Blood, Water, and Salt - Rules and week89s for Sacrifices

A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick


The book of Leviticus gets its name from the group of Israelites called Levites, descendants of Levi, one of Jacob's sons. Although the book rarely mentions the Levites by name, it is this tribe that furnished personnel for the priesthood and all other activities related to Israel's Tabernacle, and later, Temple worship. The book is a kind of manual outlining rules and regulations associated with the activities of the priests. Presently we're interested in the first seven chapters which describe the various sacrifices to be offered. Following that, two chapters are dedicated to the office of the priests, six chapters discuss various matters related to what is clean and what is unclean, and the final chapters contain what is called the "Holiness Code" - the book concludes with instructions about vows and tithes.

Before looking at the individual sacrifices, it is important to note what is said in Leviticus 17:11, a statement that provides the week89 for the existence of the sacrificial system: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."

This of course points ahead to Christ's atoning death on the cross as explained by Paul in Romans 3:22, 25, 26:

    "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished -- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

It is also important to point out that all of these instructions are given in order to bring about purification and holiness in the People of God, and thus make a way for continued fellowship with Him. As we read through the book, we see the word "holy" repeated 77 times; many things become designated as holy:

    The offerings are holy, the altar is holy; the meeting place (tabernacle) is a holy place. The high priest wears holy garments and a holy crown. God's name is holy, the tithe is holy, there are holy convocations, and the fiftieth year called "jubilee" is holy. Perhaps surprisingly, even individual houses can be holy.

    Clearly, the message of Leviticus is a call to holiness as plainly stated in Leviticus 19:2, "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy; for I Jehovah your God am holy." Also in Leviticus 20:26, "And ye shall be holy unto me: for I, Jehovah, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be mine."

This brings us back to the sacrificial system, for it is by faithfully obeying the God-given sacrificial regulations that this holiness was to be obtained. In the first seven chapters of Leviticus there is an explanation of five offerings: Burnt, Cereal, Peace, Sin, and Guilt Offerings.

Let's review them briefly.

1. First, there were the Burnt Offerings (Whole Offerings) which had these outstanding features:

    The animals sacrificed were to be without defect, that is, only the best was offered to God; the entire sacrificial animal was to be consumed on the altar; there is the laying on of hands and the slaughter of the animal by the worshipper himself, providing an identification; the smoke from the fire was believed to be a pleasing aroma (note Ephesians 5:2: "Christ . . . gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God"); and there was provision made for poorer people to bring a lesser costly sacrifice.

2. Then there were Meal Offerings (Grain Offerings) which represented a gift to God to obtain His favor.

    These offerings were partaken by the priests; they were termed "memorial portion" meaning they were a "token" of the offerer giving himself to God; they included non-grain offerings such as the "first fruits" and drink offerings; with these offerings no blood was involved. (Interesting in light of the story of Cain and Abel - Hebrews 11:4 tells us that Abel's offering was received not because it involved blood, but because it was accompanied by faith.)

3. A very common offering was the Peace Offering (Fellowship Offering).

    Actually, there were three different purposes served by these offerings: thanksgiving, votive (accompanying a vow), and freewill (simply recognizing God's goodness); the main distinguishing feature of these offerings was that they involved a meal eaten by the worshipers' family.

4. Sin Offerings (Purification Offerings).

    These offerings provided forgiveness for sins of ignorance or of defilement. From our perspective, it seems quite severe that no forgiveness was offered to those who commit conscious acts of willful defiance of God's law. (Note Numbers 15:30, 31: "Anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.")

5. Finally, there were Guilt Offerings (Trespass Offerings).

    In contrast to the previous type, Guilt Offerings primarily were brought when the offense was against another person rather than an offense against God; the offerer was required to return what was taken or misused plus a fine of 20% (the same as when there was the withholding of the tithe.)

So, here's what we're learning: in the religion of the Old Testament, sacrifices are gifts offered to God to express honor; they provide opportunities for communion with God (eating together is considered to be the highest token of friendship and fellowship); and sacrifices are a means of purification from sin in order for the relationship with God to be uninterrupted.

