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79 Bible Verses about Sacrifices and Burnt Offerings
In the Bible, offering is all about showing gratitude to God. Back in Moses' time, God taught the Israelites about different kinds of offerings. They were to offer a portion of their wealth as thanks for the land God had given them. These offerings were usually things like wheat, barley, oil, and animals – basically a tenth of their income, or what we call a tithe.
Leviticus talks about offerings required when someone was dishonest, maybe about something they were supposed to be looking after, or if they stole, cheated, lied about lost property, or broke an oath. There were five main types of offerings: burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings.
Throughout the Bible, we see different ways to give offerings. Sometimes it's to make things right with someone you've wronged, and sometimes it's simply to say "thank you" to God and seek His blessing. The reasons and situations are all over the map, but what really matters to God is the heart behind the offering – a genuine desire to connect with Him.
So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us talk openly about our faith in him. Then our words will be like an offering to God.
The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.
“ ‘Suppose you sacrifice a friendship offering to me. Then do it in the right way. And I will accept it from you.
“People of Samaria, go to Bethel and sin! Go to Gilgal! Sin there even more! Bring your sacrifices every morning. Every third year, bring a tenth of everything you produce.
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head. He set it up as a sacred stone. And he poured olive oil on top of it.He named that place Bethel. But the city used to be called Luz.Go at once to Paddan Aram. Go to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Find a wife for yourself there. Take her from among the daughters of your mother’s brother Laban.Then Jacob made a promise. He said, “May God be with me. May he watch over me on this journey I’m taking. May he give me food to eat and clothes to wear.May he do as he has promised so that I can return safely to my father’s home. Then you, Lord, will be my God.This stone I’ve set up as a sacred stone will be God’s house. And I’ll give you a tenth of everything you give me.”
The Lord your God will choose a special place. He will put his Name there. That’s where you must bring everything I command you to bring. That includes your burnt offerings and sacrifices. It includes your special gifts and a tenth of everything you produce. It also includes all the things of value that you promised to give to the Lord.
Then Noah built an altar to honor the Lord. He took some of the “clean” animals and birds. He sacrificed them on the altar as burnt offerings.The smell of the offerings pleased the Lord. He said to himself, “I will never put a curse on the ground again because of human beings. I will not do it even though their hearts are always directed toward evil. Their thoughts are evil from the time they are young. I will never destroy all living things again, as I have just done.
“ ‘Make an altar out of dirt for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honored.
“Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from everyone whose hearts move them to give.
All your men must appear in front of the Lord your God at the holy tent. They must go to the place he will choose. They must do it three times a year. They must go there to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths. None of your men should appear in front of the Lord without bringing something with him.Each of you must bring a gift. Give to the Lord your God, just as he has given to you.
They brought gifts to the Lord. They brought six covered carts and 12 oxen. Each leader gave an ox. And every two leaders gave a cart. They put their gifts in front of the holy tent.
“Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, ‘Suppose anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord. They must bring an animal from their herd or flock.
The Lord called out to Moses. He spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said,“ ‘If someone offers a burnt offering from the flock, it must be a male animal. It can be a sheep or a goat. It must not have any flaws.They must kill it at the north side of the altar in the sight of the Lord. The priests in Aaron’s family line must splash its blood against the sides of the altar.They must cut the animal into pieces. The priest must place the pieces on the burning wood on the altar. The pieces include the head and the fat.They must wash the inside parts with water. The legs must also be washed. The priest must bring all the parts to the altar. He must burn them there. It is a burnt offering. It is a food offering. Its smell pleases the Lord.“ ‘If someone offers to the Lord a burnt offering of birds, it must be a dove or a young pigeon.The priest must bring it to the altar. He must twist its head off. Then he must burn the rest of the bird on the altar. Its blood must be emptied out on the side of the altar.The priest must remove the small bag inside the bird’s throat. He must also remove the feathers. Then he must throw them to the east side of the altar. That is where the ashes are.He must take hold of the wings of the bird and tear it open. But he must not tear it in two. Then the priest will burn it on the wood burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering. It is a food offering. Its smell pleases the Lord.
Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to me. It has a pleasant smell. It is a food offering presented to the Lord.
