UNROLL
Dawn at the edge of the desert camp: a red-brown young cow and a young bull stand quietly side by side in a low pen of piled stones and thorn brush, black tents and a far thread of smoke behind.

The Book of

Leviticus 3

An offering that ended in a meal: God, the priest and the worshiper each had a share.

17 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–7The offeringsHow sinners draw nearChapter 3
  2. 8–10The priestsOrdained, and a warning
  3. 11–15Clean and uncleanLife before a holy God
  4. 16The Day of AtonementSins carried away
  5. 17–27A holy peopleBe holy, for I am holy

Laws for Peace Offerings

“If one’s offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD.

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He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splatter the blood on all sides of the altar.

The law

The LORD’s portion

  1. The fat over the entrails

    From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them,

  2. Both kidneys, the lobe of the liver

    both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

  3. Burned on top of the burnt offering

    Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Reflect

Peace with God

The peace offering was not a bribe to calm an angry God. It was brought by people He had already rescued, to give thanks, to keep a promise, or simply because they wanted to. It began at the altar and ended at a table. If you belong to Christ, you have peace with God already. What would it look like to enjoy that peace today, not just believe it? Write it down. Then pray: Lord, thank You for the peace Jesus made; let me live in it today.

God
A sleek black goat with swept-back horns standing alone and calm on the sand before the white linen wall of the tabernacle court at first light, smoke rising beyond the wall.

If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it before the LORD. He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.

And from his offering he shall present a food offering to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys.

0:26

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma.

All the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 3:16

This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

Question

Quick question

Herd, flock or goats, the pattern never changed. One part always went to the altar.

What part of the peace offering always belonged to the LORD?

A meal with God

The LORDall the fat,burned (3:16)The priestbreast and rightthigh (7:31–34)Theworshiperthe rest, ashared meal(7:15–16)Peaceone table, God and HispeopleChrist ourpeaceEphesians 2:14

Whiteboard

Only the peace offering ended in a meal: one animal, three shares. The fat went up in smoke to God, because “All the fat is the LORD’s.” The breast and the right thigh went to the priests, and the worshiper ate the rest with his household. Paul says Christ Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14): through His blood, sinners are welcomed to God’s table.

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Leviticus 3

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A verse to carry with you

All the fat is the LORD’s.

Leviticus 3:16

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