레위기 Chapter 3

Translation: ESV

1

"If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.

Key Message

The peace offering is a joyful and thankful sacrifice celebrating the peaceful relationship with God, and worship of fellowship shared within the community.

▸The peace offering (shelamim) differs from the burnt offering and grain offering in that females could also be offered.

The peace offering (shelamim) differs from the burnt offering and grain offering in that females could also be offered. The peace offering is a sacrifice celebrating peace and fellowship between God, the worshiper, and the community, having a festive and thankful character. While the burnt and grain offerings emphasize vertical dedication to God, the peace offering also underscores the horizontal dimension of restored relationship with God and communal sharing.

Related Verses

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
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.

Key Message

True peace and fellowship with God is possible only when the sin problem is first resolved; the blood of Christ is the foundation of this peace.

▸In the peace offering, the laying on of hands and sprinkling of blood are performed identically.

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,

Key Message

Presenting the best and choicest of life to God is the spirit of the peace offering and the posture of genuine worship.

▸The parts given to God in the peace offering were the fat and specific organ portions.

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.

Key Message

God examines not only outward actions but the deepest inner being; genuine worship flows from the very depths of the heart.

▸The kidneys (kelayot) were considered in Hebrew thought to be the seat of emotion and the deep inner self.

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.

Key Message

Genuine worship of gratitude and joy becomes complete when founded upon total dedication to God.

▸The fat portions of the peace offering were burned on top of the already-burning burnt offering.

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.

Key Message

The worship celebrating reconciliation with God is a grace open to all people of varying circumstances.

▸A sheep used as a peace offering also had to be without blemish, just as with cattle.

7

If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD,

Key Message

The unblemished lamb is the most powerful Old Testament image foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ who came without sin to die in our place.

▸The lamb holds special significance as the Passover sacrifice, and could also be brought as a peace offering.

8

and he shall 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.

Key Message

Even peace and joy with God are built upon the blood-shedding that deals with sin; the cross of Christ is the foundation of all spiritual fellowship.

▸The laying on of hands and blood-sprinkling for the peace offering are repeated again.

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

Key Message

The most precious and best of our lives must be given to God; giving the very best is the expression of genuine reverence and love.

▸Specially mentioned in the sheep peace offering is the 'fat tail' (alyah)—the tail portion of the broad-tailed sheep of Palestine.

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.

Key Message

Giving our deepest inner being—emotions, will, decisions—to God is complete worship.

▸The same organ portions as in the cattle peace offering are also given to God in the sheep peace offering.

11

And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.

Key Message

The peace offering is a covenantal meal with God, completed in the Lord's Supper of Christ who invites us to his table.

▸The expression 'food offering to the LORD' is an anthropomorphic expression for God receiving the sacrifice as if it were food.

12

"If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD

Key Message

Peace with God is a grace given equally to all; it can be celebrated in various ways according to one's means.

▸A goat could also be brought as a peace offering.

13

and he shall 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.

Key Message

Worship is a real encounter offered before the living God; the principle of substitution is the unchanging foundation of all worship.

▸The goat peace offering also follows the same rituals of laying on of hands and blood-sprinkling.

14

And from it he shall offer his offering as a food offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails

Key Message

The best must always be given to God; this principle applies equally to all regardless of circumstance.

▸In the goat peace offering too the same fat portions are given to God.

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.

Key Message

God desires our whole person—reason, emotion, will—and whole-person dedication is genuine worship.

▸The goat peace offering also gives the kidneys and liver lobe to God, identical to the cattle and sheep offerings.

16

And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD's.

Key Message

The best of life always belongs to God; giving the very best to God is the most basic principle of faith.

▸The declaration 'All fat is the LORD's' summarizes the core principle of the peace offering regulations.

17

It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood."

Key Message

Life (blood) and the best (fat) belong to God; recognizing this is the expression of faith confessing God's sovereignty.

▸The command not to eat fat or blood is presented as the conclusion of Leviticus 3.