Leviticus 3: Types Of Sacrifices

You may have picked up by now that there are several different kinds of sacrifices described in the opening chapters of Leviticus.  Here are the five types and what they signify:

• Burnt Offering: This is the most extravagant gift offering to God, because the entirety of the animal is burnt upon the altar.  The animal may be a bull, sheep, goat, dove or pigeon.

• Grain Offering: An offering of fine flour or unleavened baked products with oil.  A portion was burned completely with incense, while the rest went to the priests.

• Fellowship Offering (aka Sacrifice of Well-Being): Could be a herd or flock animal with the inner portions burned in the fire while the rest was eaten, divided between the priests and the worshiper.  

• Sin Offering (aka Purification Offering): Dealt with a disruption in the relationship between human beings and God.  The acceptable offering depended upon the person making it.  The chief priest had to bring a bull, while regular Israelites brought a female goat or lamb.  The poor could bring birds, and the very poor could bring a grain offering.  Organs were burned, while the priests could eat the rest.

• Guilt Offering: Involved distinct categories of wrongdoing.  The animal was to be from the flock and while the inner portions were burned, the rest could be eaten by the priests.

What do you think the sacrificial system taught the Israelites through the regular slaughter of offered animals?