10 'But if his offering is from the flock , of the sheep or of the goats , for a burnt offering , he shall offer it a male without defect . 11 ' He shall slay it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord , and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar . 12 'He shall then cut it into its pieces with its head and its suet , and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar . 13 'The entrails , however, and the legs he shall wash with water . And the priest shall offer all of it, and offer it up in smoke on the altar ; it is a burnt offering , an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord . 14 'But if his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds , then he shall bring his offering from the turtledoves or from young pigeons . 15 'The priest shall bring it to the altar , and wring off its head and offer it up in smoke on the altar ; and its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar . 16 'He shall also take away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar eastward , to the place of the [1] ashes . 17 'Then he shall tear it by its wings , but shall not sever it. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is on the fire ; it is a burnt offering , an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 1:10-17
Commentary on Leviticus 1:10-17
(Read Leviticus 1:10-17)
Those who could not offer a bullock, were to bring a sheep or a goat; and those who were not able to do that, were accepted of God, if they brought a turtle-dove, or a pigeon. Those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were mild, and gentle, and harmless; to show the innocence and meekness that were in Christ, and that should be in Christians. The offering of the poor was as typical of Christ's atonement as the more costly sacrifices, and expressed as fully repentance, faith, and devotedness to God. We have no excuse, if we refuse the pleasant and reasonable service now required. But we can no more offer the sacrifice of a broken heart, or of praise and thanksgiving, than an Israelite could offer a bullock or a goat, except as God hath first given to us. The more we do in the Lord's service, the greater are our obligations to him, for the will, for the ability, and opportunity. In many things God leaves us to fix what shall be spent in his service, whether of our time or our substance; yet where God's providence has put much into a man's power, scanty offerings will not be accepted, for they are not proper expressions of a willing mind. Let us be devoted in body and soul to his service, whatever he may call us to give, venture, do, or suffer for his sake.