當我們讀利未記有關獻祭的事時，我們必須瞭解兩件事：上帝的地位以及獻祭者（或敬拜者）的地位。至高聖潔的上帝充滿了恩典和憐憫，不再從如火焰般的西乃山召喚摩西，而是從祂榮耀的所在，代表祂與以色列人同居的會幕中呼叫他（出40：34~38）。敬拜者可以存著謙卑、恭敬的心，藉著上帝所悅納的祭物之血與上帝和好，與上帝建立親密的關係，並得著赦罪之恩。贖罪這個主題在第一章裡就出現（1：4），並將不斷出現在整本利未記。在這裡，上帝對摩西的指示是要給所有百姓聽的（1：2），而不只是針對祭司，因為上帝歡迎所有的以色列人藉著獻祭來親近祂。以色列人不論貧、富都可以向上帝感恩，帶著他們所願意的禮物來獻給上帝，不論那是一隻昂貴的公牛或僅僅是隻鴿子。無論如何，他們付代價得來的祭物都要甘心樂意的獻上。耶穌強調正確動機和心意的重要性，唯有如此，所獻的祭才會蒙上帝悅納（太5：23~24；可12：33）。

        燔祭是一定要獻給上帝的祭。祭物必須是沒有殘疾的雄性動物，並且肯定是又大又壯，因為牠必須完美無瑕。獻祭者要按手在動物的頭上，表示與牠同等，並且把自己的罪歸在祭物的身上。祭物的死代表獻祭者因自己的罪所該得的懲罰。祭物的血是贖罪式中最重要的必需品，因此也要十分小心處理（17：11）。想到耶穌如何在十架上痛苦的流出祂的寶血，真是可怕極了，但那卻是祂為我們贖罪絕對必經的過程。

        燔祭沒有一部分可以留下來吃，要統統燒在壇上，象徵對上帝完全的降服。燔祭含有一個偉大的聖經真理：以色列民可以進前來敬拜上帝並且使自己的罪得贖──全因為代死的犧牲。耶穌死在十字架上就是以祂自己代替我們。祂代我們將自己完全獻上作為給上帝的祭物。祂是「馨香的火祭」（1：9），最完美的替代，擔當了我們的罪，使我們得赦免，在至聖的上帝面前蒙恩惠。上帝接納我們所獻的祭（耶穌），我們就該像以色列人一樣，立志過一個討祂喜悅的生活，天天潔淨自己。

        素祭是獻給上帝的禮物，可能用來表達對上帝的感恩或崇敬。這是唯一不見血的祭，但通常伴隨著動物之祭。素祭的其中一把要燒在壇上為記念，所有剩下的則要歸給亞倫和他的兒子。素祭也表達個人對上帝的獻身。敬拜者藉著獻素祭承認上帝的主權、祂使地出產果蔬的恩慈、以及承認他的生命賴上帝維持。素祭不能有酵（酵代表罪），但像所有其他的祭一樣，素祭要用鹽調和以防腐、並增加美味。鹽代表持久，也是上帝之約永恆本質的象徵（2：13；民18：19）。今天，信徒被耶穌的寶血滌淨，就像使徒保羅的用語，成了「活祭」（羅12：12），享有與上帝立約的關係，並且像耶穌所說，要做「世上的鹽」（太5：13）。

        親愛的上帝，因您所賜給我們的恩典，我們如今將自己的身體獻上當做活祭。感謝您將審判的手按在十架上的耶穌身上，使我們信的人從罪的刑罰中得自由。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        When we read about the sacrifices in the book of Leviticus, we must understand two things: the position of God, and the position of the offer/worshipper. The Most Holy God, full of grace and mercy, summoned Moses, not from the fiery mountain of Sinai but from the tent of meeting upon which the glory of His presence came to rest and dwell in the midst of His covenant people (Ex. 40:34-38). The worshipper was privileged to come with humble reverence into communion with God through the blood of the sacrifice, being made acceptable and reconciled with Him, receiving forgiveness for sins. This theme of atonement (“covering” for sin) is found in the first chapter of Leviticus (1:4) and continues throughout the whole book. The instructions were intended for all the people to hear (1:2), not only the priests, for all were welcomed to draw near and commune with God through the means of the sacrificial offering. Rich and poor alike would bring their voluntary gifts out of appreciation for what the Lord had done, be it an expensive bullock, or a simple pigeon. In any case, the sacrifice had cost them something, and was to be willingly and happily given. Jesus stressed the importance of the right motivation and the intent of the heart; only then would any offering be acceptable to God (Matt. 5:23-24; Mark 12:33).

        Burnt offerings were to be always offered up to God. They were to be unblemished males, the largest and strongest animal, since perfection was necessary. The offer was to firmly lay his hand upon the animal’s head signifying his identification with it and laying his guilt upon it. The animal’s death represented the death the offer deserved for his own sins. Great care was taken for the blood of the sacrificial animal, since this is all-important and necessary for atonement (17:11). It is awful to think of how our Lord Jesus painfully shed His blood, but this was absolutely necessary for our atonement.

        No part of the burnt offering was to be totally consumed on the altar, signifying total surrender to God. A great biblical truth is seen in this offering: the people were able to come close to God in worship and have their sins covered – all because of a substitute. Jesus gave Himself as a substitute when He died on the cross. He offered Himself entirely as a sacrifice to God in our place. He was the “sweet aroma to the Lord” (1:9), the perfect substitute, bearing our sin and shame that we might be forgiven and find favor before the Most Holy God. We, like the Israelites, in response to God’s acceptance of that is pleasing to Him and be cleansed daily.

        The grain or meal offering (Ch.2) was brought to the Tabernacle as a gift, possibly expressing gratitude or reverence to God. This was the only offering that did not involve blood, but it was usually accompanied by an animal offering. A handful of this offering was burnt as a memorial, and all that remained was to be eaten by Aaron and his sons. It also expressed personal dedication to the Lord. In offering it, the worshipper recognized the sovereignty of God, His grace and goodness in giving the fruit of the earth, and his dependence upon Him to sustain life. This offering was to contain no leaven (which pictured sin), but it, like all the other offerings, was to contain salt, representing that which preserved against corruption and added flavor. Salt pictured permanence and was symbolic of the eternal nature of God’s covenant (2:13; Num. 18:19). Still today, believers in Jesus who have been purged by His precious blood and are, as the Apostle Paul termed, “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1, 2), enjoy the covenant relationship with God and are, as Jesus said, “the salt of earth” (Matt. 5:13).

        Lord God, we present our bodies as living sacrifices according to the grace you’ve given unto us. Thank you very, very much that Your hand of judgment for sin was laid firmly on His at the altar of the cross so that we who believe are set free from the penalty of sin.