BLOOD

Of great importance is that, with the exception of the Meal Offerings, these offerings all involved blood. But why? What was it about the blood that was so important? It seems that in most of the more than 40 places in Leviticus where the word "atonement" is found, a word best defined as "purification," it is associated with blood. And then, right after the word "atonement" comes the statement, "[the man] will be forgiven."

Why is blood so closely associated with forgiveness? The best week89 to be found is in the verse mentioned earlier, Leviticus 17:11. The translation of the Revised Version puts it this way, "It is the blood that makes atonement, by week89 of the life [that is in it]." It is not the blood itself, but the life that is in the blood that provides for the cleansing of sin. So it was not the death of the animal sacrificed that was necessarily required. It was that the mysterious quality believed to be in the blood was required to be offered to the "Author of Life" - the blood was seen to be sacred, and that is why it was forbidden to be used for human consumption.

But now, what does this have to do with us? Obviously, we are no longer required to observe such rules - in fact even the Jews do not offer animal sacrifices, and haven't done so ever since the destruction of the temple around 70 A.D. For them, this presents a real problem because if obedience of the sacrificial laws is required, and there is no opportunity to observe them, how will they receive the promised forgiveness and cleansing from sin? From where will come atonement?

It is not merely coincidental that Jesus associated His own death and resurrection with the destruction and rebuilding of the temple. You remember that when Jesus prophesied this, the Jewish religious leaders became very angry, and in fact that was the main case they made against Him. At the trial prior to His crucifixion, the only testimony that could be put forward by two agreeable witnesses was, "This fellow said, `I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'" (Matthew 26:61) When John gave a similar report, he went on to explain, "The temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:21, 22)

Later on, in the early days of the Jerusalem church, the leader who became Christianity's first martyr, Stephen, was accused of the same crime. In that trial, the witnesses claimed, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." (Acts 6:13, 14)

Why were they so worried about the destruction of the temple? Because without it there could be no sacrifices and therefore no atonement. What they failed to realize was that Jesus’ death on the Cross of Calvary would provide for the continuation of the sacrificial system, only now it was to be "once and for all."

    "First [God] said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:8-10)

So it was part of God's great plan of salvation that the sacrifice of the "Lamb of God," Jesus' death on the cross, would become the ultimate offering, a full replacement of the entire sacrificial system that went before. Or to say it another way, everything that went before pointed to Christ, who, as He Himself said, came to fulfill the law.

WATER

But furthermore, when we think about the Crucifixion of Jesus, and the blood that was shed, we immediately think of John's comment, "One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." (John 19:34)

Later that same writer would pen, "This is the one who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." (I John 5:6)

In Leviticus 14, instructions are given concerning a ritual of cleansing for one who had been afflicted, but now healed of the dreaded skin disease called leprosy. What is of special interest is that this ritual included both running, i.e., "living" water, and blood. To us it's a strange sounding ritual where the priest would ". . . order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields." (5-7)

It is well understood that the Biblical term leprosy is representative of sin. This then suggests that for complete cleansing, or purification, to take place, or to say it another way, for holiness to be restored, there must be the application of both water and blood. Perhaps this is, in part, what Jesus meant when He cried out, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." After He said that, the author John commented, "By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."

However, when reviewing the practices of the Old Testament offerings, we recall that the worshipping Israelites personally participated in the process - it wasn't all up to the priest. How does that apply to us?

In part, Paul answered this question when he wrote, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)

SALT

In effect, he is saying that we ourselves are the offerings; we are to offer ourselves as sacrifices. This then is where the salt comes in. In connection with this, we remember from our readings about the sacrifices that God also said to the Israelites, "add salt to all your offerings." (Leviticus 2:13)

Jesus referred to this in Mark 9:49, 50 when He taught, "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Commentators differ concerning the interpretation of this difficult passage, but I think Matthew Henry says it well when he writes, “It was appointed by the law of Moses, that every sacrifice should be salted with salt, not to preserve it (for it was to be immediately consumed), but because it was the food of God's table, and no flesh is eaten without salt. The nature of man, being corrupt, and as such being called flesh (Genesis 6:3; Psalms 78:39), some way or other must be salted, in order to its being a sacrifice to God."

