Leviticus 1-5

“If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible” (5:17). From Genesis onward, humanity’s sins had created distance between the Creator and his creation. Now, the Lord had initiated a covenant of mercy with the Israelites, and an elaborate system of sacrifices and offerings temporarily covered their sins so that they could live as his holy people (ch 1-5).

Hebrews explains that the sacrifices were a “copy and shadow” of what Christ did for us, out of love (8:5). “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Heb 9:12).