The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is beginning an exhaustive study of the Old Testament book of Leviticus. The key to the book of Leviticus is found in verses 45 and 46 a of chapter 11.
Leviticus 11:44-45 NIV I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
In the Old Testament, incredibly detailed laws were laid down regarding how sin should be dealt with. There was a whole sacrificial system that demonstrated the seriousness of sin and the need for cleansing from it, as sin was passed from the sinner to the animal, which was then killed.
Six basic offerings could be brought to the tabernacle altar.
They were burnt offering, grain offering, drink offering, fellowship or peace offering, sin offering, and guilt offering.
But ‘it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The old sacrificial system was only a shadow of what was to come. The reality came with the sacrifice of Jesus. Only the blood of Christ, the "once for all" sacrifice of atonement, can wash away your sin and remove its pollution. This is because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He alone lived a perfect life. Through his blood you receive God’s game-changing answer – a righteousness from God.
These are the notes to session 3 where we talk about the grain, drink, and fellowship (peace) offerings.
Lord, how can I ever thank you enough for the gift of ‘the righteousness from God’ by faith in Jesus? Thank you that because of your righteousness I can receive peace, forgiveness, freedom and cleansing through the blood of Jesus.
When worshippers wanted to express commitment to God, they brought the burnt offering, and along with it the grain or meal (“meat,” KJV) offering and the drink offering. Which we are going to talk about today. These offerings speak of total dedication to the Lord.
Numbers 15:2-5 NIV “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.
The fellowship (“peace,” KJV) offering has to do with communion with God, and the sin offering and the guilt (“trespass,” KJV) offerings deal with cleansing from God.
Each of these offerings met a specific need in the life of the worshipper and expressed some truth about the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s perfect sacrifice.
The meal, or grain offering (2:1–16; 6:14–23; 7:9–10)5 could be presented at the altar in one of five forms:
fine flour,
Leviticus 2:1-3 NIV “ ‘When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings presented to the Lord.
oven-baked cakes,
Leviticus 2:4 NIV “ ‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of the finest flour: either thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in or thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with olive oil.
cakes baked in a pan,
Leviticus 2:7 NIV If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of the finest flour and some olive oil.
cakes baked in a frying pan (on a griddle)
Leviticus 2:5-6 NIV If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of the finest flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
or crushed roasted heads of new grain.
Leviticus 2:14-15 NIV “ ‘If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, offer crushed heads of new grain roasted in the fire. Put oil and incense on it; it is a grain offering.
These cakes would resemble our modern baked pie crust or pizza dough. The officiating priest put only a portion of the offering on the altar—the “memorial portion” for the Lord—where it was consumed in the fire, and the rest of the offering went to the priests for their own personal use. Only the males in the family could eat it, and they had to do it in the holy place of the tabernacle and with unleavened bread. The only meal offering that was not eaten was the one presented each morning and evening by the high priest’s son, who would succeed him in office.
Leviticus 6:19-23 NIV The Lord also said to Moses, “This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to bring to the Lord on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening. It must be prepared with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The son who is to succeed him as anointed priest shall prepare it. It is the Lord’s perpetual share and is to be burned completely. Every grain offering of a priest shall be burned completely; it must not be eaten.”
Twice a day, God reminded His priests that they should maintain purity and integrity as they served Him.
Since grain represents the fruit of our labor, the meal offering was one way for the Jews to dedicate to God that which He had enabled them to produce.
The frankincense that was burned with the memorial portion represents prayer.
Psalms 141:2 NIV May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Revelation 5:8 NIV And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
This is a reminder of the petition “Give us this day our daily bread”. But the meal offering was not presented alone; it accompanied one of the sacrifices that involved the shedding of blood.
This is the only bloodless offering. However, it was never offered apart from blood but was normally accompanied by blood
Leviticus 23:10-13 NIV “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine.
Numbers 15:1-12 NIV The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. “ ‘With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin of olive oil, and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. “ ‘When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the Lord, bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil, and also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering. This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.
Often, the Meal Offering is mentioned in conjunction with the Burnt Offering, as it is very strongly associated with the Burnt Offering. Before the Meal Offering was placed upon the Altar, the Burnt Offering was given first. The Meal Offering was then placed upon the Burnt Offering so that the Meal Offering offered by fire always came in contact with blood.
Our hard work can never purchase salvation or earn the blessing of God, for apart from the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin
(Heb. 9:22).6 But those who have been saved by faith in the shed blood of Christ may dedicate to the Lord what He has enabled them to produce.
This offering represents Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life, the perfect one who nourishes our inner person as we worship Him and ponder His Word. This explains why God laid down such strict conditions for the offerer to meet before the meal offering would be accepted.
The offering had to be accompanied with oil either poured on it or mingled with it, a picture of the Holy Spirit of God, who was given to Christ without measure.
It also had to include salt, which speaks of our Lord’s purity of character. Jesus compared Himself to a grain of wheat.
