Matthew Henry Commentary Leviticus 1:3-9

"If his oblation be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish: he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. And he shall kill the bullock before Jehovah: and Aaron`s sons, the priests, shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting. And he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into its pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay wood in order upon the fire; and Aaron`s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water: and the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah." — Leviticus 1:3-9 (ASV)

In the proper performance of the Levitical ordinances, the mysteries of the spiritual world are represented by corresponding natural objects, and future events are exhibited in these rites. Without this, the whole will seem meaningless ceremonies. There is in these things a type of the sufferings of the Son of God, who was to be a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The burning body of an animal was only a faint representation of that everlasting misery which we all have deserved, and which our blessed Lord bore in his body and in his soul when he died under the load of our iniquities. Observe:

1. The beast to be offered must be without blemish. This signified the strength and purity that were in Christ, and the holy life that should be in his people.
2. The owner must offer it of his own free will. What is done in religion, to please God, must be done by love. Christ willingly offered himself for us.
3. It must be offered at the door of the tabernacle, where the brazen altar of burnt-offerings stood, which sanctified the gift: he must offer it at the door, as one unworthy to enter, and acknowledging that a sinner can have no communion with God, but by sacrifice.
4. The offerer must put his hand upon the head of his offering, thus signifying his desire and hope that it might be accepted from him, to make atonement for him.
5. The sacrifice was to be killed before the Lord, in an orderly manner, and to honour God. It also signified that in Christians the flesh must be crucified with its corrupt affections and lust.
6. The priests were to sprinkle the blood upon the altar; for the blood, being the life, was what made atonement. This signified the pacifying and purifying of our consciences by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ upon them by faith.
7. The beast was to be divided into several pieces and then burned upon the altar. The burning of the sacrifice signified the sharp sufferings of Christ, and the devout affections with which, as a holy fire, Christians must offer up themselves, their whole spirit, soul, and body, to God.
8. This is said to be an offering of a sweet savour. As an act of obedience to a Divine command and a type of Christ, this was well-pleasing to God; and the spiritual sacrifices of Christians are acceptable to God, through Christ (1 Peter 2:5).