Leviticus 9

Lamb of God

And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Leviticus 9:3

A young, spotless lamb offered for the people foreshadows Jesus, the Lamb without blemish.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a traditional type, cited · another scripture interprets it of Him

• a type of what is in 1 Peter 1:19 — The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Jehovah promises to appear

Jehovah — the LORD, the eternal I AM

Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you. Leviticus 9:4–6

Moses promises that when the offerings are made as commanded, the LORD will show His glory. The God who appeared at the tabernacle is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, who still promises that the humble and obedient shall see His face.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

High priest who offers first for himself

And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. Leviticus 9:7

Aaron had to offer for his own sins before he could offer for the people. Hebrews points to this very order to show that Jesus, being sinless, never needed to.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 7:27 — Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's.
• alluded to by Hebrews 5:3 — As for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Sin offering burned without the camp

Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. Leviticus 9:8–11

Again the sin offering's body is burned outside the camp, the detail Hebrews ties to Jesus suffering outside Jerusalem's gate.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 13:11-12 — Burned without the camp; wherefore Jesus also suffered without the gate.

The High Priest who blesses and comes out again

And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. Leviticus 9:22–23

After the sacrifice, the high priest lifts his hands to bless, enters God's tabernacle, and comes back out to bless the waiting people. Christ blessed His disciples with lifted hands as He ascended, entered heaven for us, and will appear again.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Luke 24:50-51 — He lifted up his hands, and blessed them, and was carried up into heaven.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 9:24 — Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 9:28 — Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time.

Glory of Jehovah accepts the offering

Jehovah — the LORD, the eternal I AM

And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. Leviticus 9:23–24

Jehovah shows His glory and sends fire to accept the sacrifice, and the people fall down in worship. The same Lord appeared in glory to accept the Kirtland Temple and declared Himself the one who was slain.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in Doctrine and Covenants 110:3-4 — Jehovah appears in His temple: I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain.