Leviticus 1
Scofield Reference Notes
And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
SCOFIELD REFERENCE NOTES (Old Scofield 1917 Edition)

Book Introduction

The Third Book of Moses called Leviticus

LEVITICUS stands in the same relation to EXODUS, that the Epistles do to the Gospels. EXODUS is the record of redemption, and lays the foundation of the cleansing, worship, and service of a redeemed people. LEVITICUS gives the detail of the walk, worship, and service of that people. In EXODUS God speaks out of the mount to which approach was forbidden; in LEVITICUS He speaks out of the tabernacle in which He dwells in the midst of His people, to tell them that which befits His holiness in their approach to, and communion with, Himself.

The key word of Leviticus is holiness, occurring 87 times. Key verse is Lev 19.2.

LEVITICUS is in nine chief divisions:

I. The Offerings 1.-6. 7

II. The Law of the Offerings 6.8-7. 38.

III. Consecration 8. 1-9. 24

IV. A Warning Example 10. 1-20.

V. A Holy God Must Have a Cleansed People 11. -15.

VI. Atonement 16., 17.

VII. The Relationships of God's People 18.-22.

VIII.The Feasts of Jehovah, 23.

IX. Instructions and Warnings, 24.-27.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
[1] burnt-sacrifice

The burnt-offering

(1) typifies Christ offering Himself without spot to God in delight to do His Father's will even in death.

(2) it is atoning because the believer has not had this delight in the will of God; and

(3) substitutionary (Lev 1:4) because Christ did it in the sinner's stead. But the thought of penalty is not prominent. Heb 9:11-14 10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 Phil 2:8. The emphatic words Lev 1:3-5 are "burnt-sacrifice," "voluntary," "it shall be accepted for him," and "atonement." The creatures acceptable for sacrifice are five:

(1) The bullock, or ox, typifies Christ as the patient and enduring Servant 1Cor 9:9,10 Heb 12:2,3 "obedient unto death" Isa 52:13-15 Phil 2:5-8. His offering in this character is substitutionary, for this we have not been.

(2) The sheep, or lamb, typifies Christ in unresisting self-surrender to the death of the cross Isa 53:7 Acts 8:32-35.

(3) The goat typifies the sinner Mt 25:33 and, when used sacrificially, Christ, as "numbered with the transgressors" Isa 53:12 Lk 23:33 and "made sin," and "a curse" Gal 3:13 2Cor 5:21 as the sinner's substitute.

(4,5) The turtle-dove or pigeon. Naturally a symbol of mourning innocency Isa 38:14 59:11 Mt 23:37 Heb 7:26 is associated with poverty in Lev 5:7 and speaks of Him who for our sakes become poor Lk 9:58 and whose pathway of poverty which began with laying aside "the form of God," ended in the sacrifice through which we became rich 2Cor 8:9 Phil 2:6-8. The sacrifice of the poor Man becomes the poor man's sacrifice. Lk 2:24. These grades of typical sacrifice test the measure of our apprehension of the varied aspects of Christ's one sacrifice on the cross. The mature believer should see Christ crucified in all these aspects.

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.
[2] put his hand upon

The laying of the offerer's hand signified acceptance and identification if himself with his offering. In type it answered to the believer's faith accepting and identifying himself with Christ Rom 4:5 6:3-11. The believer is justified by faith, and his faith is reckoned for righteousness, because his faith identifies him with Christ, who died as his sin-offering 2Cor 5:21 1Pet 2:24.

Margin atonement See Scofield Note: "Ex 29:33".

And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[1] fire Margin fat

Fire. Essentially as symbol of God's holiness. As such it expresses God in three ways:

(1) In judgment upon that which His holiness utterly condemns (e.g.) Gen 19:24 Mk 9:43-48 Rev 20:15.

(2) in the manifestation of Himself, and of that which He approves Ex 3:2 1Pet 1:7 Ex 13:21

and (3) in purification (e.g) 1Cor 3:12-14 Mal 3:2,3. So, in Leviticus, the fire which only manifests the sweet savour of the burnt-, meal-, and peace- offerings, wholly consumes the sin-offering.

Margin fat That which burns most quickly -- devotedness, zeal.

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
[2] sweet savour

The sweet savour offerings are Song called because they typify Christ in His own perfections, and in His affectionate devotion to the Father's will. The non-sweet savour offerings typify Christ as bearing the whole demerit of the sinner. Both are substantial. In our place Christ, in the burnt-offering, makes good our lack of devotedness, and, in the sin- and trespass-offerings, suffers because of our disobediences.

And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917]

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