Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 1:3

3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish : he shall offer it of his own voluntary will , at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD.

Strictly so called, such as was to be all burnt, the skin excepted, Levit. 7. 8. See Gen. 8. 20. and 1 King. 3. 15. For otherwise every sacrifice was burnt, more or less. These sacrifices did partly signifie, that the whole man, in whose stead the sacrifice was offered, was to be intirely and unreservedly offered or devoted to Gods service; and that the whole man did deserve to be utterly consumed, if God should deal severely with him; and directed us to serve the Lord with all singleness of heart without self-ends, and to be ready to offer to God even such sacrifices or services wherein we our selves should have no part nor benefit.

As being more perfect than the female, Mal. 1. 14. and more truly representing Christ.

Of which see Exod. 29. 1. Levit. 22. 22, &c. To signify, 1. that God should be served with the best of every kind. 2. that man, represented by these sacrifices, should aim at all purity and perfection of heart and life, and that Christians should one day attain to it, Eph. 5. 27. 3. the spotless and compleat holiness of Christ, Heb. 9. 13, 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. and 2. 22.

According to this translation, the place speaks onely of free-will offerings, or such as were not prescribed by God to be offered in course, but were offered at the pleasure and by the voluntary devotion of any person either by way of supplication for any mercy which he needed or desired, or by way of thanksgiving for any favour or blessing received. But it may seem improper to restrain the rules here given to freewill offerings, which were to be observed in other offerings also. And the Hebrew word is by the [illegible: 1 word] Chaldee, Syr. and Arab. and others rendred to this purpose, for his acceptation, or that he may be accepted with God, or that God may be atoned, as it is ver. 4. And so this phrase is used, Levit. 23. 11.

In the Court near to the door, where the Altar stood, ver. 5. For here it was to be sacrificed, and here also the people might behold the oblation of it. And this further signified, that men could have no entrance neither into the earthly tabernacle, the Church, nor into the heavenly tabernacle of glory, but by Christ, who is the door, Io[illegible: 1+ letters]. 10. 7, 9. by whom alone we have access to God.

Marginal references: Or, to be [illegible: 1+ letters] ted for him. Isa. 56. 7. & 58. 5. & 6[illegible: 1+ letters] Jer. 6. 20.