SACRIFICES UNDER THE LAW  
.....   .....
 

 
 Some General Notes:

FIVE EXPRESSIONS THROUGH SACRIFICE:

BURNT OFFERING ... Commitment to God
MEAT OFFERING ... Gratitude / Acknowledgement that all you have is from God
PEACE OFFERING ... The direction of your life is acceptable to God
SIN OFFERING ... Forgiveness for human weakness and mistakes
TRESPASS OFFERING ... Forgiveness for specific sins

SACRIFICES ARE TO BE:

VOLUNTARY … Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 19:5
UNLEAVENED … Leviticus 2:4-5
FIRSTFRUITS / FIRSTBORN … Exodus 23:19; Deuteronomy 15:21
WITHOUT BLEMISH … Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:1-3, 10; Leviticus 3:1, 6; Leviticus 22:19-25; Numbers 28: 19, 31; Numbers 29: 2, 8, 17, 26, 36; Deuteronomy 15:21

ATONEMENT thru BLOOD SACRIFICES … Leviticus 4-6; Leviticus 16:1-28; Leviticus 17:11; Numbers 15:25-29; Numbers 28:22

 		 
  NAME OF THE ORDINANCE AND TYPE OF OFFERING EMBLEMATIC OBJECTS USED FOR THE ORDINANCE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE WHEN ADMINISTERED  
 


BURNT OFFERING

Leviticus 1
Leviticus 6:9-13
This is another name for the ordinance of sacrifice practiced by the patriarchs from Adam down to Israel.

Male animal without blemish Exodus 12:5
Leviticus 1:3; 22:18-25
Numbers 28:3-4
Deuteronomy 15:21; 17:1

The animal was to be a firstborn
Genesis 4:4
Exodus 13:12
Leviticus 27:26
Numbers 3:41; 18:17 Deuteronomy 12:6; 15:19-21

The animal used varied according to the position and personal possessions of the individual, as well as the occasion of the sacrifice: bull, ram, he-goat, turtledoves, or young pigeons
Gen. 15:9
 Leviticus 1:5, 10, 14; 5:7

 Leviticus 1:4: "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." PUBLIC OFFERINGS
Regularly appointed times:
Daily-morning and evening Exodus 29:38-42
Numbers 28:3-4
Sabbath - double portion given Numbers 28:9-10
New Moon-monthly
Numbers 28:11-15
Seasonally appointed times:
Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread Feast of the Harvest, Feast of the Tabernacles New Year, and the Day of Atonement		  
..... PRIVATE OFFERINGS
Given for family events-birth, marriage, reunions, etc., and at times of personal need. Most often, private or individual offerings were given during the times of appointed feasts.		 .....
 


PEACE OFFERING

Leviticus 3
Leviticus 7:11-38

Male or female animal without blemish (Leviticus 3:1, 12) and cattle, sheep, or goats, but no fowl or other substitutes (Leviticus 22:27). The animal was to be meat for a sacrificial meal. The fat and inward portions were burned upon the altar (Leviticus 3:3-5), a specified part was given to the priests (see Heave and Wave Offerings below),
and the remainder was used for meat in the special dinner (Leviticus 7:16)

The threefold purpose of peace offerings is suggested in the following titles or descriptions given.

THANK OFFERING
is given to thank God for all blessings
Leviticus 7:12-13, 15, 22:29

VOW OFFERING
signifies the taking or renewing of a vow or covenant
Leviticus 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23
Numbers 15:3, 8; 29:39
Deuteronomy 12:6

FREE-WILL OFFERING
suggests voluntary receiving of covenants with attendant responsibilities and consequences
Leviticus 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23
Numbers 15:3; 29:39
Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; 16:10; 23:23

An individual could seemingly give the offering for any of the above declared purposes separately or together

 These were only private offerings (as outlined above) or a personal sacrifice for family or individuals.  
 


