Sacrifices series Archives

STT: Sacrifices: Connection

In our previous study tips, we’ve explored how to analyze individual sacrifices, compare different types of sacrifices, and trace sacrificial themes through Scripture. Today, we’ll examine how to connect Old Testament sacrificial concepts specifically to Christ’s redemptive work, seeing how He fulfills and transforms these ancient practices.

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:4, 10

The New Testament’s Interpretive Key

The New Testament provides the authoritative interpretation of Old Testament sacrifices, revealing that they were always pointing toward Christ. As Jesus himself said, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).

Five Connections Between Old Testament Sacrifices and Christ

When studying Old Testament sacrifices, look for these five specific connections to Christ’s work:

1. Substitution: The One for the Many

Old Testament Pattern:

The offerer laid hands on the animal’s head, symbolically transferring guilt (Leviticus 1:4)
The animal died in place of the sinner
The innocent bore the punishment deserved by the guilty

Fulfillment in Christ:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6)

Study Question: How does Isaiah 53:4-6 connect this substitutionary concept to the coming Messiah?

2. Blood Atonement: Life Given for Life

Old Testament Pattern:

“The life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11)
Blood was applied to the altar, sprinkled before the veil, or placed on the mercy seat
Blood represented life given to cover sin

Fulfillment in Christ:

“In him we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7)
“The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:11-14 contrast the effectiveness of animal blood with Christ’s blood?

3. Perfect Offering: Without Blemish

Old Testament Pattern:

Sacrificial animals had to be “without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3, 3:1, 4:3)
Any physical defect disqualified an animal for sacrifice
This requirement emphasized the need for perfection in approaching God

Fulfillment in Christ:

Christ was “a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19)
He was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26)
He “offered himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14)

Study Question: How does the requirement for unblemished sacrifices illuminate the necessity of Christ’s sinless life?

4. Comprehensive Coverage: The Complete Sacrifice

Old Testament Pattern:

Different sacrifices addressed different aspects of sin and relationship with God
The Day of Atonement provided annual comprehensive cleansing
Sacrifices needed constant repetition, showing their incompleteness

Fulfillment in Christ:

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14)
His sacrifice was “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10)
His work addresses all aspects of our alienation from God

Study Question: According to Hebrews 10:1-14, why were repeated sacrifices necessary under the old covenant, and how does Christ’s sacrifice differ?

5. Covenant Establishment: Blood of the New Covenant

Old Testament Pattern:

Covenants were ratified with sacrificial blood (Genesis 15:9-18)
Moses sprinkled “the blood of the covenant” on the people (Exodus 24:8)
Blood sealed the agreement between God and His people

Fulfillment in Christ:

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24)
Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15)
His blood establishes a “better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:15-22 explain the necessity of blood for covenant establishment?

Study Method: Typological Interpretation

To connect Old Testament sacrifices to Christ, practice typological interpretation:

Identify the original meaning of the sacrifice in its Old Testament context
Look for New Testament connections where this sacrifice is explicitly linked to Christ
Note both similarities and differences between the type (OT sacrifice) and antitype (Christ)
Recognize escalation – Christ always fulfills and exceeds the Old Testament type
Avoid forced connections – focus on connections the New Testament itself makes

Example: The Day of Atonement and Christ

Let’s apply this method to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16):

Original Context:

Annual ceremony for comprehensive cleansing of priest, people, and sanctuary
Involved two goats: one sacrificed, one sent away bearing sins (the scapegoat)
Only time the high priest entered the Most Holy Place
Provided temporary atonement for all types of sin

New Testament Connections:

Hebrews 9-10 explicitly connects this ceremony to Christ’s work
Christ is both the sacrifice and the high priest who offers it
He enters not an earthly sanctuary but heaven itself
His blood provides eternal rather than annual redemption

Similarities and Differences:

Similar: Blood is required for atonement in both
Similar: Both address comprehensive cleansing from sin
Different: Christ’s sacrifice happens once, not annually
Different: Christ’s priesthood is permanent, not hereditary

Escalation:

From temporary to eternal atonement
From repeated to once-for-all sacrifice
From symbolic to actual removal of sin
From restricted access to God to bold approach to the throne of grace

Moving from Connection to Application

After identifying these connections, ask these application questions:

How does seeing Christ as the fulfillment of this sacrifice deepen my appreciation of His work?
What aspects of Christ’s sacrifice might I have overlooked without this Old Testament background?
How does this connection help me understand both the continuity and discontinuity between the covenants?
What response should this understanding produce in my worship and daily life?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one Old Testament sacrifice or ceremony
Study it carefully in its original context
Search for New Testament passages that connect it to Christ
Identify similarities, differences, and escalation
Consider how this enriches your understanding of Christ’s work

This approach transforms ancient sacrificial rituals from obscure historical practices into vibrant pictures that illuminate the person and work of Christ.

