As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how some did not do as the Lord commanded? Is this a weakness of apostolic succession? Where is the guarantee that even the very next generation of priests will be faithful? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Are we faithful to them? Let’s look at Leviticus 10.
What happened when two of the priests, Aaron’s sons, went against God’s commands? Is this a warning for today’s church leaders?
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered [strange] unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2 NIV)
What did Moses say to his brother Aaron about this situation?
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” (Leviticus 10:3 NIV)
What was to be done with the bodies of the two rebellious priests?
Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said. (Leviticus 10:4-5 NKJV)
Should they grieve their rebellious family members?
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not show grief by leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the Lord’s anger will strike the whole community of Israel. However, the rest of the Israelites, your relatives, may mourn because of the Lord’s fiery destruction of Nadab and Abihu. But you must not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle or you will die, for you have been anointed with the Lord’s anointing oil.” So they did as Moses commanded. (Leviticus 10:6-7 NLT)
Could part of the cause of their rebellion have been drinking too much alcohol?
Then Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. You are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses.” (Leviticus 10:8-11 WEB)
Should they get on with the Lord’s business, even though they probably did not feel like it for the moment?
Moses then told Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the Lord’s food gifts and eat it unleavened next to the altar, because it is most holy. You must eat it in a holy place because it is your portion and your sons’ portion from the Lord’s food gifts, as I have been commanded. (Leviticus 10:12-13 CEB)
Could the priest’s family also eat certain parts of the offerings?
But the choice ribs and the hind leg that were lifted up may be eaten by your entire family, as long as you do so in an acceptable place. These parts are yours from the sacrifices that the people offer to ask the Lord's blessing. This is what the Lord has commanded, and it will never change. (Leviticus 10:14-15 CEV)
Was Moses angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the surviving sons of Aaron?
Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” (Leviticus 10:16-18 ESV)
Did Aaron appease Moses for the sake of his sons?
But Aaron replied to Moses, “See, today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the Lord’s sight?” When Moses heard this, it was acceptable to him. (Leviticus 10:19-20 HCSB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how some did not do as the Lord commanded? Is this a weakness of apostolic succession? Where is the guarantee that even the very next generation of priests will be faithful? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Are we faithful to them? You decide!
As the Lord Commanded (Leviticus 9)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? Let’s look at Leviticus 9.
What happened after the ordination week was finished?
On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’” (Leviticus 9:1-4 ESV)
Was this what the Lord had commanded or just an innovation by Moses?
They brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole community came forward and stood before the Lord. Moses said, “This is what the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.” (Leviticus 9:5-7 HCSB)
Did Aaron also obey the commandment of the Lord, or just make up some human innovation?
So Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf for a sin offering on behalf of himself. Next, Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his fingers in the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar. As to the rest of the blood, he poured it at the base of the altar. He incinerated the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage from the liver of the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also incinerated the meat and skin outside the camp. And so the burnt offering was slaughtered, and Aaron’s sons secured for him the blood, which he poured on the altar and around it. (Leviticus 9:8-12 ISV)
What offerings did Aaron and his sons present before the Lord?
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. (Leviticus 9:13-17 KJV)
Did they continue as Moses had commanded or just invent their own things?
Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him, and he splashed it around on the altar. As for the portions of fat from the ox and from the ram, the fat tail and the fat covering and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, they now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before Yahweh, just as Moses had commanded. (Leviticus 9:18-21 LSB)
After all this did the glory of the Lord then appear to all the people?
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward. (Leviticus 9:22-24 NASB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? You decide!
What happened after the ordination week was finished?
On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’” (Leviticus 9:1-4 ESV)
Was this what the Lord had commanded or just an innovation by Moses?
They brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole community came forward and stood before the Lord. Moses said, “This is what the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering; make atonement for yourself and the people. Sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded.” (Leviticus 9:5-7 HCSB)
Did Aaron also obey the commandment of the Lord, or just make up some human innovation?
