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Series 23 – Temple Worship in the Age of Israel Pictures Christ

Series 23 – Temple Worship in the Age of Israel Pictures Christ

Lesson for December 14, 2025

Temple Worship in the Age of Israel Pictures Christ

Levitical Offerings

The Burnt Offering portrayed the work of Christ – the doctrine of Propitiation (complete satisfaction). This offering demonstrated the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, as our substitute (the guiltless for the guilty). It portrayed the spiritual death of Christ on the Cross as the full payment for man’s sin, and God’s satisfaction with Christ’s sacrifice. Just as the sacrificial lamb that was brought as the offering was innocent, Jesus Christ was innocent (sinless). Therefore, a person was to bring a lamb without spot or blemish to represent Christ’s perfection. The priest would lay one hand on the individual and one hand on the lamb, symbolizing the transfer of sin from the person to the lamb. (Leviticus 1:2-17; Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 26:39-42; John 1:29; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:14; 10:1-14; I John 2:2)

The Meal Offering portrayed the Person of Christ or the doctrine of Impeccability (sinlessness). The substitutionary spiritual death of Christ is still in view here, though the emphasis is on His Person. The fact that Christ was uniquely qualified to go to the Cross and make the payment for mankind’s sin is demonstrated by the fine flour used to make this meal offering. Fine flour represented the sinless character of Christ. Oil and frankincense were poured on the meal offering – the oil representing the work of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s life and the frankincense representing Christ’s impeccability. There was to be no honey used in the preparation; the absence of honey representing the bitterness of Christ’s death. The fine flour had no leaven (leaven represents sin); Christ was sinless. And salt was added for flavor and preservation, representing the quality of Christ’s sacrifice. Finally, the meal offering was put into fire, representing judgment. (Leviticus 2:1-16; II Corinthians 5:21; Mark 9:49; Colossians 4:6)

The Peace Offering portrayed the work of Christ in reconciliation. The doctrine of Reconciliation is the removal of the barrier of sin by Christ that separates God and people. God doesn’t need to be reconciled to us, but we need to be reconciled to Him. This offering spoke of a permanent relationship with God, which can never be broken. (Leviticus 3:1-17; Romans 5:1-8; II Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 2:14-17; Colossians 1:20)

Temple Furniture

The furniture in the Tabernacle, which later became the Temple, was all symbolic of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. God used the structure of the Tabernacle/Temple, the material used to build it, the furniture inside it, the altar, the priestly garments, the offerings, and the feasts as teaching aids for the nation of Israel, to teach them about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice for sin.

The Brazen Altar was made of wood and brass, symbolizing the Hypostatic Union (the deity and humanity of Christ in one Person). (Exodus 27:1-8; 38:1-7) The sacrifice upon this altar represented Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross. There are four doctrines illustrated here: Atonement (Hebrews 9:22), Redemption (Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14), Justification (Romans 3:24-26; 5:1-2), Positional Sanctification (Hebrews 10:10,14; I Corinthians1:30)

The Laver was a wooden vessel, overlaid with the polished brass “mirrors” donated by the women of Israel. Its purpose was for the priests to wash their hands and feet before attending the Altar or entering the Holy Place. (Exodus 30:17) It is interesting that a mirror was used in the making of the Laver, which illustrated the Rebound Technique (I John 1:9) based on Christ’s payment for sin. (Exodus 38:8; II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:25-27; II Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22-25)

The Lampstand was located in the Holy Place and was the only source of light in the Tabernacle. (Exodus 25:31-39; 37:17-24) The lampstand was made of a solid piece of gold and consisted of seven branches. The lampstand pictured Christ as the Light of the World. Olive oil was burned in the lamp stand, a symbol of the Holy Spirit who indwelt and filled Christ from birth.

