How does Leviticus 14:20 connect to Jesus' role as our ultimate sacrifice? Setting the Scene in Leviticus 14:20 “Then the priest shall sacrifice the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar, and he shall make atonement for him, and he will be clean.” (Leviticus 14:20) What Happens in the Ritual? • A healed leper brings two offerings—burnt and grain. • The priest kills and burns them entirely on the altar. • Result: “atonement” (covering, forgiveness) and the public verdict: “clean.” Why a Burnt Offering? • Total surrender: every part consumed by fire pictures complete devotion to God (cf. Romans 12:1). • Pleasant aroma: the smoke rising points to God’s acceptance (Ephesians 5:2). • No part withheld: foreshadows a sacrifice that addresses every facet of sin. Clues Pointing to a Greater Priest and Sacrifice • The leper stands passive; the priest does all the work—hinting at a future Mediator who does for us what we cannot do (Hebrews 7:25). • Atonement and cleansing are tied together; the same sacrifice both pardons and purifies (1 John 1:7). • Repeated offerings reveal their limitation; Israel needed something final (Hebrews 10:1–4). Jesus Fulfills What Leviticus Foreshadowed • Ultimate Burnt Offering: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2) • Ultimate Priest: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) • Ultimate Cleansing: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) • Outward Sign Meets Inward Reality: Jesus’ touch of the leper in Matthew 8:3–4 models the same pattern—heal, then send to the priest—showing He is both Healer and the fulfillment of the priestly role. Connecting the Dots • Leviticus 14:20’s atonement → Jesus’ once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 10:10). • The priest’s declaration “clean” → Jesus’ verdict “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). • Sacrifice on the altar → Cross on Calvary. • Grain offering of consecration → Our lives offered back in thankful obedience (Romans 12:1). Living in the Reality Today • Rest in completed cleansing; no further sacrifice needed (Hebrews 10:18). • Approach God confidently, just as the healed leper re-entered community (Hebrews 10:22). • Reflect Christ’s fragrance through wholehearted devotion, echoing the burnt offering’s totality (2 Corinthians 2:15). |
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