LEVITICUS - CHAPTER 3
A
Bible Study - Commentary by Jim Melough
Copyright
2000, 2004 James Melough
THE
PEACE OFFERING
3:1.
"And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the
herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before
the Lord."
The peace offering represents
Christ as the One through Whom
we have peace, "He hath made
peace by the blood of his cross," Colossians 1:20; "We have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1. It is instructive to note that the
fowls were never prescribed for the peace offering, for, as noted already, they
speak of spiritual immaturity, and experience teaches that immaturity and deep
settled peace are rarely found together. The immature saint, like the carnal
saint, is often troubled with doubts and fears. It is equally instructive to
remember that fowls were the offering of poverty, but, as already noted, literal
poverty speaks of spiritual poverty. The peace offering could be offered only
by those who could afford to bring the more costly animals. The cost of the
animal reflected the financial status of the offerer, but in Scripture the
financial status is used typologically to portray the spiritual state of the
individual.
The peace offering, in Hebrew
is always in the plural except in Amos 5:22 (BKC). The reason appears to be
that it was, as it were, several offerings in one: there was a part for God, a
part for the officiating priest, and a part for the offerer himself. The
exception recorded in Amos is instructive, for there God, offended by Israel’s
sin, rejected their offerings. In other words, there was nothing in them for
Him, or for the priests, or for the offerer. It had degenerated into an empty
ritual.
Inasmuch as the offering could
be male or female (the male portraying activity of the will; and the female,
corresponding submission), the lesson being conveyed is that if we would enjoy
peace with God, there must be not just the passive obedience which refrains from
doing wrong, but also the active obedience that does what God commands: we must
also be busy doing what is right. For example, it isn’t enough to refrain from
lying: I must also be proclaiming the truth of the gospel.
As discussed already, the lack
of blemish in the animal portrays the moral perfection of Christ.
“...before the Lord” is the
reminder that it isn’t enough to be right in the eyes of men: we must be right
also in the eyes of God Who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart
(mind).
3:2.
“And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall
sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.”
The laying of the offerer’s
hand upon the animal’s head speaks of the complete identification of the offerer
with his offering. The believer is completely identified with Christ, as it is
written, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
(confidence) in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world”
1 John 4:17.
The killing of the animal
speaks of Christ’s death as the foundation of our peace.
“...at the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation” is the symbolic reminder that it is the Lord’s
death which gives us immediate access to God, and the ability to enter into His
presence without fear.
Aaron’s sons represent us as a
royal kingdom of priests, so that their sprinkling the blood on the altar is the
assurance that Christ’s precious blood is available to us to place on the altar
to atone for (cover) all our sins.
When from the herd, it
portrays Christ as the mighty, patient Servant, as presented in the Gospel of
Mark. When a male was offered it spoke of the activity of His will; when a
female, it spoke of the passivity of His will. God’s permitting the offerer to
bring either a male or a female animal may be to remind us that the enjoyment of
peace involves both the activity and the passivity of our wills. There is to be
zeal in actively doing God’s will, and there is to be also complete submission
to His will, the Lord Himself being our example, for in Him activity and
passivity of His will were always in perfect balance.
Its being without blemish
speaks of the moral perfection of Christ, and its being offered "before the
Lord" reminds us that He discerns what is in the heart. We may deceive men, but
we can’t deceive God.
3:3.
"And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by
fire unto the Lord; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that
is upon the inwards,"
The Lord’s whole life was a
sacrifice to the Father, and it cost Him much: the mockery, ridicule, and hatred
of men: the expenditure of much time in prayer and service; the refusal to yield
to the allurements of this world; and finally, His life. If we would walk in
His footsteps we too must be prepared to make the same sacrifice.
“...made by fire” declares
that only that which is of the Holy Spirit is acceptable to God. Worship which
He doesn’t indite is a mere empty ritual; and service which He doesn’t direct is
simply the activity of the flesh displayed in religious busyness.
“...unto the Lord” reminds us
that everything we do is to be unto Him, for His glory.
The fat of every sacrifice was
for God alone, for it speaks of that in the Lord’s life and death which the
Father alone could comprehend, for as fat (except in small amounts) can’t be
digested by man’s system, so is there in the sacrifice of Christ that which is
beyond human comprehension.
