THE PEACE OFFERING 

Part One_________

LEVITICUS CHAPTER 3

(also 7:11-34; 19:5-8; 22:21-25; Numbers 15:2-16; Deut. 12:5-14)


As used in the New Testament

  11"But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes,12and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.13"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14"For many are called, but few are chosen."   Matthew 22:11-15

It should be noticed that the book of Leviticus refers to these sacrifices as the "Bread of God." Read the context of the below passage. We will come back to this concept when we review John chapter 6.

"He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things" Leviticus 21:22 ESV



A sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering

Original Word: שֶׁ֫לֶם
Transliteration: shelem
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-lem)
Short Definition: offerings

Word Origin
from shalem
Definition
a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering
NASB Word Usage
peace offering (2), peace offerings (85).

peace offering

From shalam; properly, requital, i.e. A (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks -- peace offering.

Introduction

The purpose of this lesson is to study the Peace Offering, its distinct rituals, the division of the sacrifice in the portions the participants share. It is important to see the festive banquet of this sacrifice. It was offered by the worshiper that was in good standing with God.

We want to particularly notice the division of the body into portions that certain participants will share. It is important to see the Peace Offering, (also called the Fellowship Offering) as a festive banquet that intensifies the fellowship and the enjoyment between man and God. It is the most joyful of all the sacrifices found in the Law of Moses because it involves the festive celebration of peaceful relationships between the worshiper and YHWH, between a man and his family, and certainly with a man himself.

THE TEXT

LEVITICUS CHAPTER 3

Leviticus 3 (New American Standard Bible)

  1'Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is going to offer out of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD.2'He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slay it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.3'From the sacrifice of the peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to the LORD, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,4and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.5'Then Aaron's sons shall offer it up in smoke on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD.6'But if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD is from the flock, he shall offer it, male or female, without defect.7'If he is going to offer a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD, 8and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slay it before the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.9'From the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall bring as an offering by fire to the LORD, its fat, the entire fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,10and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.11'Then the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the LORD.12'Moreover, if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD,13and he shall lay his hand on its head and slay it before the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.14'From it he shall present his offering as an offering by fire to the LORD, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,15and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.16'The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire for a soothing aroma; all fat is the LORD'S.17'It is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall not eat any fat or any blood.'"

The Purpose of the Peace Offering

The greatest purpose of the Peace Offering is to celebrate a deep sense of fellowship between man and God in a festive banquet atmosphere.

A. The Significance of the Name

1. The Hebrew name (see the top of the page) "Shelem" is from the root "Shalom" meaning peace. Shelem is the plural form and suggests the many directional aspects of good relationships between man and God.

     a. Also called the "sacrifice of completion."

    b. This peace is multi-directional in that:

1) Between man and God.

2) Between man and man.

3) Between a man and his family.

2. Generally the final sacrifice offered when a Jew so sinned as to lose his fellowship with God. If repentance was there, and the Jew desired a restoration of fellowship he must:

a. First offer the Sin Offering or Trespass Offering to bring about reconciliation with God. Atonement leads to fellowship with God.

b. The fellowship with God leads to a festive celebration.

3. No uncovenanted person may participate, nor could the sacrifice come from someone who was not in a covenant relationship with God.

4. The main object of the Peace Offering is found in the final stage__a festive sacrificial meal designed to express gratitude to God and intensify the commitment of the worshiper to God.



THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF PEACE OFFERINGS

B. The Peace Offering of Thanks to God (Leviticus 22:29).

29"When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.

1. Called the HO-RAH meaning a shout of joy. A spontaneous outpouring of "Thank you Lord!" with vigor.

2. This was the highest form of Peace Offering (Leviticus 7:15).

15 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. NIV

3. The disposition of the sacrifice.

a. It had to be eaten of the day of the sacrifice.

b. Any leftovers had to be burned outside the camp__not on the altar. Lev. 7:17

17 Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up.

NIV

c. Failure to comply resulted in defiling the sacrifice and profaning the name of YHWH.

8 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

4. Must be an animal without blemish or defect.

5. Fowl were excluded__not enough meat for a festive celebration.

An Example:

Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings--boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign LORD.   Amos 4:5





C. The Peace Offering of a Vow (Lev. 22:21)

21 When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.

Original Word: נֵ֫דֶר
Transliteration: neder or neder
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-der)
Short Definition: vow
Word Origin
from nadar
Definition
a vow
NASB Word Usage
votive (3), votive offering (1), votive offerings (5), vow (26), vows (24).

vowed

Or neder {nay'-der}; from nadar; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised -- vow((-ed)).

see HEBREW nadar

This was a lower grade sacrifice.

1. In Hebrew, "NE-DER" is making an oath.

2. Any leftover after the celebration may be eaten on the 2nd day.

3. None left over could be eaten on the 3rd day.

7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted.  Lev. 19:7

This would defile the sacrifice and profane God's name.

