Leviticus 2:1-3:17

Introduction

The grain and the fellowship offerings are presented within this section.While it is certainly possible to take a look at each separately, I do not want to miss some detail by looking at both of them together. In fact, the detail is in the details. In each of these offerings God lays out very specific elements which present us with a deeper understanding of truth.

If we trust that these sacrifices are to point us toward Christ, then we will trust that the details of these sacrifices are also intended to draw us closer to our Savior.

Commentary

v 1
God presents the requirements for the grain offering between the burnt and fellowship offerings. It's a logical place to discuss the grain offering for it often accompanies a burnt or peace offering. Like the burnt offering, we really are not given a lot of occasion in this text. It is assumed by many that the grain offering reinforces whatever type of sacrifice it accompanies.

v 2
The man will bring his offering to the priest who will take from it a handful to be offered before the Lord. The priest approaches the altar and presents it in the fire to the Lord. As with the burnt offering, the reference to it being a soothing aroma is not a statement about its smell, but a statement to the Lord's satisfaction with it. However, unlike the burnt offering, the entire offering is not placed upon the fire, but the handful is simply called a "memorial portion." The rest is kept for the priests to enjoy. While the priest may offer the sacrifice to the Lord, it is up to the offerer to prepare the sacrifice:

Oil--The oil would be from olives. This oil was used for the anointing of kings and priests. This oil is also used to heal wounds and placed upon a head in times of celebration. In James 5, it is part of the anointing process for the sick.

While some simply want to see oil as assisting the burning process of the grain, there seems to be a greater meaning. It can be suggested that such usage of oil is symbolic of the anointing from the Holy Spirit. As David was anointed by Samuel, the Spirit came to descend upon him. The oil points toward the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Frankincense--This incense would be costly and was used in much of the worship process. The perfume for the priests was to include frankincense and the show bread was to be baked with it as well. This spice becomes synonymous with being in the presence of the Lord. Of course, frankincense is most famous for being one of the gifts given to Jesus by the Magi (Matthew 2:11). This gift was really a recognition of Christ's priestly function and the fulfillment that God is in our presence.

v 3
Aaron and his sons would keep the remainder of the offering. However, this was not to be passed around to just anybody. It was considered a thing most holy, therefore it was only to be eaten by Aaron and his sons.

v 4-10
The grain offering could be presented in various ways. It could be baked in an oven, cooked on a griddle or fried in a pan. No matter how it is presented, oil is still to accompany it and it is given to the priests to offer it before the Lord. Only a memorial portion would be offered in any format, while the rest was for Aaron and his sons.

v 11
Unleavened--While God has already told Moses to use unleavened bread (4, 5), He takes special caution to remind Moses of this again. Many people assume that God's prohibition of leaven (along with honey) is simply because it can ferment and cause the grain to spoil. In light of the New Testament, however, this view appears simplistic. Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the pharisees, by which He meant their false teaching (Matthew 16:12). In Luke 12:1, Jesus refers to the pharisees hypocrisy as leaven. Also, Paul speaks of sin in the Corinthians church as leaven which needs to be removed (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). God requires that offerings which approach His fire would be leaven free for this is symbolic of the sin free nature the Lord desires.

v 12
The issue is clearly not the potential rotting of the bread, for Moses is instructed that the first fruits offering may have leaven within it. However, this sacrifice may not be offered into the fire.

v 13
Salt--God commands Moses that every grain offering--whether first fruits or not--must be accompanied with salt. Again, some speculate that this is simply for the preserving nature of salt, but Moses is given another reason why. It is the salt of the covenant. The salt of the covenant is used other times, such as referring to the kingly covenant made between God to David (2 Chronicles 13:5). While the benefits of a covenant are always enjoyed by men, the glory is seen in the Divine half. Man always fails to keep his covenant. God never fails to uphold His half.

v 14-16
To reinforce that the elements are not simply for cooking purposes, Moses is instructed that he should still offer incense and salt with first fruit grain.

c3 v1
At this point, we are introduced to the peace offering. Since Hebrew words are only consonants, it is difficult to know the full meaning of this offering. It appears that "peace" or "fellowship" is the desired term. Unlike the burnt offering, the offerer could either offer a male or female offering from the herd. However, in offering it must be without defect.

v 2-6
Like the burnt offering, the offerer must lay his hands upon the sacrifice and slay the animal. The priests will take the blood and sprinkle it around the altar. Yet these verses introduce us to another element.