For reflection: How does understanding Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system affect your appreciation of communion/the Lord’s Supper? How might this understanding deepen your next experience of this memorial?

STT: Sacrifices: Themes

By Paula Wiseman

In our previous study tips, we explored how to analyze individual sacrifices and compare different types of sacrifices. Today, we’ll learn how to trace sacrificial themes through the entire biblical narrative, seeing how they develop and find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:2

The Power of Progressive Revelation

Sacrifice in Scripture isn’t static—it develops and deepens through progressive revelation. By tracing sacrificial themes from Genesis to Revelation, we discover:

How early sacrificial concepts laid foundations for later understanding
How the prophets reinterpreted and critiqued sacrificial practices
How Christ fulfilled and transformed sacrificial imagery
How the New Testament church applied sacrificial language to Christian living

Four Key Stages in Sacrificial Development

When tracing sacrificial themes, look for these four major developmental stages:

1. Patriarchal Sacrifices (Genesis)

The earliest sacrifices appear before the Mosaic Law was given:

Abel’s acceptable offering (Genesis 4:4)
Noah’s post-flood sacrifice (Genesis 8:20-21)
Abraham’s various altars and offerings (Genesis 12:7, 13:18, 22:1-19)
Jacob’s sacrifices at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-7)

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifices mark significant encounters with God
They often establish or renew covenant relationships
They’re relatively simple, without elaborate regulations
They frequently connect to promises of blessing

2. Levitical Sacrificial System (Exodus through Deuteronomy)

The Mosaic Law established a comprehensive sacrificial system:

Five main offerings (burnt, grain, peace, sin, guilt)
Annual festivals with prescribed sacrifices
Detailed regulations for priests and offerings
The tabernacle/temple as the central location for sacrifice

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifice becomes systematized and regulated
Different offerings address different spiritual needs
Blood becomes explicitly connected to atonement (Leviticus 17:11)
Sacrifice is integrated into Israel’s covenant identity

3. Prophetic Critique and Reinterpretation (Prophets)

The prophets addressed misunderstandings and abuses of sacrifice:

Samuel: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Isaiah: “I have had enough of burnt offerings” (Isaiah 1:11-17)
Hosea: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6)
Micah: “What does the LORD require of you?” (Micah 6:6-8)
Psalm 51: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Key observations at this stage:

Prophets challenge ritualism without moral obedience
Internal heart attitudes are emphasized over external ritual
Sacrifice is placed within broader covenant faithfulness
Spiritual sacrifice begins to complement physical sacrifice

4. Fulfillment and Transformation in Christ (New Testament)

Christ and the apostles reframe sacrifice around Jesus’ work:

John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29)
Jesus: “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28)
Hebrews: Christ as both priest and sacrifice (Hebrews 9-10)
Paul: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Peter: “You yourselves… are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5)

Key observations at this stage:

Christ fulfills and supersedes the entire sacrificial system
His once-for-all sacrifice ends the need for repeated offerings
Believers now offer “spiritual sacrifices” rather than animal sacrifices
Sacrificial language is applied to Christian living (Romans 12:1)

Example: Tracing the Passover Theme

Let’s briefly trace one sacrificial theme—the Passover—through Scripture:

Patriarchal Period:

No direct Passover, but the concept of substitutionary protection appears in Abraham’s ram (Genesis 22)

Mosaic Period:

Established in Exodus 12 as a memorial of deliverance from Egypt
Codified in Leviticus 23:5-8 as an annual festival
Centralized at the temple in Deuteronomy 16:1-8

Prophetic Period:

Ezekiel envisions a restored Passover in the future temple (Ezekiel 45:21-24)
Passover observance marks spiritual renewal under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30) and Josiah (2 Kings 23:21-23)

New Testament Fulfillment:

Jesus celebrates Passover with disciples and reinterprets its elements (Luke 22:14-20)
Paul identifies Christ as “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Revelation depicts the “Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12)

This progression reveals how a single sacrificial theme develops from historical event to prophetic hope to ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Study Method: Creating a Sacrificial Timeline

A helpful way to trace sacrificial themes is to create a timeline:

Choose a specific sacrifice or sacrificial theme (e.g., lamb imagery, blood, altar)
Identify key passages where this theme appears throughout Scripture
Arrange these chronologically on a timeline
Note how the theme develops, expands, or transforms at each stage
Look for the culmination of this theme in Christ and the New Testament

Moving from Timeline to Theology

After creating your sacrificial timeline, ask these interpretive questions:

What remains consistent about this sacrificial theme throughout Scripture?
How does understanding the early stages help illuminate later developments?
What new dimensions are added at each stage of revelation?
How does Christ fulfill and transform this sacrificial concept?
How might this theme apply to Christian living today?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one sacrificial theme that interests you (lamb, blood, altar, etc.)
Use a concordance or Bible software to find key passages
Create a simple timeline showing how the theme develops
Note significant transformations or reinterpretations
Consider how Christ represents the culmination of this theme

This approach transforms scattered sacrificial references into a coherent story of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

For practice: Trace the theme of “lamb” from Abel’s offering through Abraham’s ram, the Passover lamb, Isaiah’s suffering servant, to John’s declaration of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and Revelation’s “Lamb who was slain.” How does this progression deepen your understanding of Christ’s sacrifice?

