Bible History
Tabernacle, Priesthood and Offerings
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