So Aaron drew near to the altar and slaughtered the calf for a sin offering on behalf of himself. Next, Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him and he dipped his fingers in the blood and placed it on the horns of the altar. As to the rest of the blood, he poured it at the base of the altar. He incinerated the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage from the liver of the sin offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He also incinerated the meat and skin outside the camp. And so the burnt offering was slaughtered, and Aaron’s sons secured for him the blood, which he poured on the altar and around it. (Leviticus 9:8-12 ISV)
What offerings did Aaron and his sons present before the Lord?
And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar. And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first. And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner. And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning. (Leviticus 9:13-17 KJV)
Did they continue as Moses had commanded or just invent their own things?
Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him, and he splashed it around on the altar. As for the portions of fat from the ox and from the ram, the fat tail and the fat covering and the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, they now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smoke on the altar. But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved as a wave offering before Yahweh, just as Moses had commanded. (Leviticus 9:18-21 LSB)
After all this did the glory of the Lord then appear to all the people?
Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire went out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward. (Leviticus 9:22-24 NASB)
As we read through the early chapters of Leviticus, is it important to note how often they did as the Lord commanded? Jesus gave over 300 commands. Do we still obey Him? You decide!
Ordaining the Priests (Leviticus 8)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? Let’s look at Leviticus 8.
How different was the ordination of Aaron and his sons from a modern ordination ceremony?
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Moses said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” (Leviticus 8:1-5 HCSB)
How different was the priestly clothing to anything worn by elders and overseers of modern churches?
Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. Then he clothed Aaron with the tunic, girded him with the band for priests, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, girded him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it on him. He set the breastplate on him, placed the Urim and Thummim on top of the breastplate, then he set the turban on his head. On the turban at the front he set the golden plate, the sacred crown that the Lord had commanded. (Leviticus 8:6-9 ISV)
How different and similar was the application of anointing oil compared to its use in a modern ordination ceremony?
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:10-13 KJV)
What was the purpose of a sin offering during the ordination ceremony?
Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and set it apart as holy, to make atonement for it. (Leviticus 8:14-15 LSB)
Is Jesus’ sacrifice pictured by burning part of the sacrifice outside the camp? Did He too suffer outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12)?
He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. But the bull and its hide, its flesh, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:16-17 NASB)
What was the purpose of the priests laying their hands on the burnt offering?
He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:18-21 NIV)
What was the purpose of a second ram during this ordination ceremony?
And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. (Leviticus 8:22-24 NKJV)
What was the purpose of offering the fat and a cake of unleavened bread?
Next Moses took the fat, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh. On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the Lord’s presence. He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and he lifted these gifts as a special offering to the Lord. (Leviticus 8:25-27 NLT)
What was the purpose of this consecration offering and sprinkling the anointing oil?
Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh. Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh commanded Moses. Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. (Leviticus 8:28-30 WEB)
Was there a meal shared by all the priests at their ordination?
Moses said to Aaron and his sons: “Cook the meat at the meeting tent’s entrance. You may eat it there along with the bread that is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I was commanded, ‘Aaron and his sons can eat it.’ But you must burn whatever is left over of the meat and bread with fire. (Leviticus 8:31-32 CEB)
Unlike modern ordination ceremonies, where were they to stay for seven days? Is time off after ordination a good thing?
and stay near the entrance to the sacred tent until the ordination ceremony ends seven days from now. We have obeyed the Lord in everything that has been done today, so that your sins may be forgiven. The Lord has told me that you must stay near the entrance to the tent for seven days and nights, or else you will die. Aaron and his sons obeyed everything that the Lord had told Moses they must do. (Leviticus 8:33-36 CEV)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? You decide!
How different was the ordination of Aaron and his sons from a modern ordination ceremony?
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Moses said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” (Leviticus 8:1-5 HCSB)
How different was the priestly clothing to anything worn by elders and overseers of modern churches?
Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. Then he clothed Aaron with the tunic, girded him with the band for priests, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, girded him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it on him. He set the breastplate on him, placed the Urim and Thummim on top of the breastplate, then he set the turban on his head. On the turban at the front he set the golden plate, the sacred crown that the Lord had commanded. (Leviticus 8:6-9 ISV)
How different and similar was the application of anointing oil compared to its use in a modern ordination ceremony?