The fat covering the inwards,
and the fat adhering to them, e.g., the kidney suet, speaks of the spiritual
richness of the Lord’s inward life in the sight of the Father. Man could see
the outward perfection of Christ’s life, but only the Father could understand
the loving obedience to Him, and the equally great love for men, which motivated
the Lord’s every thought, word, and deed.
3:4.
"And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and
the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.”
In biblical times the kidneys
(reins) were viewed as being the seat of the intellect, and their being two of
them may point to the fact that there is a dual activity of man’s mind: Godward,
and manward. Since fat is almost invariably associated biblically with
richness, the kidneys being enveloped in a thick covering of fat (kidney suet),
may indicate the value of the mind. It is that which governs every function of
the body, its importance being further indicated in the statement relative to
man, “As he thinketh in his heart (mind), so is he” Proverbs 23:7, and the
command given believers, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” Romans 12:2, and the further
injunction, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” Philippians 2:6-8.
The flanks are a part of the
loins, and have also a thick layer of fat in the area adjoining the loins, and
it is instructive that the Hebrew word for flank has two sets of meanings: one
good, the other bad, the good meanings being related to trust, confidence, and
hope; the bad, to silliness and folly. These contrasting meanings point again
to the fact that man is capable of both good and evil, of wisdom and also of
folly. But again, the application is to Christ, for of Him it is written,
“Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose
the good” Isaiah 7:15. There was nothing in Him that corresponded to the sin of
which man is capable, because His nature was free from the corruption which
taints man’s.
The caul is a lobe or flap of
the liver, the word itself being related to the idea of excelling, exceeding,
abounding, preserving, making plenteous, meanings which few will have difficulty
associating with Christ. Everything in verses 3-5 speak of the excellencies of
Christ which God alone can comprehend, since they transcend the grasp of finite
minds.
3:5.
“And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is
upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet
savor unto the Lord.”
The fact that only Aaron’s
sons were privileged to burn these things on the altar is the symbolic
announcement of the truth that only believers (sons of the true Aaron) are
privileged to worship, for whatever ascended to God as a sweet savor is itself
the symbol of worship. The further truth being declared is that worship is
simply the presentation to God of our apprehension of the worth of the Lord
Jesus Christ. The fact, however, that work was involved in the preparation of
the offering, teaches the truth that the preparation of worship also involves
work. We must take time to study the Scriptures, for it is in them that He is
set before us; and having read, we must then take time to meditate, giving the
Holy Spirit opportunity to unfold the spiritual meaning of what we have read.
And having been given that revelation we should then first present our worship
to God in private, for if we don’t worship in the quietness of our own room it
is folly to expect to be able to worship publicly at the Lord’s Table.
There is instruction too in
how the sacrifice was to be set before God on the altar. It was to be burned,
which speaks of the necessary part the Holy Spirit plays in worship. “... on the
altar” speaks of the cost of worship. It cost the Lord His life to fulfill the
type, and the value of our worship will be proportionate to what its preparation
costs us.
“... upon the burnt sacrifice”
is the symbolic declaration of the fact that we would have no worship to offer
had the Lord not first offered Himself without spot to God, that sacrifice being
first for God’s glory, and then for the redemption of men’s souls. Since the
burnt offering portrays the sacrifice of Christ as being exclusively first for
God's glory, the burning of the peace offering upon it declares that Christ's
sacrifice, not only satisfies God, but provides also the basis of our peace.
“...upon the wood (symbol of
humanity)” announces the further truth that the Lord had to become man before He
could die in our guilty stead, for as God He was beyond the power of death. The
wood was always "laid in order" on the altar. It was never just thrown there
haphazardly. This speaks of the fact that Christ's life was always ordered by
the written Word, while the wood's being on the fire speaks of His perfect
submission to the Holy Spirit's control. As Man He was begotten by the power of
the Holy Spirit, was led throughout His human life by that same Spirit, and
finally through the Holy Spirit offered Himself without spot to God. We should
note incidentally that the control of the Holy Spirit today is never apart from
the written Word, nor apart from the believer’s will. He will not compel a
believer to be obedient any more than he will compel a sinner to believe, hence
the command not to grieve or quench Him.
