Leviticus 2-3 | Sunday March 2, 2025
Last week we studied the whole burnt offering. It was the most common offering and the first of three offerings that are a pleasing aroma to God. I will remind you the offerings are presented and grouped by themes, not in order of how they were given. The whole burnt offering was a worshipful response to God. It pointed to Jesus who gave all of Himself in full surrender to God. The whole burnt offering made atonement, or covered the sinner. This week we will look at the grain offering and the peace offering. Both are pleasing aromas to God but neither make atonement.
Leviticus 2:1-16 ESV
(1) “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it (2) and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (3) But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings. (4) “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil. (5) And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil. (6) You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. (7) And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. (8) And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. (9) And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (10) But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD's food offerings. (11) “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD. (12) As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma. (13) You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. (14) “If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. (15) And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. (16) And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD.
Leviticus 3:1-17 ESV
(1) “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. (2) And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. (3) And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, (4) and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. (5) Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (6) “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. (7) If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD, (8) lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. (9) Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the LORD its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails (10) and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. (11) And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD. (12) “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD (13) and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. (14) Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails (15) and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. (16) And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD's. (17) It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”
For the grain offering fine flour was to be offered with oil and could be prepared in a variety of ways. This offering is also called a cereal and meal offering. The King James translated the idea of meal as meat, even though no meat is present in this offering. Unlike the whole burnt offering some of the offering would be given to the priest who were allowed to eat it. The flour could be presented in a variety of ways. It could be raw and mixed with oil, baked in an oven or on a griddle, lastly even cooked in a pan (fried).
The grain offering is unique in that it does not involve blood. It is an offering of the fruit of the ground. The grain that is offered is the result of humanity’s labor and work. This idea is emphasized in the extra work of milling, and preparing the offering. This does not violate Cain’s offering not being accepted because notice no atonement is made. This offering is without blood and the sinner is not atoned by it. There is no laying of hands on the offering either. The grain offering was a worshipping and glorifying God through humanity’s labor.
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
(31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We are called to give glory to God in whatever we do. Whether eating or drinking, even at work. The whole burnt offering was a worship to give all of ourselves in response to God. The grain offering is then worshiping Him with what He produced through us. It was the product of the ground the grain that was offered and even this was only possible through God’s grace. Notice what had to be mixed with the offering.
Leviticus 2:1-2 ESV
(1) “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
(2) and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
Frankincense and oil was added to the grain offering. Frankincense was used as a perfume to add to the smell of the offering. The New Testament points out what frankincense represents.
Revelation 5:8 ESV
(8) And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The frankincense went up in smoke and represented the prayers going up to God. This is why in God’s throne room we see bowls of incense, which are our prayers.
We will never be able to glorify God through our work if we are not lifting it up to Him in prayer. Through prayer God helps direct our path and prayer helps keep our heart focused on God. Prayer helps remind us of the other element mixed in with the grain offering, oil. Oil is throughout the grain offering and is mentioned in verses 1,2,4,5,6,7,15, and 16.
Leviticus 2:4 ESV
(4) “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
Oil has to be mixed into the fruit of man’s work. Oil was used for anointing and setting something apart for use by God. Often oil is tied to the Holy Spirit. We can see both as David is anointed as the next King.
1 Samuel 16:12-13 ESV
(12) And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”
(13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
David had been set apart, anointed to God and the Holy Spirit came upon Him. To honor God with our labor they need to be set apart and empowered by the Holy Spirit. After this moment Daivd was still the same ruddy young man, but His purpose and what empowered Him had changed. Most of or our labors will probably look the same, but they need to be through the power of the Spirit and set apart to God.
Colossians 1:28-29 ESV
(28) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
(29) For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within Me.
Paul understood that each aspect of His life was set apart for God. He also realized that for anything eternal to happen in his life it had to come through the power of Jesus working in Him, through the Holy Spirit. For the grain to be accepted certain things had to be left out as well.
Leviticus 2:11-12 ESV
(11) “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD.
(12) As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.
