Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

BURNT-OFFERING ΤΟ THE LORD

A symbol of the offering up of the best of the lower desires (beasts) to the higher ideal, in order that they shall be purified by buddhi (fire), and so be transmuted.

"And Noah took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar." - GENESIS. viii. 20.

And every lower emotion and desire given up for the sake of an ideal, becomes the means of this offering of the lower self to the will of the Higher Self in reciprocal action between the two.

"The name given in Scripture to this species of sacrifice is olah, an ascension, so called from the whole being consumed and going up in a flame to the Lord. It also received the name kalil, the whole, with reference also to the entire consumption." - P. FAIRBURN, Typology of Scripture, Vol. II. p. 344.

"So far as it contained the blood of atonement, ever in the course of being presented for the covenant people, it shadowed forth Christ as the one and all for His people, in regard to deliverance from the guilt of sin-the fountain to which they must daily and hourly repair, to be washed of their uncleanness." - bid., p. 346.

"In the burnt-offering we have seen Jesus as our representative. His offering was offered for us'; therefore as He is, so are we in this world'; the measure of His acceptance is the measure of our acceptance.' - A. JUKES, The Law of the Offerings, p. 66.

"And when the burnt-offering is placed upon it he shall burn the fat of the peace offering' (LEV. vi. 12). For whoever kindles within himself this fire of love, places himself upon it as burnt offering, because he burns out every fault, which wickedly lived within him. For when he examines the secrets of his own thoughts, and sacrifices his wicked life, by the sword of conversion, he has placed himself on the altar of his own heart, and kindled himself with the fire of love. And the fat of the peace offerings smells sweetly from this victim; because the inward fatness of new love, making peace between ourselves and God, emits from us the sweetest odour. But since this selfsame love continues inextinguishable in the heart of the Elect, it is there fitly subjoined, 'This is that perpetual fire, which will never go out on the altar' (LEV. vi. 13). This fire in truth will never go out on the altar, because the glow of love increases in their minds even after this life." - GREGORY THE GREAT, Morals on the Book of Job, Vol. III. pp. 105-6.

See Also

ALTAR
BEASTS
FAT
FIRE
GOATS
HECATOMB
OFFERING
ROASTED
SACRIFICES (burnt)
SAVOUR