Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

Seven - Completion

Seven Sacrifices under the Law 

Under the law covenant, God commanded the children of Israel to offer seven sacrifices.  All seven of these sacrifices pointed to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The seven sacrifices that God commanded were:

    1.  Sin Offering (Lev. Chapter 4)

    2.  Burnt offering (Lev. Chapter 1)

    3.  Peace offering (Lev. Chapter 3)

    4.  Heave offering (Lev. Chapter 7)

    5.  Wave offering (Lev. Chapter 8)

    6.  Meat offering (Lev. Chapter 2)

    7.  Drink offering (Lev. Chapter 23)

The sin offering tells us why the sacrifice was made.  Jesus came into the world to save his people from their sins.  Heb. 10:12 "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

The burnt offering was burnt with fire on the brazen altar.  This indicated the sufferings that Jesus had to suffer in order to save his people from their sins.  Jesus told us that he must suffer:

    1.  Matt. 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."

    2.  Luke 9:22 "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."

    3.  Luke 24:46 "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"

    4.  Acts 26:23 "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

    5.  Heb 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

The peace offering tells us what Christ brought about through his death.  Through the death and resurrection of Christ we have peace with God: Eph. 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"  Also we read in Col. 1:20 "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

The heave offering tells us that the ultimate goal of the sufferings and atonement of Jesus is to raise up the elect at the last day:

    1.  John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

    2.  John 6:39 "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

    3.  1 Cor 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power."

    4.  2 Cor 4:14 "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."

    5.  1 Cor. 15:20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."

The wave offering was made to tell us that we are victorious through the finished work of Jesus Christ based on his atoning sacrifice.  This victory is detailed for us in the following verses:

    1.  Mat 12:20 "A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory."

    2.  1 Cor 15:54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

    3.  1 Cor 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

    4.  1 Cor 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    5.  1 John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

    6.  Rev 15:2 "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

The meat offering consisted of unleavened meal or bread.  This speaks to us of the sinless pure perfect body of the Lord Jesus Christ which qualified him to be the only perfect sacrifice acceptable to God on behalf of the elect.  Heb. 7:26 "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."

The drink offering speaks to us of the covenant blood of Christ that had to be shed in order to deliver us from our sins:

    1.  Matt. 26:27 "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

     2.  1 Cor. 11:25 "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."