Leviticus 1:4

Accepted for him. The animal brought as a sacrifice was considered a substitute for the sinner. It was to be accepted “for” him, that is, instead of him. Inasmuch as the substitute was a symbol of Christ, it too must be perfect (ch. 22:25).

A solemn and essential part of the ritual was the placing of the hand of the offerer upon the head of the victim. The word samak, “put,” means “to lean” with one’s weight, an act by which the penitent sinner represented his utter dependence upon the substitute. As to the meaning of this, commentators, ancient and modern, understand that it signifies a symbolic transfer of his sins from the offerer to the victim, or the substitution of the victim to die in the sinner’s place. “The laying of hands upon the victim’s head is an ordinary rite by which the substitution and the transfer of sins are effected.” “In every sacrifice there is the idea of substitution; the victim takes the place of the human sinner” (Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 2, p. 286, art. “Atonement, Day of”).

Inasmuch as Christians now by faith lay their sins on Jesus, the Lamb of God, it seems fitting to find in the sacrificial service a ceremony typifying this. In the ritual of the burnt offering we find this mirrored; in fact, the laying on of the hand was required in all cases where sin was involved. The Christian sees in the ceremony of the laying on of the hand and leaning on the victim a type of his own dependence upon Christ for salvation. In so leaning we place our sins upon Him, and He takes our place on the altar, a sacrifice “holy, acceptable unto God” (Rom. 12:1).

Having followed the directions God gave, the repentant sinner could be sure that the victim was accepted in his stead. Even so, we too may be assured that as we follow God’s directions we may be accepted in Christ, our Substitute, knowing that He takes our place on the altar — that He has, in truth, already done so on the cross. He died for us, instead of us, and because He died we shall live.