THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Let us now return our attention to the rituals associated with sacrifices. Two young bulls are designated for a burnt offering and sacrifice, alongside one ram and seven flawless lambs, all of one year. The accompanying sacrifice consists of wheat flour, blended with oil, though not in equal portions: three-tenths for each bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each lamb. Additionally, a goat from the flock is presented as a sin offering.
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It is noted that all these offerings are made "except for the burnt offering always." Consider, therefore, how profound the impact of Immanuel's death is, to which He Himself declared, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a grain of wheat, when it falls into the ground, die not, it remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). In the first month, according to the law, a lamb is sacrificed in the likeness of Christ on the fourteenth day; complemented by bullocks, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings and sacrifices, these collectively symbolize the multitude called to holiness through faith and reflect their spiritual well-being. Without Christ's death on our behalf, we would have found no acceptance before God the Father, our offerings deemed unworthy amidst the aroma of incense. However, since He endured suffering, we are inspired to follow His example, presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice to God the Father and as a truly spiritual offering.
The two heifers indicate two nations: Israel and the Gentile converts. The single ram reflects our unity in Christ, who “made of both one, and broke down the barrier that stood in the midst, abolishing enmity by His flesh, and the law of commandments by teaching, that out of the two He might create in Himself one new man, making peace” (Ephesians 2:14-15). The seven lambs represent us all, now one in Christ, forming a large flock under the leadership of the supreme Shepherd, gathered from two flocks into one and characterized by a pure and blameless life. We strive to live in peace, honoring Him who was counted “with the lawless” and who bore the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:12), and who is represented by the goat. By mentioning the calf, the sheep, and the lamb, the law refers to the threefold aspects of the holy dwelling of the saints—the highest, the middle, and the lesser—where the physical dimensions of the animals symbolize the degree of spiritual prosperity. For didn't the Word of God also proclaim that the most fruitful ground yields three types of fruit reflective of gospel living? (Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Luke 8:8.) Indeed, as it is said, one yields “a hundred,” another “sixty,” and another “thirty.”