SIN
OFFERING

Leviticus 4
Leviticus 5:1-13
Leviticus 6:25-30

Male or female animal or fowl without blemish. The offering to the position and circumstances of the offerer:

the priest offered a bull
Leviticus 4:3
Numbers 8:8

...the ruler among the people a he-goat
Leviticus 4:22-23

...the people in general a she-goat
Leviticus 4:27-28

...the poor two turtledoves or two young pigeons
Leviticus 5:7

...and those of extreme poverty an offering of fowl or meal
Leviticus 5:11
Numbers 15:20-21

The offering is not consumed by fire, but is used by the Levitical priesthood as a sacrificial meal. The meat and hide are for their sustenance and use.
Leviticus 6:25-30; 7:7-8; 14:13

Sin offerings were given for:

sins committed in ignorance
Leviticus 4:2, 22, 2

sins not generally known about by the people
Numbers 15:24

sins in violation of oaths and covenants
Leviticus 5:1, 4-5

ceremonial sins of defilement or uncleanness under the law
Leviticus 5:2-3; 12:1-8; 15:28-30

The purpose of sin offerings, after true repentance on the part of the parties involved, was to prepare them to receive forgiveness as a part of the renewal of their covenants.
Leviticus 4:26, 35; 5:10; 10:17
Numbers 15:24-29

A special sin-offering affecting all the people was offered on the Day of Atonement
Exodus 30:10
Leviticus 16:3, 6, 11, 15-19

All other sin offerings were private and personal offerings, most often given at the times of the appointed feasts.

  
 


TRESPASS OFFERING

Leviticus 5:15-19
Leviticus 6:1-7
Leviticus 7:1-10

 Ram without blemish
Leviticus 5:15, 18; 6:6; 19:21

A leper was to offer a lamb
Leviticus 14:1

a Nazarite was also to give a lamb
Numbers 6:12

 Trespass offerings were given for offenses committed against others

false testimony
Leviticus 6:2-3

forceful and unlawful possession
of property
Leviticus 6:4

disrespect for sacred things
Leviticus 5:16-17

acts of passion
Leviticus 19:20-22

The purpose of the trespass offering was to bring forgiveness. (Leviticus 6:7.) This was possible after repentance (Leviticus 26:40-45) and after fulfilling the law of restitution that required, where possible, that the guilty individual restore completely the wrong and an additional 20 percent (Leviticus 5:16; 6:5-17; 27:13, 15, 19, 27, 31; Numbers 5:6-10).

 All trespass offerings were private and personal offerings, most commonly given at the times of the appointed feasts.  
 


MEAL OR MEAT OFFERING GIFTS

Exodus 29:40-41
Leviticus 2
Leviticus 6:14-23
Leviticus 7:9-10
Numbers 15:4-24, 28-29

 An unleavened bread. Few ingredients were permitted with the basic flour-salt (Leviticus 2:13), oil (Leviticus 2:5), even incense (Leviticus 2:15), but no leavening or honey (Leviticus 2:11). However, it could be baked or fried in various ways. This offering completed the sacrificial meal of the burnt and peace offerings. It was then given to the priests for their service and sustenance.
(Leviticus 7:8-10.)

This offering was always given with the burnt offerings and peace offerings and could even substitute for a sin offering in the stress of poverty
(Numbers 15:28; 29)

  
 


HEAVE / WAVE OFFERING

Exodus 29:26-27
Leviticus 7:14, 32-34
Numbers. 18:19

 The heave offering is the right shoulder and the wave offering the breast of the peace offering animal given in payment by the offerer for the services of the priest.
Whatever the Levites received for their priesthood service-heave or wave offering, meat offering, or tithe (Numbers 18) - they were required to offer to the Lord in sacrifice a portion as a memorial offering (Leviticus 2:2, 9, 16; 5:12; 6:15; Numbers 5:26; 18:26-29).
"Heave" and "wave" refer to gestures of lifting the offerings up and extending them toward the priest who received them on behalf of the Lord.

This is the priest's portion. Leviticus 7:35-36
Deuteronomy 18:1-8

This memorial offering was a type of peace or thank offering to the Lord, as well as a remembrance of God and service to him

The Levites also received the hides of all the animals sacrificed for their labors and services
Leviticus 7:8

 These were given at the times of burnt offerings and peace offerings.
These were given at the time the offerings were given.		  
 

(Adapted from Edward J. Brandt, "The Priesthood Ordinance of Sacrifice," Ensign Magazine
(Salt Lake City, Utah, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), December 1973, pgs. 50-51).