What Is the Purpose of the Sacrifices and Offerings in Leviticus?
1. The Principle of Substitution and Atonement
At the heart of Leviticus lies the principle that sin brings guilt and death, but God provides a substitute to bear judgment in the sinner’s place. The sacrifices and offerings were appointed to deal with sin, remove defilement, and restore fellowship between God and his people.
Leviticus 17:11 expresses the foundation of this system: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” Blood symbolized life, and when shed, it served as a substitute for the life of the sinner. The worshiper laid hands on the animal, symbolically transferring guilt to the sacrifice (Lev. 1:4). In this way, the death of the animal represented the death the sinner deserved, and its blood secured atonement.
2. The Types of Sacrifices and Their Purposes
Leviticus outlines five major offerings, each with a distinct role in the life of Israel’s worship.
The Burnt Offering (Lev. 1) – A complete sacrifice consumed by fire, symbolizing total consecration to God. It expressed devotion and served as a general atonement for sin.
The Grain Offering (Lev. 2) – An offering of flour, oil, and frankincense, representing thanksgiving for God’s provision and dedication of daily life to him.
The Peace Offering (Lev. 3) – Shared as a meal between God, priest, and worshiper, symbolizing communion and fellowship with God.
The Sin Offering (Lev. 4) – Required when someone sinned unintentionally, designed to purge defilement from the sanctuary and maintain God’s holy presence among the people.
The Guilt Offering (Lev. 5–6) – Focused on offenses requiring restitution, emphasizing both forgiveness and the repair of relationships damaged by sin.
Together, these sacrifices addressed atonement, thanksgiving, communion, and purification. They demonstrated that every aspect of life—guilt, gratitude, fellowship, and holiness—was lived before God and required his provision of grace.
3. The Connection Between Sacrifice and Forgiveness
The book of Leviticus makes clear that the sacrifices were effective when offered in faith. Leviticus 4:20 states of the sin offering: “The priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.” This forgiveness was real but provisional. The sacrifices purified the sanctuary from defilement and secured God’s continued presence with his people.
Yet the system did not work automatically. Isaiah later rebukes Israel for offering sacrifices without true repentance, saying, “Bring no more vain offerings” (Isa. 1:13). The sacrificial system required faith and obedience; without the heart turned toward God, the rituals were empty.
This anticipates the Gospel, where faith in Christ’s sacrifice is the only means of forgiveness. Hebrews 10:4 reminds us that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The sacrifices pointed to something greater: the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.
4. The Symbolism of Blood and Purification
Blood was central to the sacrificial system because it symbolized life. Sprinkling blood on the altar, the veil, or the priest (Lev. 8:30; 16:15–19) signified cleansing and consecration. This ritual removed the impurity of sin that defiled God’s dwelling place.
Uncleanness and sin were not merely private matters but affected the entire community and the sanctuary. The sacrifices ensured that God’s presence could remain in the midst of Israel without consuming them in wrath. By dealing with defilement, the offerings preserved the holy order established by God.
This imagery culminates in Christ, whose blood cleanses not the earthly tabernacle but the conscience: “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14).
5. The Day of Atonement as the Climactic Sacrifice
The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 stands at the center of the sacrificial system. On this day, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people and the sanctuary itself. Two goats were used—one sacrificed, and one sent into the wilderness as the scapegoat, symbolically carrying away Israel’s sins.
This ritual highlighted both the gravity of sin and God’s provision for complete cleansing. It was a vivid picture of substitution, expiation, and reconciliation. The Day of Atonement prepared Israel to see the ultimate work of Christ, who entered “once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood” (Heb. 9:12).
6. The Fulfillment of Sacrifice in Christ
All the sacrifices of Leviticus pointed forward to the cross. Jesus is described as:
The burnt offering, wholly devoted to the Father’s will (John 4:34).
The grain offering, the bread of life given for the world (John 6:35).
The peace offering, reconciling us to God and creating fellowship at his table (Eph. 2:14–16).
The sin offering, made “to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
The guilt offering, prophesied in Isaiah 53:10, where the suffering servant bears iniquity and brings restitution.
In Christ, the shadow becomes substance. He offers a sacrifice that does not merely cover sin temporarily but removes it forever. Hebrews 10:12 says, “When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”
Conclusion
The sacrifices and offerings in Leviticus reveal God’s holiness, humanity’s sin, and the provision of atonement through substitution. They addressed real guilt, maintained the sanctity of God’s dwelling, and preserved fellowship between the Lord and his people.
Yet they were never ultimate. They pointed beyond themselves to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who fulfills every sacrifice by his death and resurrection. In him, forgiveness is complete, wrath is satisfied, and God’s people are made holy forever.
Leviticus teaches that sacrifice is the cost of sin, but it also proclaims the mercy of God who provides a substitute. This truth finds its fulfillment in the Gospel, where Christ offers himself once for all to bring his people into eternal fellowship with God.
Bible Verses about Sacrifices and Offerings
Leviticus 1:4 – “He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”
Leviticus 4:20 – “Thus the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.”
Leviticus 17:11 – “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls.”
Leviticus 16:30 – “For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.”
Isaiah 53:10 – “When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days.”
John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Romans 3:25 – “God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Hebrews 9:12 – “He entered once for all into the holy places… by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 10:12 – “When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”