4. Perhaps the flesh began to spoil on the 3rd day (See John 11:39 & Acts 2:31).

 39Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." John 11:39

Example:

"This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation." Numbers 6:21

D. The Peace Offering of Free-Will (Leviticus 22:23).

voluntariness, freewill offering

Original Word: נְדָבָה
Transliteration: nedabah
Phonetic Spelling: (ned-aw-baw')
Short Definition: offering
Word Origin
from nadab
Definition
voluntariness, freewill offering
NASB Word Usage
freely (1), freewill offering (12), freewill offerings (9), plentiful (1), voluntarily (1), volunteer freely (1), willingly (1).

freewill offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary, offering, willingly, offering

From nadab; properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift -- free(-will) offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary(-ily, offering), willing(-ly), offering).

see HEBREW nadab


Example:

6 I will freely sacrifice to You;
         I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.  Psalm 54:6

1. Called NI-DE-BAH in Hebrew. Seems to be a spontaneous offering.

2. Could be eaten on the 2nd day but not on the 3rd.

The Stages of the Ritual.

Notice the early stages conform to the stages of the Burnt Offering. The Presentation; Laying on of hands; Killing the victim; and Sprinkling of blood. From that point on however, there are differences.

A. Stage One: The Presentation

Same as the Burnt Offering, except with a change of "motive." It is for dedication and intensification of fellowship, not for consecration.

B. Stage Two: Laying on of Hands

Atonement here is not the central idea and is marginal.

C. Stage Three: Killing of the Victim. Confirms God's judgment and penalty against sins.

a. Sins are not specified here.

b. Once again, atonement is not the issue.

D. Stage Four: Sprinkling Blood by the Priest

To sprinkle the blood is to "splash" the blood.

2236. zaraq

2236a >>

be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew, splash

Original Word: זָרַק
Transliteration: zaraq
Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-rak')
Short Definition: scatter
be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew

A primitive root; to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles) -- be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew.


E. Stage Five: Removal of all the Fat

This is the first great change in the ritual. After a scrupulous cleansing the fat of the animal is removed.

1. Fat is called " The Bread of God: or "The Food of God."

Then the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the LORD ___Leviticus 3:11

16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 3:16

a. Implies a banquet for God and worshiper.

b. God delights in the restoration of His people.

2. A perpetual ordinance to Israel. (Lev.3:17)

This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood. Leviticus 3:17

3. "Fat" represents the richest and best part of the animal and God "always" demands the best.

a. Genesis 45:18

18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’

b. Deuteronomy 32:15

 15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; 
   filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. 
They abandoned the God who made them 
   and rejected the Rock their Savior. 

c. Also look at Psalm 35:8; Isaiah 25:6; Romans 11:17.

e. The fat is "incensed, fumed" on the altar to God. No one else is permitted to partake of the fat (1st Samuel 2:15).

F. Stage Six: The animal is divided for the Participants.

1. The "wave breast" to the High Priest. Leviticus 7:31, 34-36 gives the explanation.

The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons.32 You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. 33 The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. 34 From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their perpetual share from the Israelites.’”35 This is the portion of the food offerings presented to the LORD that were allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests. 36 On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded that the Israelites give this to them as their perpetual share for the generations to come.

Leviticus 7: 31-36

a. The High Priest takes his portion home to eat.

b. This acknowledges his right to partake of the altar.

c. Waved toward the altar__this is where it belongs, as God's. Thus God provides for the High Priest.

d. The Levities have no allotment or inheritance with Israel.

 1 The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the LORD, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them. Deuteronomy 18:1

They shall live on the offerings made to the Lord by fire, for that is their inheritance. The Lord "is" their inheritance.

e. Paul established this principle: 1st Corinthians 9:13

 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

2. The right “heave-thigh” goes to the officiating priest.

a. He takes it home to eat__it is his portion.

b. Same as High Priest__"The Lord is his inheritance."

G. Stage Seven___The Disposal of the Rest of the Body.

The 7th and final stage deals with the remainder of the body of the sacrificial victim. It is now given to the worshiper to use as the festive sacrificial banquet.

1. It was to be eaten by himself, his immediate family, household servants, widows, orphans and "any Levite with his gates" Deuteronomy 12:18; 16:11__It was a family affair.

 18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Deuteronomy 12:18

2. To be eaten in the Tabernacle courtyard OLNY. (Must be before and with the Lord).

3. Deuteronomy 12:7

7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

4. Deuteronomy 12: 17-18___

 17 You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. 18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to.


a. Can't take it home.

b. Can't take it to town.

c. Must eat it in the presence of the Lord.

Important Lessons from the Peace Offering.

A. The Peace is Multi-Faceted in Spiritual/Social Qualities.

1. Primary is peace between God and man, but Jesus Christ resolved this problem to those who are "In Christ."

   3Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children [objects] of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:3

Amplified Version

Every living breathing person alive is an object of God's wrath. As we will see, Jesus became our Peace Offering.

2. Peace within the family creates social harmony that encourages spiritual growth in the entire family.

3. Peace with self is important for self-image, security in our salvation.

B. God is the Host of This Banquet /Feast.

The restored wanderer is the guest at God's table.

1. Must be eaten in the Tabernacle courtyard. This is "God's house."

2. The worshiper is eating at the "King's table."

C. This is a Physical Meal with a Spiritual value.





1. What was the greatest purpose of the Peace Offering_________

_______________________________________________

2. What were the three kinds of Peace Offerings?

1)_____________________________________

2)_____________________________________

3)_____________________________________

Which is the highest form of Peace Offering?

3. Give the seven stages of the Peace Offering.

1)____________

2)____________

3)_____________

4)_____________

5)_____________

6)_____________
7)______________

4. What is the significance of removing all the fat?

__________________________________



5. What portions do the High Priest and the officiating priest receive/

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________



6. How is the rest of the body of the sacrifice disposed of?

_______________________________________