“ ‘Or suppose someone in the community sins without meaning to. They disobey any of the Lord’s commands.And suppose they realize their guilt and their sin becomes known. Then they must bring an offering for the sin they have committed. It must be a female goat. It must not have any flaws.They must place their hand on the head of the animal for the sin offering. It must be killed at the place where the animals for burnt offerings are killed.“ ‘Suppose it is the anointed priest who sins. And suppose he brings guilt on the people. Then he must bring a young bull to the Lord. It must not have any flaws. He must bring it as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.Then the priest must dip his finger into some of the blood. He must put it on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar for burnt offerings. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar.They must remove all the fat in the same way the fat is removed from the friendship offering. The priest must burn it on the altar. Its smell pleases the Lord. When the priest burns the offering, he will pay for their sin. And they will be forgiven.
Sacrifice a bull each day. It is a sin offering to pay for their sins. Make the altar pure. Pour olive oil on it to set it apart.Take seven days to make the altar pure. Set it apart. Then the altar will be a very holy place. Anything that touches it will be holy.
Bring me thank offerings, because I am your God. Carry out the promises you made to me, because I am the Most High God.
“ ‘If someone brings a burnt offering from the herd, they must offer a male animal. It must not have any flaws. They must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then the Lord will accept it.They must place their hand on the head of the burnt offering. Then the Lord will accept it in place of them. It will pay for their sin.
When someone is guilty in any of those ways, they must admit they have sinned.They must bring a sin offering to pay for the sin they have committed. They must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock. The priest will sacrifice the animal. That will pay for the person’s sin.
“Do you think I need any more of your sacrifices?” asks the Lord. “I have more than enough of your burnt offerings. I have more than enough of rams and the fat of your fattest animals. I do not find any pleasure in the blood of your bulls, lambs and goats.
The inside parts of the animal must be washed with water. The legs must also be washed. The priest must burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering. It is a food offering. Its smell pleases the Lord.
So when Christ came into the world, he said, “You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. Instead, you prepared a body for me.
The fire on the altar must be kept burning. It must not go out. Every morning the priest must add more wood to the fire. He must place the burnt offering on the fire. He must burn the fat of the friendship offerings on it.The fire must be kept burning on the altar all the time. It must not go out.
“Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month you must not eat anything. You must not do any work. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders.“Aaron must not enter the area of the Most Holy Room without bringing a sacrifice. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering. He must also bring a ram for a burnt offering.On that day your sin will be paid for. You will be made pure and clean. You will be clean from all your sins in my sight.
He must take a bath in the holy area. And he must put on his regular clothes. Then he will come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself. He will also sacrifice the burnt offering for the people. That will pay for his own sin and the people’s sin.
The life of each creature is in its blood. So I have given you the blood of animals to pay for your sin on the altar. Blood is life. That is why blood pays for your sin.
I will praise God’s name by singing to him. I will bring him glory by giving him thanks.That will please the Lord more than offering him an ox. It will please him more than offering him a bull with its horns and hooves.
There they must present their offerings to the Lord. They must bring a male lamb a year old. It must not have any flaws. It is for a burnt offering. Then they must bring a female lamb a year old. It must not have any flaws. It is for a sin offering. And they must bring a ram that does not have any flaws. It is for a friendship offering.