Fat--We read the word "fat" and often think of gristle or the inedible portion of meat. However, this is not at all what the authors meant by "fat." "The fat" is used in other passages to speak of that which is best (see: Psalm 63, Psalm 81:16). Therefore, we must understand that God is not calling for them to give the most disgusting potion, but the best of the offering instead.

v 7-11
The offerer could also present a lamb before the Lord for a fellowship offering. If he did so, the offering was prepared in much the same way, however, he was also to remove the entire fat tail.

v 12-16
This sacrifice is almost identical to that of a lamb, except that there is no fat tail to offer.

v 17
God presents to Moses a permanent statute for all their generations, no matter what location...they are not to eat fat nor drink blood.

Exposition

There a couple of ways we can approach the grain and fellowship offerings. Some, look at these offerings simply as devices designed to appease an angry God. Some look only to the elements of the offerings for "practical" reasons:

--oil: added to increase the value and facilitate the burning
--frankincense: to increase the value and create a good aroma
--no leaven: keeps the offering from rotting
--no honey: keeps offering from rotting (and burning honey smells bad)
--salt: preserves the offering
--fat: keeps Israelites from eating unhealthy meat

But such "practicality" keeps us from seeing the real purpose of these sacrifices. God does not need to be fed nor does He have any needs that we must take care of. He can call down fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice and does not need oil to facilitate the burning. He fed the nation with quail and manna; He does not need a sacrificial system as a way to feed His priests.

The real "practical" perspective is to seek the the glory of God in this midst of this revelation. When we do this, we understand far more:

The oil is seen throughout Scripture within the process of anointing. The frankincense was a costly spice used within the tabernacle. The showbread in the tabernacle as well as the perfume of the priests contained frankincense. This means that any time a person smelled frankincense, they would be draw in their mind to the tabernacle/temple...representing the presence of God. The sacrifice is to be without leaven, which often symbolizes sin (see: 1 Corinthians 5). The text tells us the salt does not exist for the sake of preserving the offering, but is a representation of the covenant God has made with us.

Now, as we think through the elements, ask yourself: Who is it who anoints us? Who's presence is within us? Who works within our lives to transform us into the image of Christ...the sinless image of Christ? Who is our seal of the covenant from God made to us?

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us} with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to {the will of} God.--Romans 8:26-27

The grain offering usually accompanies other offerings. It is usually thought to be a form of petition or used to add to the intensity of the offering.

The fellowship offering always follows the burnt offering and never precedes it. It is not merely that the priest eats part of the sacrifice, but the offer does as well. This symbolic gesture has God the Father and the offerer eating a meal together. Of course, their is a priest involved as well, to symbolize the mediatorial work of Christ. Since this offering is a symbol of our communion with God, a male or female may be sacrificed to show that fellowship with the Lord is not helped (nor hindered) by our gender. Either male or female is given equal access to Christ (Galatians 3:28).

Conclusion

The grain offering should remind the believer that he is not capable of praying to God except for the work of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just like God had to produce the grain for the offerer, so God must also do all the work to make praying to Him even possible. Likewise, the fellowship offering should remind us that once the atonement is made by Christ, we now have fellowship with the Son and with the Father. Thus, a man sits down with his family to have a meal between him and God. We see Christ's desire to fellowship and eat with us in the following text:

While they were eating, Jesus took {some} bread, and after a blessing, He broke {it} and gave {it} to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave {it} to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."--Matthew 26:26-29

Jesus earnestly desired to eat the meal with His disciples (Luke 22:15). During the meal, He reminds them that fellowship is only possible because of the work He is about to do on their behalf. Lastly, He points not just to forgiveness available, but reminds us that God desires to enjoy fellowship with us as well. Jesus points the disciples ahead to the day they will enjoy a meal together with Christ in God's presence.

The only "practical" way to read the Scriptures is to understand that God desires Jesus Christ to be exalted on every page. The sacrifices are not bloody attempts to appease a vicious God, they are worship ceremonies intended to direct the reader to the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, on our behalf. While we enjoy sweet fellowship with Jesus, we should also call out to others:

O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!--Psalm 34:8