Leviticus Chapter 3
1 " 'If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers it from 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 kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
3 He shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
4 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
5 Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
6 " 'If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD is from the flock, either male or female, he shall offer it without defect.
7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD;
8 and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
9 He shall offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to the LORD; its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails,
10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
11 The priest shall burn it on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire to the LORD.
12 " 'If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.
13 He shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
14 He shall offer from it as his offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD; the fat that covers the innards, and all the fat that is on the innards,
15 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
16 The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is the LORD's.
17 " 'It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.' "
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Leviticus Chapter 3 Guide
In the peace offering new elements are manifest Here one part was to be burned with fire and thus offered directly to God, while another part was returned from the altar to the worshipper for his own sustenance. In this offering, then, the great fact of acceptance and communion established on the basis of sacrifice and dedication is portrayed. It is indeed the peace offering for-evermore speaking of peace established between the worshipper and God.
The basis of this peace is found in the offering through the death of the guiltless for the guilty, and the complete dedication of the worshipper to God. It is therefore the offering suggesting fellowship between God and the worshipper when all the reasons for disagreement have been banished and peace naturally ensues. To the sinner no such place of communion is possible, but in the offerings substitution is revealed as the way of dedication, which, in turn, admits into such communion with God sacrifice characterized by peace.
In these three offerings the sinner has been dealt with as such by nature. In each case the offering has been voluntary. The facts of specific and personal sins have not been dealt with.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Leviticus Chapter 3 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The peace-offering of the herd. -- (1-5)
- The peace-offering of the flock. -- (6-17)
Verses 1-5
The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner. They were called peace-offering, because in them God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace, our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock.
Verses 6-17
Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood. As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, the suet. The blood was forbidden for the same reason; because it was God's part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that made atonement to be used as a common thing, Heb 10:29; nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honour of making it. This taught the Jews to observe distinction between common and sacred things; it kept them separate from idolaters. It would impress them more deeply with the belief of some important mystery in the shedding of the blood and the burning the fat of their solemn sacrifices. Christ, as the Prince of peace, "made peace with the blood of his cross." Through him the believer is reconciled to God; and having the peace of God in his heart, he is disposed to follow peace with all men. May the Lord multiply grace, mercy, and peace, to all who desire to bear the Christian character.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.