Leviticus 9:16
He presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.
He presented the burnt offering

Aaron brought the offering appointed for the people and placed it upon the altar as God had commanded. The burnt offering rose wholly to the Lord in worship, atonement, and consecration, declaring that Israel belonged to Him. Aaron’s service demonstrated the priest’s mediating role, while also revealing the need for a greater priest and a final sacrifice. Christ offered Himself without blemish to God, securing the cleansing that repeated animal sacrifices could only foreshadow (Hebrews 10:10–14).

Lev 1:3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd,…
Exo 29:18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar; it is a burnt offering…
Num 28:3 And tell them that this is the food offering…

and offered it according to the ordinance.

Aaron followed the prescribed pattern God had given for the burnt offering, honoring the holiness of the Lord and the authority of His word. Worship in Israel was not governed by human preference but by divine command. The careful obedience displayed on the day of priestly consecration prepared the way for God’s glory to appear among the people (Leviticus 9:23–24). Jesus fulfilled God’s will perfectly and completed all that the Law anticipated (Matthew 5:17).

Lev 6:9 Command Aaron and his sons that this is the law…
Lev 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering…
Num 28:6 This is a regular burnt offering established at Mount Sinai…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. In this chapter, Aaron is performing his priestly duties for the first time after being consecrated.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. He plays a supervisory role in ensuring that Aaron and his sons perform the sacrifices correctly.

3. The Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the divine presence among the Israelites. It is the central place of worship and sacrifice during the wilderness period.

4. The Burnt Offering
A type of sacrifice in which the entire animal is consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication to God.

5. The Israelites
The people of God who are witnessing the inauguration of the priestly ministry and the sacrificial system that will mediate their relationship with God.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Ordinance
Aaron's offering of the burnt sacrifice "according to the ordinance" highlights the importance of following God's instructions precisely. In our lives, we are called to obey God's Word and His commands with the same diligence.

Symbolism of Total Dedication
The burnt offering represents total dedication to God. As believers, we are called to live lives fully surrendered to God, holding nothing back.

Role of the Mediator
Aaron's role as a mediator between God and the Israelites points to the necessity of a mediator in our relationship with God. Jesus Christ is our ultimate High Priest and mediator, bridging the gap between humanity and God.

The Presence of God
The Tabernacle as the dwelling place of God among His people reminds us of the importance of God's presence in our lives. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God's presence dwells within us.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Aaron's obedience in offering the burnt sacrifice according to God's ordinance challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can we offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" in our current context, as Paul describes in Romans 12:1?

3. How does the role of Aaron as a mediator foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest?

4. What can we learn from the Israelites' experience of God's presence in the Tabernacle about valuing and seeking God's presence in our lives today?

5. How does understanding the Old Testament sacrificial system enhance our appreciation of Christ's sacrifice as described in Hebrews 10?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29
This chapter provides the instructions for the consecration of Aaron and his sons, which is the background for the events in Leviticus 9.

Hebrews 10
This New Testament passage discusses the insufficiency of Old Testament sacrifices and points to Christ as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the sacrificial system.

Romans 12:1
Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, drawing a parallel to the complete dedication symbolized by the burnt offering.
A Sign Expected and ReceivedR.M. Edgar Leviticus 9:1-24
A Solemn BenedictionW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Aaron in the Duties of His OfficeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Advent GloryLeviticus 9:1-24
Blessing the PeopleF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
Christ's Priestly BlessingRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
God's Acceptance of the SacrificesChas. Simeon, M. A.Leviticus 9:1-24
Gracious FireDean Law.Leviticus 9:1-24
Of the Divers Occasions of the Sending of Miraculous Fire Upon the SacrificesA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Sacrificial Preparation for Jehovah a AppearingW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Subject: God's Glory Manifested in the Blessedness of His PeopleR.A. Redford Leviticus 9:1-24
The Fire in the GospelA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Miraculous FireF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Priest At the AltarW. Clarkson Leviticus 9:8-21
Aaron's First Priestly ServicesJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 9:8-24
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Bringeth, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offering, Maketh, Manner, Offered, Offering, Ordered, Ordinance, Prescribed, Presented
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 9:15

     6648   expiation

Library
"Then the Fire of the Lord Fell. " 1 Kings xviii. 38
It was fire that came direct from heaven. It was not the first time it had fallen; we read of it in Leviticus ix. 24 as coming from before the Lord, and consuming the sacrifice. It was God's way of showing His power and his favour, and it was something that could neither be imitated nor produced by anyone else besides Jehovah. I.--THIS FIRE CAME AT A TIME OF APOSTACY. The nation, headed by King Ahab, had gone very far away from God. They needed some signal display of God's power to win them back
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Section 26-36. That the Son is the Co-Existing Word
Section §26-36. That the Son is the Co-existing Word, argued from the New Testament. Texts from the Old Testament continued; especially Ps. cx. 3. Besides, the Word in Old Testament may be Son in New, as Spirit in Old Testament is Paraclete in New. Objection from Acts x. 36; answered by parallels, such as 1 Cor. i. 5. Lev. ix. 7. &c. Necessity of the Word's taking flesh, viz. to sanctify, yet without destroying, the flesh. 26. But that the Son has no beginning of being, but before He was made
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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