The Table of Shewbread was wood overlaid with brass to picture the Hypostatic Union of Christ. (Exodus 25:23-29; 37:10-16) The table held twelve loaves of bread to symbolize the tribes of Israel. The eating of the bread pictured fellowship, as the priests would be allowed to eat the leftover bread together. The loaves were to be made of fine flour without leaven, typifying the sinless nature of Christ. Christ calls Himself the Bread of Life and tells us to eat this bread so that that we can live forever. (John 6:35, 51-58)

The Altar of Incense was made of wood overlaid with pure gold, with four gold rings through which poles were inserted to carry it. (Exodus 30:1-10, 34-38) This altar was used to burn incense made of spices. The incense was used only in worship to God. The incense altar was to burn continually and was checked twice a day by the high priest. The sweet aroma that filled the room pictured the prayers on behalf of the people of Israel. In the same manner, Christ our High Priest, prays for us and makes intercession for us as our Mediator. (John 17:9; Hebrew 7:25; I John 1:2; Romans 8:34; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4)

The Veil was the “door” leading into the Holy of Holies. The high priest entered only once a year. Before the priest could enter, he was required to make a sacrifice for his sins and wash his hands and feet, illustrating I John 1:9 (the Rebound Technique). No one except the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies until the Veil was torn in half when Christ died on the Cross. The removal of the Veil symbolized the fact that the sin barrier between God and man had been removed once and for all. (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 6:19-20; 10:19-22; John 10:7-10)

The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden box overlaid with pure gold, which measured about three and three-fourths feet long by two and one-fourth feet wide. (Exodus 25:10-22) It contained three items that were sacred to the nation of Israel: 1) The tablets of the Ten Commandments 2) A pot of manna 3) Aaron’s rod. The tablets represented the entire law of God, the pot of manna represented God’s daily provision, and Aaron’s rod represented God’s protection. The Ark of the Covenant was always carried ahead of the Israelites as they traveled, just as Christ went before us to pioneer the Christian Way of Life through the power of the Holy Spirit. (John 10:4; 15:1-27; Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 4:14-16)

The Mercy Seat was made of solid gold and was the lid or covering for the Ark of the Covenant. Two gold figurines of cherubim (guardian angels with wings) “guarded” each end of the Mercy Seat, symbolizing God’s presence and judgment against any sinful approach to Him. This was symbolically God’s throne and pictured His grace and mercy toward His people. The one time a year that the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies, where the Mercy Seat was located, he was to sprinkle blood on it to signify that an atonement had been made for the nation of Israel. It was above the Mercy Seat that the Shekinah Glory of God resided. The Greek word for mercy seat and propitiation is the same, “hilasterion,” referring to Christ’s payment for sin. Therefore, Christ is our “Mercy Seat.” (Romans 3:25)

There are over three hundred prophecies about the coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah in the Old Testament, spanning a period of about 4000 years, Genesis 3:15 being the first. The Hebrew word for Messiah is “mashiyach,” which means anointed one. It was often used of kings, priests, and prophets. The Greek word for Messiah is “messias,” which also means anointed one, as does the Greek word “christos” for Christ. Jesus Christ as God’s Anointed One is Prophet, Priest, and King and the promised Messiah of Israel in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. (Revelation 12:17; Romans 16:20; Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16; Hebrew 4:14-16, 7:2; Revelation 19:15-16; Mark 1:14-15)

In order to fulfill prophecy and legally claim the throne of King David, Jesus Christ had to come into this world by way of David’s royal line. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:14-15; Isaiah 4:2, 11:1) According to Psalms 2:7, the virgin birth of Christ was planned in eternity past. It was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 (700 BC) and it was fulfilled, as recorded in Luke 1:34-35, 2:8-14.

The Messiah had to be born in a specific place, which was Bethlehem, according to Micah 5:2 and this was fulfilled, according to Matthew 2:1-2. That Christ would be called Emmanuel (God with us) was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled, according to Matthew 1:18-23. The Davidic Covenant stated that David would have “a son” Who would reign forever (a reference to Jesus). (II Samuel 7, Psalms 89, II Chronicles 21) The lineage of Mary can be traced to David. (Luke 3:23-38) The lineage of Joseph can be traced to David, as well. (Matthew 1:1-17) Christ has both a birthright and a legal right to the throne of David, which will be set up during the Millennium, upon which Christ will sit and rule the world. (Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14)