“This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar. 3 And all its fat shall be offered, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, 4 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 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering to the Lord; it is a guilt offering. 6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.7 The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. 8 And the priest who offers any man's burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered. 9 And every grain offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. 10 And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be shared equally among all the sons of Aaron.
11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the Lord. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity. 19 “Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh, 20 but the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people. 21 And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.” 22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat. 24 The fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it. 25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.” 28 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel. 35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the Lord's food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the Lord. 36 The Lord commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.” 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, 38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai. Meditation God’s grace will grab your heart to capture you in His covenant love. This section of Leviticus contains laws about sacrifices, given to Moses on Mt Sinai. (38) The Lord is the covenant King and the sacrificial regulations were shared so His redeemed people could be faithful covenant partners in His Kingdom. God’s direction communicates His desire for intimate communion with His people. Leviticus 7 focuses on guilt offerings (1-6) and peace offerings, (7-38) transitioning focus in Leviticus from priests specifically to Israelites in general. Israelites who disregarded God’s direction would be “cut off” from fellowship with God and His people (20, 22, 25, 27). Sacrifice alone makes a way for a rebellious people to return to relationship with a Holy God. To reject God’s direction is to reject God Himself. Israelites who rejected God’s sacrificial direction were exiled. This harsh consequence points to the height of God’s love demonstrated in Jesus’s sacrifice for us. Jesus was cut off, exiled on the cross as He bore our sin, giving His life as a guilt offering that makes enduring peace between God and His people. Jesus’ sacrifice makes peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). Jesus is the great High Priest who, unlike the priests directed in today’s reading, has no need to offer sacrifices daily (Hebrews 7:27). The love of our Father is revealed in the work of Jesus who obeyed every aspect of God’s law to be cut off on the cross so rebels like us can return to relationship with the Lord. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the provision of sacrifices for guilt and peace in relationship with God and one another? -To be cut off or isolated is intense punishment (20, 21, 27). Jesus was cut off from the Father so that those who believe can be forgiven and welcomed into fellowship. Christ was isolated so you can be restored in communion! Meditate on this truth and celebrate the love of our Father. -Many people live like they are cut off from God because they do not welcome the grace of God by faith. Where do you need to believe the grace of God that forgives your rebellion and compels you to return to the love of our Father? There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus! Key Verse 25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. |