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:10-13 KJV)
What was the purpose of a sin offering during the ordination ceremony?
Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and set it apart as holy, to make atonement for it. (Leviticus 8:14-15 LSB)
Is Jesus’ sacrifice pictured by burning part of the sacrifice outside the camp? Did He too suffer outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12)?
He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. But the bull and its hide, its flesh, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:16-17 NASB)
What was the purpose of the priests laying their hands on the burnt offering?
He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Then Moses slaughtered the ram and splashed the blood against the sides of the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat. He washed the internal organs and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:18-21 NIV)
What was the purpose of a second ram during this ordination ceremony?
And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. (Leviticus 8:22-24 NKJV)
What was the purpose of offering the fat and a cake of unleavened bread?
Next Moses took the fat, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh. On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the Lord’s presence. He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and he lifted these gifts as a special offering to the Lord. (Leviticus 8:25-27 NLT)
What was the purpose of this consecration offering and sprinkling the anointing oil?
Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh. Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Yahweh commanded Moses. Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. (Leviticus 8:28-30 WEB)
Was there a meal shared by all the priests at their ordination?
Moses said to Aaron and his sons: “Cook the meat at the meeting tent’s entrance. You may eat it there along with the bread that is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I was commanded, ‘Aaron and his sons can eat it.’ But you must burn whatever is left over of the meat and bread with fire. (Leviticus 8:31-32 CEB)
Unlike modern ordination ceremonies, where were they to stay for seven days? Is time off after ordination a good thing?
and stay near the entrance to the sacred tent until the ordination ceremony ends seven days from now. We have obeyed the Lord in everything that has been done today, so that your sins may be forgiven. The Lord has told me that you must stay near the entrance to the tent for seven days and nights, or else you will die. Aaron and his sons obeyed everything that the Lord had told Moses they must do. (Leviticus 8:33-36 CEV)
What did Aaron’s special clothing portray? What did the anointing oil suggest? Were priests also sinful and in need of a sacrifice? What did their meal foreshadow? What would be the purpose of an ordination week? You decide!
More Offering Instructions (Leviticus 7)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? Let’s look at Leviticus 7.
Guilt Offering
What are further priestly instructions about the trespass, reparation or guilt offering?
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:1-5 KJV)
How were various offerings similar in regard to the priest’s portion?
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. Also the priest who brings near any man’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought near. Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who brings it near. And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to all alike. (Leviticus 7:6-10 LSB)
Peace Offerings
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was a thanksgiving offering?
Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. (Leviticus 7:11-15 NASB)
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was either a vow or a freewill offering?
If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. 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. (Leviticus 7:15-18 NIV)
Unclean Things
Was uncleanness completely ceremonial, or also quarantine practices?
The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:19-21 NKJV)
Blood & Fat
What about blood and fat, could they be eaten?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose. Anyone who eats fat from an animal presented as a special gift to the Lord will be cut off from the community. No matter where you live, you must never consume the blood of any bird or animal. Anyone who consumes blood will be cut off from the community.” (Leviticus 7:22-27 NLT)
What was the priest’s portion of the peace offerings?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. (Leviticus 7:28-31 WEB)
What other portion of the peace offering was to be given to the priests?
You will give the right thigh of your communal sacrifice of well-being to the priest as a gift. The right thigh will belong to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the well-being offering. I have taken the breast of the uplifted offering and the thigh that is given by the Israelites from their communal sacrifices of well-being, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a permanent portion from the Israelites. This is what Aaron and his sons are allotted from the Lord’s food gifts once they have been presented to serve the Lord as priests. The Lord commanded that these things be given to the priests by the Israelites, following their anointment. It is their permanent portion throughout their future generations. (Leviticus 7:32-36 CEB)
What is a good summary of various reasons for giving offerings?
