Sacrificial passages can be some of the most challenging sections of Scripture to understand and apply. Rather than simply telling you what these sacrifices mean, this study tip focuses on equipping you with questions that will help you investigate and discover their significance for yourself.
“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.” – Leviticus 17:11
The Power of Investigative Questions
When you encounter a sacrifice in your Bible reading, begin with these six investigative questions:
- What type of sacrifice is described?
Is it identified as a burnt offering, sin offering, peace offering, grain offering, or something else? Each type had distinct purposes and procedures. - Who is performing the sacrifice?
Is it a priest, head of household, prophet, or someone else? The identity of the offerer often reveals important aspects of the sacrifice’s meaning. - What is being sacrificed?
Note the specific animal (lamb, bull, dove) or substance (grain, oil) and any requirements for it (without blemish, firstborn, etc.). - How is the sacrifice performed?
Pay attention to the specific actions, sequence, and any unusual elements. Does the offerer lay hands on the animal? Is blood sprinkled in a particular place? - Why is this sacrifice being offered?
Is it for sin, thanksgiving, covenant ratification, dedication, or another purpose? The motivation reveals the theological significance. - What happens to the sacrificial elements?
Is it completely burned, partially eaten, or disposed of in some other way? Who participates in any meal associated with it?
These questions help you observe the text carefully before jumping to interpretation or application.
Example: Applying These Questions
Let’s briefly apply these questions to the Passover sacrifice in Exodus 12:
- Type: A protective, commemorative sacrifice (later called the Passover)
- Who: The head of each Israelite household
- What: A year-old male lamb without blemish
- How: Killed at twilight, blood applied to doorposts and lintel
- Why: To protect the firstborn from the final plague and mark Israel’s deliverance
- What happens: The lamb is roasted and eaten completely by the household with bitter herbs and unleavened bread
By answering these basic questions, you’ve already gained significant insight into this sacrifice without being told what to think about it.
Moving from Observation to Meaning
After gathering these observations, you can begin to explore the sacrifice’s significance by asking:
- What does this sacrifice reveal about the relationship between God and people?
- What problem or need does this sacrifice address?
- How does this sacrifice connect to other sacrifices in Scripture?
- How might this sacrifice point to or be fulfilled in Christ?
The key is to let the text itself guide your understanding rather than immediately imposing preconceived interpretations.
Study Application
The next time you encounter a sacrificial passage in your Bible reading:
- Resist the urge to skim over it as irrelevant or too difficult
- Work through the six investigative questions
- Record your observations in a journal
- Look for connections to other sacrifices you’ve studied
- Consider how this sacrifice might illuminate Christ’s work
This approach transforms challenging sacrificial texts from confusing ancient rituals into windows that reveal God’s character and redemptive plan.
For practice: Choose one sacrifice from Scripture (perhaps Abraham’s offering of Isaac in Genesis 22, the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, or a peace offering in Leviticus 3). Apply the six questions above and see what you discover for yourself.