For the grain offering both leaven and honey were forbidden. Verse 12 gives the clarification that for the first fruit offering they could be included. Notice that the first fruit offering mentioned is not burnt on the altar. We will look at this offering later in the book at the feast of First fruits. Leaven caused fermentation and this is why honey is included because it ferments as well. Leaven in particular is used in scripture to describe the souring and spreading effect of sin.
Psalm 73:21-22 ESV
(21) When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
(22) I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
As Asaph describes a moment when He began to question God He literally says His soul was leavened, soured. Sin continues to grow and sour us against God.
1 Corinthians 5:4-8 ESV
(4) When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
(5) you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
(6) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
(7) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
(8) Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The Corinthian church was to deal with sin in a believers life very seriously. When sin is ignored or not disciplined the leaven continues to spread. So many misunderstand grace and choose not to deal with sin. When we do this, the leaven begins to spread. We are unleavened in Jesus. We get to worship Him in a sincerity and truth through His purification in our life. While leaven and honey were excluded because of the fermentation notice what needed to be included in the offering.
Leviticus 2:13 ESV
(13) You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Salt is viewed as the opposite of the fermenting leaven and honey. Salt preserves while leaven corrupts. The salt spoke of God’s faithfulness in preserving His covenant promises to Israel. Salt is not even destroyed by fire. God had made a covenant of Salt with Israel. Salt was to be present in all the offerings as a constant reminder of God’s covenantal faithfulness. He was the one who was true to His promises.
2 Chronicles 13:5 ESV
(5) Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?
God’s promises is forever and will not perish just as salt. God will give a king over Isreal through David, and we know that is Jesus. God wanted Israel to be reminded of His faithfulness in each offering. He is the great covenant keeper who is worthy of all worship and praise! We come to worship a God who gave us a covenant of salt. This worship continues in the peace offering.
Leviticus 3:1 ESV
(1) “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
The peace offering is also called the fellowship offering. In chapter 7 we will be given more specific instructions on the three types of the peace offering. This offering is unique in that a male or female animal can be brought. The peace offering is pointing to the peace and unity that Jesus secured through His death.
Galatians 3:27-28 ESV
(27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
There is a tremendous unity and equal footing in Jesus. Through His perfect sacrifice the Jew and Gentile can be unified, even the male and female. No one group, gender, race, or social status is accepted by their own merit outside of Jesus. We all need Him and He secured this peace. Both male and female animals being offered point to this peace.
The peace offering is also very unique in the fellowship meal that went with the offering. Most of the animal was given back to the worshiper to enjoy as a feast. We will spend time in chapter 7 looking at this meal God has invited us into. Today lets focus on what part was offered up to God on the Altar.
Leviticus 3:3-5 ESV
(3) And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
(4) and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.
(5) Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
God wanted the fat. The specific parts of the animal that are listed focus on the richest and fattiest parts of the animal. The kidneys are also mentioned in that they were viewed as the seat of emotion to the Hebrews. We talk about our heart, being where our emotions reside. For the jews it was in the reins. The pieces offered point to a worshipful emotional giving of the best to God. Fat being valued is hard to understand in our culture.
Psalms 81:16 YLT
(16) He causeth him to eat of the fat of wheat, And with honey from a rock I satisfy thee!
The fat was the best. So even in wheat, fat is used to describe the best choicest part. This is really emphasized when we understand the specific part of the lamb God asked to be offered.
Leviticus 3:9 ESV
(9) Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the LORD its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails
The entire fat tail of the lamb was to be offered to God. This doesn’t make much sense to us until we see a picture of a the type of sheep from that region of the world. Sheep were intentional bred to enhance the tail. It was the best, fattiest part.
Leviticus 3:16 ESV
(16) And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD's.
All fat is God’s. God’s desire for the fat is wholly different from the worlds understanding of religion. The world wants to be accepted by God through giving their own works and labor, and offering God their best. The grain offering and the peace offering do not bring atonement! We are not accepted by God based on our works on our best. After we accept Jesus, after we are covered by His blood, then we joyfully worship Him with our works and our best. As a response in worship to our amazing God.
Psalm 36:7-9 KJV
(7) How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
(8) They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
(9) For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.