We notice that these comments by Jesus about salt immediately follow the passage where He instructs His disciples to discipline themselves. "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out."

Matthew Henry goes on to comment, "Our chief concern is, to present ourselves living sacrifices to the grace of God (Romans 12:1), and, in order to our acceptableness, we must be salted with salt, our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified, and we must have in our souls a savour of grace."

In connection with this, Paul indicates that it is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that enables us to be acceptable offerings to God. (Romans 15:15, 16)

In conclusion, today the sacrificial system is still in effect, but in a very different way. First, Jesus is the atoning sacrifice brining about forgiveness and therefore reconciliation with God. But second, we ourselves become the actual sacrifice.

Thinking about this, I couldn't help remember a hymn from years gone by, "Is Your All On The Altar?" by Elisha A. Hoffman.

1. You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest, or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest, and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

2. Would you walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word,
And have peace and contentment alway?
You must do His sweet will, to be free from all ill,
On the altar your all you must lay.

3. O we never can know what the Lord will bestow
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and soul He doth fully control,
And our all on the altar is laid.

4. Who can tell all the love He will send from above,
And how happy our hearts will be made,
Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet,
When our all on the altar is laid.

This idea is certainly supported in such Scripture verses as this one: "[Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (II Corinthians 5:15)

Later in the same letter Paul indicated that what is important is not so much what we bring in our hand, but that we offer ourselves. While commending Christians in northern Greece, Paul wrote, "They did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will." (II Corinthians 8:5)

One last thing. If Jesus is the preeminent sacrifice, and if we are to follow in His steps, we conclude with the Apostle John, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down (sacrifice) our lives for our brothers." (I John 3:16)

At the end of the day, the practical application of the idea of sacrifice is that we offer ourselves to worship God and serve others - to live in such a way that others receive benefit from our lives, our time, our energy, our talents, our testimony, and our love.

Discussion Questions
Blood, Water, and Salt

Rules and week89s for Sacrifices

1. Who were the Levites, and what was their primary function?

2. Why were the early Israelites commanded to practice the rituals of the sacrifices?

3. According to the New Testament, who is our "sacrifice of atonement"? (Romans 3:22, 25, 26)

4. What do "purification" and "holiness" have to do with our relationship with God?

5. Can you name the five main offerings described in the first seven chapters of Leviticus?

6. What provision was made so that everyone, regardless of economic standing, could bring a burnt offering?

7. Which offering was "bloodless", and how does this relate to the story of Cain and Abel?

8. The Peace (or Fellowship) Offering was administered for what three possible week89s, and how was it very different from the other offerings?

9. Offenses against whom were dealt with by the Sin Offerings and Guilt Offerings?

10. Offerings related to "atonement" provided what benefit for the worshippers?

11. Why were Israelites forbidden to partake of blood?

12. The cleansing ritual related to leprosy involved fresh (living) water. Where in the New Testament do we find water in connection with the removal of sin?

13. If in the Old Testament worshippers were involved by bringing their sacrifices and participating in their preparation for sacrifice, how are we to be involved today?

14. We learned that salt made the sacrifices acceptable to God, and Jesus talked about our being salted with fire. How can we have salt in ourselves? (Mark 9:50)

15. How is it that we are actual sacrifices unto God?

  • - - Return to Top of this Page
  • - Email a link to this page
  • - Go To Next Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
  • - Back To Sermons Page or to the Sermons Alphabetical List
  • - - Download This Sermon
  • - - Download a Power Point Presentation for This Sermon
  • - - If you have enjoyed joyfulministry.com, you may send a referral letter - Click Here, and enter email addresses of your friends. 
    This Page's Title Is:

                       
    Your Name Is:

                       
    Your Email Address Is:

                        
    Your State and Country:

    Please identify your vocation:

         Senior Pastor.     Associate Pastor.
            Youth Pastor.    Lay Minister.
                  Church Member.

    Which section of this site would you most likely return to?

         Sermons     Articles     Stories   
             Poems     Hymns    Articles for Leaders
               Marriage Articles         A Bit of Humor

    Would you like to receive the free weekly E-mail Circular?

      YES

    If you have a web page, would you like to establish a reciprocal link?

      YES

    Feel free to add a comment or prayer request: