Bible History

Tabernacle, Priesthood and Offerings

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I. THE TABERNACLE

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

1. The Heavenly Temple (Ex.25:8-9; Heb.8:1-2; 9:24-25; Rev.11:19; 15:5-8)

2. The Portable Temple – Tabernacle (Ex.39:32; I Sam.1:9; 3:3)

3. Solomon’s Temple (I Kgs.6:1,37-38; II Chr.3:1-2)

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

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

6. Tribulation Temple (Dan.9:27; 11:31; 12:11; II Thes.2:3-4)

7. Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezek.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 (Ex.27:9-19)

b. Contained the brasen altar and the laver

2. The Holy Place

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

b. Place of priestly service (Ex.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 (Ex.26:33-34)

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

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

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

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

C. The Structure of the Tabernacle

1. The Materials (Ex.25:1-7)

2. The Framework (Ex.26:15-30)

3. The Covering (Ex.26:1-14)

4. The Veil (Ex.26:31-33)

5. The Court (Ex.27:9-15)

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

7. The Colors (Ex.25:1,31; 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 (Ex.38:1-7)

a. 5 by 5 cubits

b. Picture of judgment and sacrifice

2. Laver (Ex.30:17-21)

a. Made of mirrors (Ex.38:8)

b. Picture of cleansing

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

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

b. Contained 12 loaves (Ex.40:23; Lev.24:5-8)

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

4. Candlestick (Ex.25:31-40)

a. On south or left side

b. 7 lamps and 22 almond-shaped bowls

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

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

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

a. Before the veil

b. 2 by 2 cubits

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

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

a. In the Most Holy Place

b. 2 ½ by 1 ½ by 1 ½ cubits

c. Contents (Heb.9:3-4)

(1) Pot of manna

(2) Aaron’s rod

(3) Ten Commandments

d. Picture of the presence of God

7. Mercy Seat (Ex.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 Qualification of a Priest

1. Born to Aaron’s line (Ex.28:1; I Chr.6:49-53)

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

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

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

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

B. The Work of a Priest

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

2. To service the tabernacle

a. Burn incense

b. Trim the candlestick

c. Change the shewbread

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

e. Remove the ashes

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

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

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

6. To teach the law (Lev.10:8,11; II Chr.15:3; Mal.2:7)

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

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

1. Coat (Ex.28:39)

2. Robe (Ex.28:31-35)

3. Ephod (Ex.28:6-14)

4. Breastplate (Ex.28:15-29)

5. Girdle (Ex.39:29)

6. Mitre (Ex.28:39; 39:28)

7. Crown (Ex.28:36-38)

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

1. Like Aaron

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

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

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

d. Called of God (Heb.5:4-5)

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

2. Unlike Aaron

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

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

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

III. THE OFFERINGS

A. Burnt Offering (Lev.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 (Lev.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 Rom.12:1)

C. Peace Offering (Lev.3)

1. Made for special thanksgiving

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

3. Pictures Christ’s work of reconciliation (II Cor.5:21)

D. Sin Offering (Lev.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 (Lev.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

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