These are the ceremonies for sacrifices to please the Lord, to give him thanks, and to ask for his blessing or his forgiveness, as well as the ceremonies for those sacrifices that demand a payment and for the sacrifices that are offered when priests are ordained. While Moses and the people of Israel were in the desert at Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded them to start offering these sacrifices. (Leviticus 7:37-38 CEV)
Do any of these things still apply? Should Christians eat blood sausage or blood pudding?
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:19-20 ESV)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? You decide!
Guilt Offering
What are further priestly instructions about the trespass, reparation or guilt offering?
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:1-5 KJV)
How were various offerings similar in regard to the priest’s portion?
Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. Also the priest who brings near any man’s burnt offering, that priest shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought near. Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who brings it near. And every grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron, to all alike. (Leviticus 7:6-10 LSB)
Peace Offerings
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was a thanksgiving offering?
Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. (Leviticus 7:11-15 NASB)
How was the sacrifice known as a peace or fellowship offering to be handled, if it was either a vow or a freewill offering?
If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. 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. (Leviticus 7:15-18 NIV)
Unclean Things
Was uncleanness completely ceremonial, or also quarantine practices?
The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it. But the person who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, while he is unclean, that person shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:19-21 NKJV)
Blood & Fat
What about blood and fat, could they be eaten?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose. Anyone who eats fat from an animal presented as a special gift to the Lord will be cut off from the community. No matter where you live, you must never consume the blood of any bird or animal. Anyone who consumes blood will be cut off from the community.” (Leviticus 7:22-27 NLT)
What was the priest’s portion of the peace offerings?
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Yahweh shall bring his offering to Yahweh out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Yahweh. The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. (Leviticus 7:28-31 WEB)
What other portion of the peace offering was to be given to the priests?
You will give the right thigh of your communal sacrifice of well-being to the priest as a gift. The right thigh will belong to the son of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the well-being offering. I have taken the breast of the uplifted offering and the thigh that is given by the Israelites from their communal sacrifices of well-being, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a permanent portion from the Israelites. This is what Aaron and his sons are allotted from the Lord’s food gifts once they have been presented to serve the Lord as priests. The Lord commanded that these things be given to the priests by the Israelites, following their anointment. It is their permanent portion throughout their future generations. (Leviticus 7:32-36 CEB)
What is a good summary of various reasons for giving offerings?
These are the ceremonies for sacrifices to please the Lord, to give him thanks, and to ask for his blessing or his forgiveness, as well as the ceremonies for those sacrifices that demand a payment and for the sacrifices that are offered when priests are ordained. While Moses and the people of Israel were in the desert at Mount Sinai, the Lord commanded them to start offering these sacrifices. (Leviticus 7:37-38 CEV)
Do any of these things still apply? Should Christians eat blood sausage or blood pudding?
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:19-20 ESV)
Are there more instructions expanding the various offerings? Is a fuller understanding often found in various passages scattered throughout the Bible? You decide!
Priestly Offering Instructions (Leviticus 6)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? Let’s look at Leviticus 6.
What other kinds of sin would require a guilt or reparation offering?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:1-3 KJV)
How should such a person compensate their neighbor when they are guilty of such sins?
then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. (Leviticus 6:4-5 LSB)
What offering should the guilty person make before a priest?
Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your assessment, as a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt. (Leviticus 6:6-7 NASB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the burnt offering?
The Lord said to Moses: “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.’” (Leviticus 6:8-10 NIV)
Could the priests allow the fire to go out on the altar of sacrifice?
Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:11-13 NKJV)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the grain offering?
These are the instructions regarding the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must present this offering to the Lord in front of the altar. The priest on duty will take from the grain offering a handful of the choice flour moistened with olive oil, together with all the frankincense. He will burn this representative portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Leviticus 6:14-16 NLT)
Could it be baked with yeast? Did the priests eat of it, as their portion?
It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass [guilt] offering. Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:17-18 WEB)
What were the regulations regarding ordination after Aaron’s death or retirement?
