The purpose of the burnt offering was explained in Leviticus 1:3. The sacrifice is presented to the Lord so that, by faith, the worshipper could be assured of the Lord’s forgiveness. The priests are sinful men who are in need of being reconciled to God, just like other sinful men. The burnt offering symbolizes that the priests have dedicated themselves to the Lord and that they have abandoned all earthly desires.
18 Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.