How does Leviticus 5:10 connect to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for sin? Setting the Scene in Leviticus Leviticus 5:10: “Then he shall offer the second as a burnt offering according to the ordinance. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven.” Key Details in the Verse • Two birds: one for the sin offering, the other for the burnt offering • Blood applied by the priest—symbol of substitution and cleansing (Hebrews 9:22) • Atonement achieved and forgiveness granted—God’s promise of restored fellowship Foreshadowing Elements that Point to Christ • Substitution: an innocent creature dies so the guilty can be pardoned (Isaiah 53:5–6) • Blood application: a picture of life offered in place of life (Hebrews 9:12) • Burnt offering: total surrender, anticipating the complete self-giving of Jesus (Ephesians 5:2) • Immediate forgiveness: points to the certainty believers have in Christ (1 John 1:9) Jesus as the Greater Sacrifice • Once for all: “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). • Perfect and sufficient: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). • Universal accessibility: the bird option in Leviticus let even the poor make atonement; Jesus’ sacrifice is likewise available to all (Romans 3:22–24). • Final atonement: “Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Practical Connections for Believers Today • Confidence in complete forgiveness—no additional sacrifice is required (John 19:30). • Grateful worship—our response mirrors the burnt offering’s total devotion (Romans 12:1). • Assurance of God’s faithfulness—He keeps the same promise of cleansing now fulfilled in Jesus (Hebrews 13:8). |
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