STT: Sacrifices: Patterns

By Paula Wiseman

Last week, we explored how asking key investigative questions can help us understand individual sacrifices in Scripture. Today, we’ll take our study deeper by learning how to compare different types of sacrifices to discover patterns and distinctions that reveal their theological significance.

The Power of Comparative Study

When we study sacrifices in isolation, we miss important insights that come from seeing how they relate to each other. Comparative study helps us:

Identify what makes each sacrifice unique
Recognize common elements that appear across different sacrifices
Understand the comprehensive nature of Israel’s sacrificial system
See how different aspects of Christ’s work are foreshadowed

Creating a Sacrifice Comparison Chart

A simple but powerful study method is to create a comparison chart. Here’s how:

Draw a chart with different sacrifices across the top
List characteristics to compare down the left side
Fill in the chart as you study each sacrifice
Look for patterns, contrasts, and unique elements

Here’s a simplified example focusing on the five main Levitical offerings:

Characteristic	Burnt Offering	Grain Offering	Peace Offering	Sin Offering	Guilt Offering
Scripture	Lev 1:1-17	Lev 2:1-16	Lev 3:1-17	Lev 4:1-5:13	Lev 5:14-6:7
Purpose	Atonement/Dedication	Thanksgiving/Devotion	Fellowship/Communion	Purification from sin	Restitution for specific sins
What was offered	Bull, ram, male bird	Grain, oil, incense	Male or female animal	Varies by offerer’s status	Ram plus restitution
Blood handling	Sprinkled on altar	No blood	Sprinkled on altar	Varies by offense	Sprinkled on altar
Consumed by	Entirely burned	Portion to priests	Shared between God, priests, offerer	Varies by offense	Priests
Distinctive feature	Total consumption	Bloodless	Only sacrifice eaten by offerer	Blood application varies	Required restitution plus 20%

What Patterns Emerge?

As you fill in your chart, look for these types of patterns:

Gradation of Holiness

Notice how the handling of blood becomes more elaborate as the seriousness of sin increases
In sin offerings for the high priest or whole congregation, blood is brought into the Holy Place
This pattern reveals the relationship between holiness, sin, and purification

Community Participation

Some sacrifices are consumed entirely by fire (burnt offerings)
Others are shared between God (the altar), priests, and the offerer (peace offerings)
This pattern reveals different aspects of relationship with God—total dedication versus communion

Economic Accommodation

Many sacrifices provide options based on economic status (bull, sheep, birds)
This pattern reveals God’s concern that all people have access to atonement
No one is excluded from worship due to poverty

Example: Comparing Sin and Guilt Offerings

Let’s briefly apply this comparative method to sin and guilt offerings:

Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1-5:13):

Addresses sins committed unintentionally
Sacrifice varies according to the offerer’s status (priest, leader, common person)
Blood application varies by the offerer’s status
Focus is on purification from defilement

Guilt Offering (Leviticus 5:14-6:7):

Addresses specific sins requiring restitution
Always requires a ram regardless of status
Includes 20% compensation to wronged parties
Focus is on reparation and restoration

By comparing these two offerings, we discover that Scripture distinguishes between the need for purification (sin offering) and the need for restitution (guilt offering)—both aspects of dealing with sin that find fulfillment in Christ’s work.

Moving from Comparison to Meaning

After creating your comparison chart, ask these interpretive questions:

What does the variety of sacrifices suggest about the complexity of sin and restoration?
How do these different sacrifices address different aspects of our relationship with God?
What do these distinctions reveal about God’s character and concerns?
How might these different sacrifices illuminate various aspects of Christ’s redemptive work?

Study Application

To apply this comparative method in your own study:

Choose 2-3 sacrifices to compare initially (don’t try to tackle the entire system at once)
Create a simple chart with key characteristics to compare
Fill in your observations directly from Scripture
Look for patterns and distinctions
Consider how these patterns might point to Christ

This approach transforms complex sacrificial texts from confusing ancient rituals into a coherent system that reveals God’s holiness, mercy, and redemptive plan.

For practice: Compare the Passover sacrifice (Exodus 12) with the Day of Atonement sacrifices (Leviticus 16). What similarities and differences do you notice? What might these tell you about their respective purposes in God’s redemptive plan?

STT: Sacrifices: Investigation

By Paula Wiseman

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.