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real things themselves. The same sacrifices have to be offered over and over again. They must be offered year after year. That’s why the law can never make perfect those who come near to worship.We have been made holy by what God wanted. We have been made holy because Jesus Christ offered his body once and for all time.Day after day every priest stands and does his special duties. He offers the same sacrifices again and again. But they can never take away sins.Jesus our priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God.And since that time, he waits for his enemies to be put under his control.By that one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.The Holy Spirit also speaks to us about this. First he says,“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws on their minds.” (Jeremiah 31:33)Then he adds, “I will not remember their sins anymore. I will not remember the evil things they have done.” (Jeremiah 31:34)Where these sins have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer necessary.Brothers and sisters, we are not afraid to enter the Most Holy Room. We enter boldly because of the blood of Jesus.If the law could, wouldn’t the sacrifices have stopped being offered? The worshipers would have been made “clean” once and for all time. They would not have felt guilty for their sins anymore.His way is new because he lives. It has been opened for us through the curtain. I’m talking about his body.We also have a great priest over the house of God.So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water.Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The God who promised is faithful.Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works.And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.What if we keep sinning on purpose? What if we do it even after we know the truth? Then there is no offering for our sins.All we can do is to wait in fear for God to judge. His blazing fire will burn up his enemies.Suppose someone did not obey the law of Moses. And suppose two or three witnesses made charges against them. That person would die without mercy.People who deserve even more punishment include those who have hated the Son of God. They include people who have said no to him. They include people who have treated as unholy the blood of the covenant that makes them holy. They also include people who have disrespected the Holy Spirit who brings God’s grace. Don’t you think people like this should be punished more than anyone else?But those offerings remind people of their sins every year.We know the God who said, “I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back.” (Deuteronomy 32:35) Scripture also says, “The Lord will judge his people.” (Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14)It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.Remember those earlier days after you received the light. You remained strong in a great battle that was full of suffering.Sometimes people spoke badly about you in front of others. Sometimes you were treated badly. At other times you stood side by side with people being treated like this.You suffered along with people in prison. When your property was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew that God had given you better and more lasting things.So don’t throw away your bold faith. It will bring you rich rewards.You need to be faithful. Then you will do what God wants. You will receive what he has promised.“In just a little while, he who is coming will come. He will not wait any longer.”And, “The one who is right with God will live by faith. And I am not pleased with the one who pulls back.” (Habakkuk 2:3,4)But we don’t belong to the people who pull back and are destroyed. We belong to the people who believe and are saved.It isn’t possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
When you do, you will present food offerings to the Lord. The animals must come from your herd or flock. The smell of the offerings will please the Lord. They can be either burnt offerings or sacrifices. They can be either for special promises or for feast offerings. Or they can be for offerings you choose to give.
My name will be great among the nations. They will worship me from where the sun rises in the east to where it sets in the west. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be brought to me. That’s because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord.
Sacrifice your burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord your God. Offer the meat and the blood there. The blood of your sacrifices must be poured out beside his altar. But you can eat the meat.
But Samuel replied, “What pleases the Lord more? Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying the Lord? It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
“ ‘Suppose someone brings a friendship offering. If they offer an animal from the herd, it can be either male or female. It must not have any flaws. They must offer it in the sight of the Lord.It must include both kidneys with the fat on them next to the lower back muscles. The offering must also include the long part of the liver. That must be removed together with the kidneys.Then the priest must burn the offering on the altar as food. It is a food offering presented to the Lord.“ ‘If someone brings a goat, they must offer it in the sight of the Lord.They must place their hand on its head. It must be killed there in front of the tent of meeting. Then the priests in Aaron’s family line must splash its blood against the sides of the altar.Part of the offering must be brought as a food offering presented to the Lord. It must include all the fat that is connected to them.It must include both kidneys with the fat on them next to the lower back muscles. It must also include the long part of the liver. That must be removed together with the kidneys.Then the priest must burn the offering on the altar as food. It is a food offering. It has a pleasant smell. All the fat belongs to the Lord.“ ‘You must not eat any fat or any blood. That is a law that will last for all time to come. It applies no matter where you live.’ ”
Tell them, ‘Here is the food offering you must present to the Lord. Present to him two lambs a year old. They must not have any flaws. Present them as a regular burnt offering each day.Include a male goat to pay for your sin.Present everything along with the drink offerings. Do it in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals do not have any flaws.Offer one lamb in the morning. Offer the other when the sun goes down.
On that same day the king set the middle area of the courtyard apart to the Lord. It was in front of the Lord’s temple. There Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings. He also sacrificed the fat of the friendship offerings there. He did it there because the bronze altar that stood in front of the Lord was too small. It wasn’t big enough to hold all the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the friendship offerings.
Solomon finished praying. Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the burnt offering and the sacrifices. The glory of the Lord filled the temple.
You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. You didn’t require burnt offerings and sin offerings. You opened my ears so that I could hear you and obey you.Then I said, “Here I am. It is written about me in the book.My God, I have come to do what you want. Your law is in my heart.”
