Leviticus Chapter 1

Leviticus 1 — “A Sweet-Smelling Offering: The Sacrifice That Prepares for Christ”

Genesis showed creation.
Exodus showed redemption from slavery.
Leviticus now shows how a redeemed people may dwell with a holy God.

Leviticus opens not with law, but with worship.

This chapter teaches one central truth:

Sinful man can approach a holy God only through sacrifice — a truth fulfilled perfectly in Christ.

1. God Speaks from the Tent of Meeting

“The LORD called Moses, and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.” (Lev 1:1)

God speaks not from Sinai’s thunder,
but from the Tabernacle’s mercy.

St Gregory the Great writes:

“God speaks from the place of sacrifice because reconciliation is the path of speech.”
(Homilies)

The Tabernacle stands between:

• heaven and earth
• God and man
• holiness and sin

It is a visible prophecy of Christ:

“He is the true tent which God pitched among men.” (cf. John 1:14)

The Law now teaches not escape from Egypt,
but how to live in God’s presence.

2. “When Any Man of You Brings an Offering”

“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man of you brings an offering…’” (v. 2)

Sacrifice is voluntary,
yet commanded.

St Augustine explains:

“God desires not the flesh of bulls but the obedience of hearts.”
(City of God)

The offering comes from the worshipper himself.

Typology:

The sinner must give what is his.
Christ gives what is His — His own body.

Human sacrifice foreshadows divine sacrifice.

3. The Burnt Offering from the Herd

“If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish.” (v. 3)

The victim must be:

• male
• without blemish
• freely given

St Ambrose writes:

“The spotless victim prefigures the sinless Christ.”
(On the Mysteries)

Christ alone fulfills this:

“a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19)

The altar becomes a shadow of Calvary.

4. “He Shall Lay His Hand on the Head”

“He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering.” (v. 4)

This is substitution.

St Augustine teaches:

“The sinner places his guilt upon the victim, confessing his need of mercy.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Sin is transferred to the victim.
Christ bears the sins of the world.

The gesture preaches:

I deserve death —
this dies for me.

5. “It Shall Be Accepted for Him”

(v. 4)

God accepts the substitute
in place of the sinner.

St Gregory the Great says:

“The blood of the innocent shields the guilty.”
(Homilies)

Christ fulfills this completely:

“He was made sin for us.” (2 Cor 5:21)

The burnt offering teaches justification before it is named.

6. The Slaughter Before the LORD

“He shall kill the bull before the LORD.” (v. 5)

The worshipper kills the sacrifice.

St Jerome remarks:

“He who sinned must acknowledge death as the price of sin.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Human sin kills Christ.
Divine love accepts the death.

The Cross is both crime and sacrifice.

7. The Sprinkling of Blood

“And Aaron’s sons shall throw the blood against the altar.” (v. 5)

Blood means life.

St Augustine writes:

“Life is offered for life.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Blood marks the altar.
Christ’s blood marks the Cross.

As Israel was saved by blood on doorposts,
so the Church is saved by blood on the wood.

8. The Victim Cut in Pieces

“He shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.” (v. 6)

The sacrifice is exposed and divided.

St Ambrose teaches:

“The body is laid bare that nothing may remain hidden.”
(On Repentance)

Typology:

Christ’s body is torn by scourging.
His garments are divided by soldiers.

What was whole
is broken for sinners.

9. The Fire from God

“The sons of Aaron shall put fire on the altar.” (v. 7)

Fire represents:

• divine judgment
• divine acceptance

St Gregory the Great writes:

“Fire consumes sin and lifts the offering heavenward.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

The Cross burns with divine justice.
The Resurrection reveals divine acceptance.

10. A Whole Burnt Offering

“The priest shall burn all of it on the altar.” (v. 9)

Nothing is kept back.

St Augustine says:

“True sacrifice holds nothing for itself.”
(City of God)

Typology:

Christ gives all.
No part is spared.
No pain is avoided.

Total surrender becomes salvation.

11. “A Pleasing Odor to the LORD”

(v. 9)

God delights not in death
but in obedience.

St Paul echoes this:

“Christ loved us and gave Himself… a fragrant offering.” (Eph 5:2)

The smell rising upward
signifies reconciliation.

Heaven receives
what earth destroys.

12. The Offering of Sheep or Goats

(vv. 10–13)

God accepts smaller sacrifices.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“The poor are not excluded from worship.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Christ is offered for rich and poor alike.
Salvation is not priced by wealth.

Grace measures hearts,
not cattle.

13. The Offering of Birds

(vv. 14–17)

Even birds may be offered.

St Jerome comments:

“The poorest man may give what he has.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Christ is poor with the poor.
Redemption stoops to the lowliest.

The small victim still dies,
teaching the same truth:

Without blood
there is no approach to God.

14. The Meaning of the Burnt Offering

The burnt offering differs from others:

• it is wholly consumed
• it is not eaten
• it rises entirely to God

St Augustine writes:

“This is the sacrifice of total devotion.”
(City of God)

Typology:

Christ is wholly given to the Father.
The Cross is perfect obedience.

The Church is called to become what she offers.

15. Christ and the Burnt Offering

Christ fulfills Leviticus 1 as:

• the spotless victim
• the voluntary sacrifice
• the substitute for sinners
• the blood poured out
• the fire-consumed offering
• the pleasing odor to the Father

St Leo the Great teaches:

“All sacrifices find their end in the one sacrifice of Christ.”
(Sermon)

Leviticus does not point to ritual —
it points to Calvary.

16. The Church and the Burnt Offering

In Christ, the Church becomes:

• priestly
• sacrificial
• consecrated

St Paul writes:

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” (Rom 12:1)

We no longer offer animals.
We offer ourselves in Christ.

17. Spiritual Application

Approach God through sacrifice, not pride.

See Christ in every altar.

Understand the cost of sin.

Trust the blood of the Lamb.

Offer yourself without reserve.

Do not give God leftovers.

Let your life rise as a pleasing offering.

Christ in Leviticus 1

Jesus is:

• the spotless Lamb
• the willing Victim
• the Bearer of sin
• the true Burnt Offering
• the Blood of atonement
• the Fragrant Sacrifice
• the Way into God’s presence

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
true Lamb and perfect Offering,
You gave Yourself without blemish
upon the altar of the Cross
for the sins of the world.

Teach us to approach the Father
through Your sacrifice alone.
Cleanse us by Your blood,
consume us by Your love,
and make our lives a living offering
pleasing in His sight.

May we hold nothing back from You,
as You held nothing back from us,
until the day when sacrifice gives way to glory
and we behold You
our Priest, our Victim, and our God
forever and ever.

Amen.