.
There were two categories of offerings:
1. The voluntary offering - burnt, peace, meat or cereal
2. The obligatory offering - sin and trespass.
If obligatory, the offerer placed his hand upon the animal’s head, with a confession of his sin. If voluntary, it symbolized the transferal of the feelings of his heart which impelled him to bring this gift to the L-rd.
To G-d, the voluntary offerings are the more pleasing but the obligatory offering must prepare the way.