Its being a sweet savor to God
tells us of the satisfaction God finds in the sacrifice of Christ.
3:6.
“And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the
flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.”
As already noted, the lesser
monetary worth of these smaller animals points symbolically to a smaller
comprehension of the worth of Christ on the part of the believer due to
immaturity, that lack reflecting adversely on the man only when it is due to
carnality, for the young convert can’t be expected to be as knowledgeable in
spiritual things as is the man who has been saved for many years.
The fact that the animal from
the flocks was no less a sweet savor to God than was that from the herd, assures
us that the worship of the newly saved believer is no less precious in His sight
than is that of the more mature worshiper.
Since we have already
discussed the significance of its being male or female, and without blemish,
there is no need to repeat those comments here.
3:7.
“If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.”
3:8.
“And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the
tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood
thereof round about upon the altar.”
The presentation of a lamb is
meant to focus attention upon the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God Who has
borne away man’s sin. It points to the worship that is produced by
contemplating His meek submission to the Father’s will, and His refusal to
defend Himself against the accusations of those who hated Him and sought His
life. His lamblike character is nowhere more clearly set forth than in Isaiah
53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he
is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
“...before the Lord” declares
the truth that God discerns the motive which impels man’s activity. He
distinguishes between true spiritual worship, and mere outward ritual.
The laying of the offerer’s
hands on the animal’s head speaks of our identification with Christ. As we
transfer our sins to Him and see in Him the One Who has made complete atonement
for them, His righteousness is transferred to us.
Since the significance of the
killing of the animal, and the sprinkling of its blood on the altar, have
already been discussed in our study of chapter one, there is no need to repeat
it here.
3:9.
“And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by
fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump (tail), it shall he take
off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat
that is upon the inwards,”
3:10. “And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them,
which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall
he take away.”
3:11. “And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is
the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.”
The rump of verse 9 is
literally “the fat tail of the oriental sheep” (Strong’s Concordance), the word
being associated with stoutness or strength. It was to be removed at its
junction with the backbone. All the fat of the animal was to be burned on the
altar as God’s portion of the offering, and its being described as “the food of
the offering ... unto the Lord” means that as food satisfies literally, so here
God is satisfied with Christ, and therefore with us as new creatures in Christ.
This knowledge imparts peace to every believer, unless of course we ourselves
mar it by disobedience.
The difference between the
internal fat and the fat tail appears to be that whereas the former speaks of
what God alone can comprehend relative to the worth of Christ, the latter may
speak of what we, in some measure at least, can also comprehend.
3:12. “And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer
it before the Lord.”
3:13. “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and
kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation; and the sons of Aaron shall
sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.”
Since the goat was the animal
most often presented for a sin offering, here it represents Christ made sin for
us, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Its
being presented here for the peace offering, however, is to remind us that we
have peace with God and in our own consciences only because Christ has died to
put away all our sin.
3:14. “And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an
offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all
the fat that is upon the inwards,”
3:15. “And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them,
which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall
he take away.”
3:16. “And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is
the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor: all the fat is the
Lord’s.”
These things signify the same
truth as has been discussed already, and the repetition of that truth here is to
emphasize the value God sets upon the sacrifice offered at Calvary when the Lord
Jesus Christ made atonement for sin; but inasmuch as it is the fat that is the
subject in these verses, the truth being declared relates to the satisfaction
and pleasure which God finds in that which the fat represents: those perfections
of Christ which transcend human understanding.
3:17. “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations
throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.”
The perpetual character of
this statute declares the eternal worth of Christ’s sacrifice in the sight of
God, and also in the sight of every man who has been redeemed by that precious
blood shed at Calvary to make atonement for sin.
The proscription of the fat is
the symbolic announcement of the fact that as long as we are in these earthly
bodies there will be the inability to fully comprehend the full value of the
Lord’s sacrifice. The proscription of blood as man’s food is to remind us that
“The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the
altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an
atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul
of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat
blood,” Leviticus 17:11-12. Since the blood represents the life, and God is the
Giver of life, He has a claim on man’s life, abstention from eating blood being
man’s token acknowledgment of that truth. As someone has said, “The life of the
spirit can’t be sustained by that which is the life of the flesh.”