God required burnt offerings to be male without blemish to reflect His holiness, perfection, and the seriousness of atonement for sin. These requirements were not arbitrary but deeply symbolic, pointing to purity, strength, and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
Leviticus 1:3 states:
“If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord.”
The animal had to be male, representing strength and completeness. It had to be without blemish, symbolizing moral and spiritual purity. God does not accept what is defective or corrupted in His presence, for He Himself is holy (Leviticus 22:20).
This requirement pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the sinless and perfect Lamb of God:
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18–19)
The command for a perfect sacrifice emphasized that sin is costly and reconciliation with God requires a pure substitute. It was a shadow of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, who fulfilled the Law’s demands completely.
