The Burnt Offering, Cleansing the Leper, and the Two Goats of the Day of Atonement
Hi Folks, I’ve been reading through Leviticus chapters 1 to 16 with my Bible, using the NKJV Bible today, and what a rich book it is!
At first, the book can feel intimidating but if you like stand upon a ladder a couple of runs up and look over, it gives you a better overview. Just like in this book it can feel full of details about offerings, blood, and ceremonies. But when we look with Bible Strong eyes, simple, chapter by chapter, verse-by-verse, and always looking for Jesus, we discover beautiful pictures of the gospel. A holy God makes a way for sinful people to draw near to Him through sacrifice.
Let’s look at three powerful pictures we find in these chapters.
The Burnt Offering – Total Surrender (Leviticus 1)
The burnt offering, or ‘olah in Hebrew, meaning “that which ascends,” was completely burned on the altar. Nothing was eaten by the priests or the person bringing it. The whole animal went up in smoke as a “sweet aroma” to the LORD.
God allowed different animals depending on what a family could afford: a bull from the herd for the wealthy, a ram or goat from the flock for most people, or turtledoves or young pigeons for the poor. Even the poorest person could bring a full offering!
For the birds, the priest wrung off the head, drained the blood at the side of the altar, removed the crop with its feathers and cast it on the east side, the place for ashes, away from the holy presence, then burned the rest on the altar. The feathers weren’t all plucked; only those with the crop were removed. But the smoke still rose as a pleasing aroma because God looks at the willing heart.
The altar itself had order: killing often on the north side, ashes and waste on the east side, kept far from the Holy of Holies. God is a God of order, and sin must be removed far from His presence.
Bible Strong Insight: This pictures Jesus giving Himself completely for us. He held nothing back. Ephesians 5:2 says Christ “has given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” That neat smell of barbecued beef, as the smoke ascends upward, it becomes a sweet-smelling savour unto God.
Whether rich or poor, we can all come to Him in simple faith. Our lives can now be “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1).
Cleansing the Leper – Blood and Freedom (Leviticus 14)
Leprosy (tsara’at) pictures how sin spreads and separates us from God and others. When a person was healed, the priest performed a beautiful ceremony with two birds.
One bird was killed over fresh running water. Its blood mixed with the water. The living bird, along with cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, was dipped in that blood-and-water mixture. The priest sprinkled the healed person seven times with hyssop. Then the living bird was released free into the open field.
This reminds us of David’s prayer in Psalm 51:7 – “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Bible Strong insight: The two birds show one complete picture of Jesus. The slain bird pictures His death and shed blood. The released bird pictures resurrection life and our sins carried away so we can be free and restored to fellowship with God. Jesus touched lepers and made them clean (Matthew 8:1-4), and He does the same for us today.
The Two Goats on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Leviticus 16
Once a year, on the most solemn day, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and for the people he took two goats.
Lots were cast in which one goat “for the LORD” and one “for Azazel” (the scapegoat). The goat for the LORD was killed. Its blood was taken inside the veil and sprinkled on the mercy seat, making atonement. Then the high priest laid both hands on the live scapegoat, confessed all the sins of Israel over it, and a man led it far into the wilderness. In later practice, they took it to a cliff so it would not return. The goat carried the sins away, never to be seen again.
The two goats together picture full salvation: sins paid for by blood and sins completely removed.
Bible Strong Insight: Jesus is both goats in one perfect sacrifice! He is the slain goat, His blood makes full atonement and opens the way into God’s presence (Hebrews 9–10).
He is also the scapegoat; He bore our sins in His body on the cross and carried them away “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). Our sins are not coming back!
People I recommend, Chuck Smith and David Guzik often point out that these Old Testament pictures are the gospel in advance.
We don’t need animal sacrifices anymore because Jesus fulfilled them all once and for all.
What This Means for Us Today
Leviticus shows us that sin is serious, but God is gracious. He provided costly, yet accessible, ways for His people to draw near. Every drop of blood, every “sweet aroma,” and every goat sent away points to the cross.
If you feel like a spiritual leper today, separated by sin, Jesus is ready to cleanse you. Come to Him in simple faith. His blood covers and removes every sin. You can have full forgiveness and restored fellowship with God.
“Ye shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). In Christ, we already are!
If you’re reading Leviticus, keep going. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, Jesus is on every page.
Grace and peace to you in Jesus’ name.