John 12:23-25 NIV Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
and He was crushed (“fine flour”) and put through the furnace of suffering that He might save us from our sins.
Isaiah 53:5 NIV But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Leaven (yeast) and honey were prohibited from being included in the meal offering. The Jews would associate leaven with evil because of the Passover rules.
Exodus 12:19-20 NIV For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NIV Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Certainly, there was no sin in Jesus Christ. Honey is the sweetest thing nature produces, but our Lord’s perfect character was divine and not from this world. The fact that yeast and honey both ferments may also be a factor.
The drink offering is mentioned in Leviticus 23:13, 18, and 37, but its “laws” are not explained there.
Leviticus 23:12-13 NIV On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine.
Leviticus 23:12-13, 18, 37 NIV On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. (“ ‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day.
The Law about the drink offering is at Num 15:1–13.
Like the meal offering, the drink offering was presented after the animal sacrifices had been put on the altar and was a required part of the sacrifice.
Numbers 15:1-5 NIV The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.
“The fourth part of a hin of wine” would be about a quart of liquid. Neither the offerer nor the priest drank the wine because all of it was poured out on the altar.
The burnt offering, the meal, or grain offering, and the drink offering all represent dedication to God and commitment to Him and His work. The pouring out of the wine was a symbol of life being poured out in dedication to God. On the cross, Jesus was “poured out like water”
Psalms 22:14 NIV I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
and “poured out His life unto death”
Isaiah 53:10-12 NIV Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Paul saw himself “poured out like a drink offering” on behalf of the Philippians, joining in their sacrifice
Philippians 2:14-18 NIV Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
and in the Roman prison, he was already “being poured out like a drink offering” as he anticipated his martyrdom.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Fellowship or Peace Offering
Chapter 3 and the chapter 7:11-38 give the regulations for peace and fellowship offerings.
These offerings could be a female animal something not permitted for a burnt offering or sin offering
Leviticus 3:1-5 NIV “ ‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
There were similar rules for an animal from the flock (3: 6-11), or if the offering was a goat (3:12-16)
These sacrifices were going to be food for the priests and the offeror’s family. After the priest had completed the sacrifice, a substantial portion of the meat went to him; the rest went to the offerer, who could then enjoy a feast with his family and friends.
Since the Jews didn’t often slaughter their precious animals for meat, a dinner of beef or lamb would be a special occasion.
The peace offering meal, however, meant more than the enjoyment of good food and fellowship with loved ones. It was also an expression of joyful thanksgiving that the worshipper was at peace with God and in communion with God. He might be giving thanks for some unexpected blessing God sent him.
Leviticus 7:11-15 NIV “ ‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord: “ ‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast. They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.
Or perhaps he had made a vow to God, and God had answered his prayers; or maybe he was just thankful to God for everything God did for him and wanted to let everybody know.
Leviticus 7:15-18 NIV The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning. “ ‘If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted. It will not be reckoned to their credit, for it has become impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible.
The fellowship offering emphasized the fact that the forgiveness of sins resulted in communion with God and with God’s people.
Leviticus 7:11–38 lays down the conditions for the feast, what the people ate, what the priests ate, and what must be done with the leftovers. We just read about the leftovers in verses 15-18
The blood and the fat were given to God and were never to be used as common food.
Leviticus 3:17 NIV “ ‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’ ”
Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood. As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, (the raw, hard fat of beef, lamb or mutton found around the loins and kidneys). All of these fats and tissues are for the purpose of either holding, filtering, and storing waste products and toxins that can be harmful to the body. God knows the purpose of these fats and tissues and therefore, considers them as unfit for human consumption.
So in discussing about fat, God specifically identified the suet or greasy, hard fat of the animal as something dangerous to our health. God wants to make sure that these type of fats are burned during the sacrificial ceremony and therefore not be eaten by His people.
The blood was forbidden for the same reason, because it was God's part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that made atonement to be used as a common thing, Heb 10:29; nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honor of making it. Christ, as the Prince of peace, made peace with the blood of his cross. (There are also good hygienic reasons for this rule.)
Anybody who was defiled was forbidden to come to the feast and was “cut off” from their people.
Leviticus 7:20-21, 27 NIV But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord, they must be cut off from their people. Anyone who touches something unclean—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground—and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the Lord must be cut off from their people.’ ” Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from their people.’ ”
In some cases, “cut off from his people” could mean being sent “outside the camp” until the person followed God’s instructions for cleansing.
On the cross, Jesus Christ purchased reconciliation with God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And peace with God for all who will trust Him, and we can have fellowship with God and other believers because of His shed blood.
Colossians 1:19-20 NIV For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
We “feast” on Christ when we feed on His Word. Instead of bringing animals, we offer God “the sacrifice of thanksgiving” and “the sacrifice of praise” from pure hearts that are grateful for His mercies.
Psalms 116:17 NIV I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.
Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
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