Burnt Offerings: A Sweet Fragrance To God

The idea of a burnt offering being a pleasing aroma to God is mentioned several times in the Bible, notably in the book of Leviticus. The pleasing aroma is not about the smell itself but what it represents: the substitutionary atonement for sin. The aroma is a metaphor for the obedience of doing what God instructed his followers to do. The act of sacrifice is an outward act of love, where followers give up something valuable to them as a sign of their devotion, obedience, reverence, and love for God.

The aroma represents the substitutionary atonement for sin

The aroma of a sacrifice represents the substitutionary atonement for sin. This concept is mentioned in the book of Leviticus, where the aroma of a burnt offering is described as something pleasing to the Lord. The idea is not about the smell itself, but what it symbolises – the act of propitiation, or satisfaction, of God's righteous requirement.

The first mention of God smelling the aroma of a burnt offering is found in Genesis 8:21, when Noah offered a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. God was pleased with this sacrifice and promised never again to destroy every living creature with a flood.

The New Testament reveals Christ as the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation: "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus, as the Son of God, was the only one who could provide an eternally pleasing sacrifice.

The concept of substitutionary atonement is central to Western Christian theology. It asserts that Jesus died for humanity, taking on the punishment for our sins as a substitute. This idea is known as vicarious atonement, meaning that Jesus died "for us".

The word "atonement" originally meant "at-one-ment", signifying reconciliation and harmony with God. In the Old Testament, atonement was accomplished through the sacrifice of specified animals, such as lambs, to pay for one's sins. However, these sacrifices could never fully atone for the sins of mankind, and Jesus came to provide the ultimate sacrifice.

The aroma of the burnt offering, rising up to God as a pleasing fragrance, symbolises the substitutionary atonement made possible through Jesus' death. It represents the reconciliation of sinners with a holy God and the satisfaction of God's righteous requirements.

The aroma is pleasing because of the atonement

The pleasing aroma of a burnt offering to God is mentioned several times in the Bible. The first instance is in Genesis 8:21, when Noah offers a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. God found the aroma pleasing and promised never again to destroy every living creature with a flood.

The pleasing aroma of burnt offerings is also mentioned in Leviticus, in connection with the various offerings of Jewish tabernacle worship. For example, Leviticus 1:9 says:

> "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The importance of the aroma of a sacrifice is not the smell itself but what the smell represents—the substitutionary atonement for sin. The "pleasing aroma" is also mentioned in Leviticus 1:9 and 13, emphasising the action of propitiation rather than the actual smoke of the burnt offering. The same is true in Leviticus 2 regarding the grain offering.

The pleasing aroma of a burnt offering is also mentioned in Exodus 29:25:

> "Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a food offering presented to the Lord."

The New Testament reveals Christ as the final sacrifice for sin, the ultimate propitiation:

> "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2).

Jesus, the Son of God, was the only one who could provide the eternally pleasing sacrifice.

The aroma is pleasing because of the relationship and friendship with God it signifies

The aroma of a burnt offering is pleasing to God because it signifies the relationship and friendship with Him. The Jews performed sacrifices to atone for their sins and restore their relationship with God. The Bible mentions that God is pleased with the commitment to offer worship in His name and the substitutionary atonement for sin.

The aroma of the burnt offering is a symbol of the worshipper's devotion and obedience to God. It represents the proper worship of God, with the sweet fragrance of frankincense contributing to His satisfaction. The Bible also mentions that the aroma is pleasing because it comes from sacrifices made with the best and most costly offerings.

The burnt offering is a way for unholy people to dwell in the midst of a holy God. It is a reminder of their sinfulness and God's holiness, with the smoke and fragrance rising as a prayer to God. The Bible states that Jesus is the final sacrifice and the only one who can wash away sins, making the aroma of the burnt offering eternally pleasing to God.

The aroma is a metaphor for the obedience of doing what God instructed

The aroma of a burnt offering is a metaphor for the obedience of doing what God instructed. In the book of Leviticus, an "aroma" is mentioned sixteen times as something pleasing to God. However, the importance of the aroma lies not in the smell itself but in what it represents—the substitutionary atonement for sin.

The first mention of God smelling the aroma of a burnt offering is in Genesis 8:21, when Noah offered a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. God found this pleasing, and it served as a propitiation, or satisfaction, of God's righteous requirement.

The "pleasing aroma" is also mentioned in Leviticus in connection with various offerings, including the grain offering. The significance of the aroma lies in the act of propitiation, rather than the actual smoke of the burnt offering. The sweet fragrance of frankincense, for instance, represents God's satisfaction in experiencing the proper worship of Him.

The burnt offering was a vicarious offering, where the animal takes the place of the worshipper, who lays their hands on the animal, transferring their guilt and identifying the animal as their substitute. This act of sacrifice, therefore, symbolises obedience and devotion to God, and it is this obedience that is pleasing to God, rather than the aroma itself.

The aroma is pleasing because of the effort and cost of the offering

The pleasing aroma of a burnt offering to God is mentioned several times in the Bible, specifically in the books of Leviticus and Genesis. The aroma is not important because of the smell itself, but because of what the smell represents: the substitutionary atonement for sin.

The pleasing aroma is mentioned in connection with the various offerings of Jewish tabernacle worship. In Leviticus, the priest is instructed to burn the entirety of the offering on the altar, as a "burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord." This is also mentioned in Leviticus 2 regarding the grain offering, which "had an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The first mention of God smelling the aroma of a burnt offering is found in Genesis 8:21, when Noah offers a burnt offering of clean animals and birds after leaving the ark. This was a "pleasing aroma" to God, and as a result, God promised never again to destroy every living creature with a flood.

The pleasing aroma of a burnt offering is also mentioned in the context of the yearly Feast of Weeks, where the focus is on the redemption of sinners. The offering includes "seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams," along with grain and drink offerings, creating "an aroma pleasing to the Lord."

The effort and cost of the offering are significant factors in making the aroma pleasing to God. The worshipper is instructed to bring the best and most costly offering they can afford, and the animal must be without blemish. The offering is to be "the best of what the worshipper has to give." This demonstrates the worshipper's commitment to offering worship to God and their recognition of God's holiness.

The burnt offering is a vicarious offering, where the animal takes the place of the worshipper. By laying their hands on the animal, the worshipper symbolically transfers their guilt to the animal, which will be sacrificed in their place. This act of substitutionary atonement is a central theme in the Bible, with Jesus ultimately being the final sacrifice for sin and the only one who can provide an eternally pleasing sacrifice.

Frequently asked questions