Listen:	Download:
MP3 (Part 1)	X (Part 1) (Right Click and Save as)
MP3 (Part 2)	X (Part 2) (Right Click and Save as)

Printable Version (For this lesson print pages 18-21)

Bible History

Tabernacle, Priesthood and Offerings

I.                    THE TABERNACLE

A.      The Seven Temples (as an edifice used for worship)

1.    The Heavenly Temple (Exodus 25:8-9; Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:24-25; Revelation 11:19; 15:5-8)

2.    The Portable Temple – Tabernacle (Exodus 39:32; 1Samuel 1:9; 3:3)

3.    Solomon’s Temple (1Kings 6:1,37-38; 2Chronicles 3:1-2)

4.    Zerubbabel’s Temple (Ezra 3:8-13; 6:14-15; Zechariah 4:6-10; Haggai 1:14-15; 2:1-4)

5.    Herod’s Temple (Matthew 24:1-2; John 2:20)

6.    Tribulation Temple (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; 2Thessalonians 2:3-4)

7.    Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezekiel 40:1-2; 41:1; 43:1-5; chap.40-43)

B.       The Plan of the Tabernacle

1.    The Court of the Tabernacle

a.       100 by 50 cubits (Exodus 27:9-19)

b.      Contained the brasen altar and the laver

2.    The Holy Place

a.       Separated from the Holy Place by the veil (Exodus 26:33; see Matthew 27:50-51)

b.      Place of priestly service (Exodus 35:19; 38:24; 39:1,41)

c.       Contained the candlestick, the table of shewbread and the altar of incense

3.    The Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33-34)

a.       Contained the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat

b.      Entered only by the high priest once a year (Leviticus 16:1-2,11-16,34)

c.       Sometimes just called the holy place (Exodus 28:33-35)

d.      Called the Holiest of all (Hebrews 9:3,8)

C.      The Structure of the Tabernacle

1.    The Materials (Exodus 25:1-7)

2.    The Framework (Exodus 26:15-30)

3.    The Covering (Exodus 26:1-14)

4.    The Veil (Exodus 26:31-33)

5.    The Court (Exodus 27:9-15)

6.    The Gate of the Court (Exodus 27:16)

7.    The Colors (Exodus 26:1,31; 27:16; 28:5-6)

a.       Blue – Heaven

b.      Purple – Royal

c.       Scarlet – Blood

d.      Gold – Redemption

e.       White – Purity

D.      The Furniture of the Tabernacle

1.    Brasen Altar (Exodus 38:1-7)

a.       5 by 5 cubits

b.      Picture of judgment and sacrifice

2.    Laver (Exodus 30:17-21)

a.       Made of mirrors (Exodus 38:8)

b.      Picture of cleansing

3.    Table of Shewbread (Exodus 37:10-16)

a.       On the north or right side on entering (Exodus 40:22)

b.      Contained 12 loaves (Exodus 40:23; Leviticus 24:5-8)

c.       Picture of word of God as the bread of life (Deuteronomy 8:3)

4.    Candlestick (Exodus 25:31-40)

a.       On south or left side

b.      7 lamps and 22 almond-shaped bowls

c.       To burn continually (Exodus 27:20-21; Leviticus 24:1-4)

d.      Picture of illumination of God through the word and the Spirit

5.    Altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-8)

a.       Before the veil

b.      1 by 1 cubit

c.       Pictures prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:4)

6.    Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-16; 37:1-5)

a.       In the Most Holy Place

b.      2 ½ by 1 ½ by 1 ½ cubits

c.       Contents (Hebrews 9:3-4)

(1)   Pot of manna

(2)   Aaron’s rod

(3)   Ten Commandments

d.      Picture of the presence of God

7.    Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:17-22; 37:6-9)

a.       Sat on top of the ark

b.      With two cherubim

c.       Picture of God’s mercy

II.                 THE PRIESTHOOD

A.      The Qualifications of a Priest

1.    Born to Aaron’s line (Exodus 28:1; 1Chronicles 6:49-53)

2.    Blameless in person (Leviticus 21:16-24)

3.    Holy in life (Leviticus 21:1-15)

4.    Mature in years (Numbers 4:3,23,30,35,47)

5.    Consecrated for service (Exodus 29:1-9; 40:15)

B.       The Work of a Priest

1.    Generally, to approach God on the behalf of man (Hebrews 5:1)

2.    To service the tabernacle

a.       Burn incense

b.      Trim the candlestick

c.       Change the shewbread

d.      Keep the altar fire burning (Leviticus 6:9,13)

e.       Remove the ashes

3.    To offer sacrifices to God (Exodus 29:38-44)

4.    To deal with people concerning their cleanness:  lepers, purification of women, etc.

5.    To judge causes (Deuteronomy 17:9; 19:17-19; 21:5)

6.    To teach the law (Leviticus 10:8,11; 2Chronicles 15:3; Malachi 2:7)

7.    To make atonement for the people (Leviticus 4:20; 5:6; 16:6-7,15-19)

C.      The Garments of the Priest (Exodus 29:5-6)

1.    Coat (Exodus 28:39)

2.    Robe (Exodus 28:31-35)

3.    Ephod (Exodus 28:6-14)

4.    Breastplate (Exodus 28:15-29)

5.    Girdle (Exodus 39:29)

6.    Mitre (Exodus 28:39; 39:28)

7.    Crown (Exodus 28:36-38)

D.      Christ as Our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14)

1.    Like Aaron

a.       Taken from among men (Hebrews 5:1)

b.      Represents man to God (Hebrews 5:1)

c.       Offers sacrifices for sin (Hebrews 5:1)

d.      Called of God (Hebrews 5:4-5)

e.       Has compassion on the people (Hebrews 5:2,7)

2.    Unlike Aaron

a.       No offering for Himself (Hebrews 5:3; 9:25)

b.      Entered the heavenly temple (Hebrews 9:24)

c.       One offering satisfied all (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10-14)

III.               THE OFFERINGS

A.      Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1)

1.    General offering for sin indicating complete dedication

2.    Entire offering to be burnt (v.8-9)

3.    Must be given voluntarily (v.3)

4.    Pictures Christ’s entire sacrifice of Himself 

B.       Meat Offering (Leviticus 2)

1.    A memorial offering of thanksgiving (v.2,12)

2.    A portion burnt; the remainder eaten by the priests (v.9-10)

3.    The only bloodless sacrifice

4.    Offered without leaven (v.11)

5.    Offered with salt (v.13) and oil (v.1)

6.    Pictures the living consecration of Christ (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; see Romans 12:1)

C.      Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)

1.    Made for special thanksgiving

2.    Fat portions burnt; remainder eaten (Leviticus 22:29-30)

3.    Pictures Christ’s work of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:21)

D.      Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)

1.    For discovered sins of ignorance (v.1-2)

2.    Fat portions burnt; remainder eaten

3.    Pictures the redemption of Christ for our sin guilt

E.       Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5)

1.    For committed sins (v.1-6)

2.    Fat portions burnt; remainder eaten

3.    Pictures the redemption of Christ for our practice of sin