The Lord said to Moses, This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the Lord on the day of his anointment: one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular grain offering, half in the morning and half in the evening. It must be prepared on a griddle with oil. You must bring it thoroughly mixed up and must present it as a grain offering of crumbled pieces as a soothing smell to the Lord. The priest who is anointed from among Aaron’s sons to succeed him will prepare the offering as a permanent portion for the Lord. It will be completely burned as a complete offering. Every priestly grain offering must be a complete offering; it must not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:19-23 CEB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the sin offering?
The Lord told Moses how the priests from Aaron's family were to offer the sacrifice for sin: This sacrifice is very sacred, and the animal must be killed in my presence at the north side of the bronze altar. The priest who offers this sacrifice must eat it in the sacred courtyard of the sacred tent, and anyone or anything that touches the meat will be holy. If any of the animal's blood is splattered on the clothes of the priest, they must be washed in a holy place. If the meat was cooked in a clay pot, the pot must be destroyed, but if it was cooked in a bronze pot, the pot must be scrubbed and rinsed with water. (Leviticus 6:24-28 CEV)
Who may eat of the sin offering made for a priest?
Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire. (Leviticus 6:29-30 ESV)
Are these offerings still in effect under the new covenant?
After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10 HCSB)
Is there something more important than all the offerings and sacrifices that even a scribe recognized?
To love him [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 ISV)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? You decide!
What other kinds of sin would require a guilt or reparation offering?
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: (Leviticus 6:1-3 KJV)
How should such a person compensate their neighbor when they are guilty of such sins?
then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him or the lost thing which he found, or anything about which he swore falsely; he shall make restitution for it in full and add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering. (Leviticus 6:4-5 LSB)
What offering should the guilty person make before a priest?
Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without defect from the flock, according to your assessment, as a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt. (Leviticus 6:6-7 NASB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the burnt offering?
The Lord said to Moses: “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.’” (Leviticus 6:8-10 NIV)
Could the priests allow the fire to go out on the altar of sacrifice?
Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:11-13 NKJV)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the grain offering?
These are the instructions regarding the grain offering. Aaron’s sons must present this offering to the Lord in front of the altar. The priest on duty will take from the grain offering a handful of the choice flour moistened with olive oil, together with all the frankincense. He will burn this representative portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Leviticus 6:14-16 NLT)
Could it be baked with yeast? Did the priests eat of it, as their portion?
It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass [guilt] offering. Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:17-18 WEB)
What were the regulations regarding ordination after Aaron’s death or retirement?
The Lord said to Moses, This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the Lord on the day of his anointment: one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular grain offering, half in the morning and half in the evening. It must be prepared on a griddle with oil. You must bring it thoroughly mixed up and must present it as a grain offering of crumbled pieces as a soothing smell to the Lord. The priest who is anointed from among Aaron’s sons to succeed him will prepare the offering as a permanent portion for the Lord. It will be completely burned as a complete offering. Every priestly grain offering must be a complete offering; it must not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:19-23 CEB)
Were there extra commands for the priests in regard to the sin offering?
The Lord told Moses how the priests from Aaron's family were to offer the sacrifice for sin: This sacrifice is very sacred, and the animal must be killed in my presence at the north side of the bronze altar. The priest who offers this sacrifice must eat it in the sacred courtyard of the sacred tent, and anyone or anything that touches the meat will be holy. If any of the animal's blood is splattered on the clothes of the priest, they must be washed in a holy place. If the meat was cooked in a clay pot, the pot must be destroyed, but if it was cooked in a bronze pot, the pot must be scrubbed and rinsed with water. (Leviticus 6:24-28 CEV)
Who may eat of the sin offering made for a priest?
Every male among the priests may eat of it; it is most holy. But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire. (Leviticus 6:29-30 ESV)
Are these offerings still in effect under the new covenant?
After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. (Hebrews 10:8-10 HCSB)
Is there something more important than all the offerings and sacrifices that even a scribe recognized?
To love him [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33 ISV)
Were there further details for the priests in regard to the offerings? What great lessons did the offerings provide? How did they prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all? You decide!
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