“Do you think I need any more of your sacrifices?” asks the Lord. “I have more than enough of your burnt offerings. I have more than enough of rams and the fat of your fattest animals. I do not find any pleasure in the blood of your bulls, lambs and goats.Who asked you to bring all these animals when you come to worship me? Who asked you and your animals to walk all over my courtyards?Stop bringing offerings that do not mean anything to me! I hate your incense. I can’t stand your worthless gatherings. I can’t stand the way you celebrate your New Moon feasts, Sabbath days and special services.
“He may also bring another offering to me because he chooses to. It might be a burnt offering or friendship offering. When he brings it, the east gate must be opened for him. He will bring his offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he will leave. After he has gone out, the gate must be shut.
You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. You didn’t require burnt offerings and sin offerings. You opened my ears so that I could hear you and obey you.
You don’t take delight in sacrifice. If you did, I would bring it. You don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be made “clean” with blood. Without the spilling of blood, no one can be forgiven.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings. Let them talk about what he has done as they sing with joy.
I will come to your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my promises to you.I made them with my lips. My mouth spoke them when I was in trouble.I will sacrifice fat animals to you as burnt offerings. I will offer rams, bulls and goats to you.
The Lord is God. He has been good to us. Take branches in your hands. Join in the march on the day of the feast. March up to the corners of the altar.
The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer. I made his life an offering to pay for sin. But he will see all his children after him. In fact, he will continue to live. My plan will be brought about through him.
When I brought your people out of Egypt, I spoke to them. But I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices.I also gave them another command. I said, ‘Obey me. Then I will be your God. And you will be my people. Live the way I command you to live. Then things will go well with you.’
I want mercy and not sacrifice. I want you to recognize me as God instead of bringing me burnt offerings.
They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Leviticus 12:8)
The people of Israel say, “What should we bring with us when we go to worship the Lord? What should we offer the God of heaven when we bow down to him? Should we take burnt offerings to him? Should we sacrifice calves that are a year old?Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams? Will he take delight in 10,000 rivers of olive oil? Should we offer our oldest sons for the wrong things we’ve done? Should we sacrifice our own children to pay for our sins?”The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God.
But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you.
Go and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6) I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.”
Scripture says, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6) You don’t know what those words mean. If you did, you would not bring charges against those who are not guilty.
I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer, but Christ lives in me. Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me.
To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!
Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him in the right way.
He says, “Gather this holy people around me. They made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice.”
Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
If he had, he would have had to suffer many times since the world was created. But he has appeared once and for all time. He has come at the time when God’s work is being completed. He has come to do away with sin by offering himself.
I have received my full pay and have more than enough. I have everything I need. That’s because Epaphroditus brought me the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling offering. They are a gift that God accepts. He is pleased with it.
“Suppose you are offering your gift at the altar. And you remember that your brother or sister has something against you.Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and make peace with them. Then come back and offer your gift.
He did not enter by spilling the blood of goats and calves. He entered the Most Holy Room by spilling his own blood. He did it once and for all time. In this way, he paid the price to set us free from sin forever.
But Christ offered himself to God without any flaw. He did this through the power of the eternal Holy Spirit. So how much cleaner will the blood of Christ make us! It washes away our feelings of guilt for committing sin. Sin always leads to death. But now we can serve the living God.
Jesus our priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God.
So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us talk openly about our faith in him. Then our words will be like an offering to God.Don’t forget to do good. Don’t forget to share with others. God is pleased with those kinds of offerings.
You were set free from an empty way of life. This way of life was handed down to you by your own people of long ago. You know that you were not bought with things that can pass away, like silver or gold.Instead, you were bought with the priceless blood of Christ. He is a perfect lamb. He doesn’t have any flaws at all.
You also are like living stones. As you come to Christ, you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done.
He gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world.
Here is the new song they sang. “You are worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals. You are worthy because you were put to death. With your blood you bought people for God. They come from every tribe, people and nation, no matter what language they speak.
Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a shallow gold cup for burning incense. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the golden altar. The altar was in front of the throne. With the incense he offered the prayers of all God’s people.The smoke of the incense rose up from the angel’s hand. The prayers of God’s people rose up together with it. The smoke and the prayers went up in front of God.