The book of Leviticus often feels distant to modern readers. Kristina and I have just finished the book in our daily Bible reading, and I’m sure you feel like us, it was a struggle to get through. Page after page details sacrifices, offerings, and rituals that seem foreign in our time. Yet these sacrifices were not mere ceremonies; they were vivid reminders of God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin and still provide a glimpse into the hope of forgiveness.

The burnt offering (Leviticus 1) symbolized total surrender to God. The entire animal was consumed on the altar, leaving nothing behind. For Christians today, it reminds us of Paul’s exhortation: “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). God still calls us to wholehearted devotion, not giving Him leftovers, but yielding all that we are.

The peace offering (Leviticus 3) celebrated fellowship with God. Portions were eaten by the worshiper, the priest, and symbolically shared with the Lord. This foreshadows the communion we have through Christ. In Him, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Every time we gather around the Lord’s table, we remember that fellowship is made possible only by His blood.

The sin offering (Leviticus 4) was brought when someone had sinned unintentionally. It taught Israel that sin, whether deliberate or not, required atonement. Today, though Christ has borne our sins once for all (Hebrews 10:10), we are reminded that sin is never trivial. We must confess quickly and humbly: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

While we no longer bring bulls, goats, or grain to an altar, the lessons of Leviticus still speak. Worship is costly. Sin is serious. Fellowship with God is a gift of grace. The sacrifices pointed forward to Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Let us not dismiss these ancient offerings as irrelevant. Instead, let them stir our hearts with gratitude. For what they pictured in shadows, Christ has fulfilled in substance. Today, we offer not animals, but ourselves, living sacrifices, set apart for His glory.

By: Justin Odom