Introduction to the Offerings of Leviticus (Modified Talk)

Three kinds of offerings that the book of Leviticus describes are burnt offerings, grain offerings, and communion offerings. If we turn to Lev. 1:3, we learn about the burnt offerings: "If his oblation be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish: he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before Jehovah" (ASV).

Why was the burnt offering given to Jehovah supposed to be a sound or unblemished male animal?

Two reasons are because the burnt offering represented the perfect and unblemished sacrifice of Christ Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-4). Secondly, since the burnt offering was totally consumed by fire, it also represented Jesus giving himself completely to Jehovah (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Keil-Delitzsch offer this input for the burnt offering's significance: "Whilst the burnt-offering, which was given wholly up to God and entirely

consumed upon the altar, and which ascended to heaven in the smoke, set

forth the self-surrender of man to God, the slain-offering, which culminated in the sacrificial meal, served as a seal of the covenant fellowship, and represented the living fellowship of man with God."

What about the grain offering? Why did Israel make this bloodless offering to Jehovah? In Lev. 2:1, 12, we read:

"And when any one offereth an oblation of a meal-offering unto Jehovah, his oblation shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: (ASV)"

"As an oblation of first-fruits ye shall offer them unto Jehovah: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar" (ASV).

Grain offerings (oblations) were in recognition of God’s bounty in supplying blessings and prosperity. The ancient nation of Israel was an agricultural nation, so one way they could show gratitude for Jehovah’s blessing on their crops was by giving the grain offering as a minkhah.

Bob Deffinbaugh: "The purpose of the Grain Offering is not atonement, but worship, acknowledgment of God’s divine provision of the needs of the Israelite for life itself. The Grain Offering praised God for His abundant supply

of the 'daily bread' of the Israelite. But while men do not contribute

to their redemption, they do participate in the growing of the crops by

which God sustains their life. Thus, the human element is present in the

Grain Offering in a way that it is not in the Burnt Offering."

See https://bible.org/seriespage/3-grain-offering-leviticus-21-16-614-18-79-10-1012-13

Finally, we learn about the communion offering in Lev. 3:1:

"And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace-offerings;

if he offer of the herd, whether male or female,

he shall offer it without blemish before Jehovah" (ASV).

The communion sacrifices were peace offerings designed

to restore a broken relationship that might obtain

between God and his ancient worshipers. It was a holy

presentation to Almighty God (YHWH), and when offering

a communion sacrifice, the Israelites were

obligated to give their best to Jehovah.

Leviticus 7:28-30 mandates that one presenting a communion sacrifice to Jehovah should offer the "fat upon the breast" to Him as a wave offering. (Leviticus 7:30 briefly explains what a wave offering entailed.) In addition to offering the fat and the blood to Jehovah (Leviticus 7:33), the one presenting peace offerings to God was commanded to give "the right leg" of his sacrifice as "a sacred portion" to the officiating priests. Furthermore, the High Priest and his sons were to have a share in this communion offering. What a privilege all those who offered

communion presentations enjoyed!

The apostle Paul later demonstrated how

the Lord's evening meal (Lord's supper)

is a type of communion sacrifice. Hence

we can say the book of Leviticus

contains information that

teaches and reproves God's servants today.