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 thoughts
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 peach 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 offered 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 the 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.
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 are two categories of offerings:
1. The voluntary offering - burnt, peace, meat or cereal. It is symbolized the transferal of the feelings of his heart which impelled him to bring this gift to the L-rd.
2. The obligatory offering - sin and trespass. The offerer placed his hand upon the animal’s head, with a confession of his sin.
To G-d, the voluntary offerings are the more pleasing but the obligatory offering must prepare the way.
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