Leviticus 3

Leviticus 3 outlines the peace offering, also called the fellowship offering, which was a voluntary offering made to express thankfulness and fellowship with God. It involved offering an animal to be shared between the Lord, the priest, and the worshiper. The chapter explains the requirements for the animal to be sacrificed, the handling of its fat, and its significance. It emphasizes the importance of offering the best portions to God and acknowledges that the peace offering symbolizes reconciliation and harmony between God and His people.

Leviticus 3:1-3 (NKJV)
1 ‘When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.
2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar.
3 Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,

These verses describe the peace offering procedure, starting with the selection of an unblemished animal, symbolizing purity and the best of the flock. The act of laying hands on the animal’s head signifies the worshiper’s identification with the offering, symbolizing the transference of one’s thankfulness or need for reconciliation. The sprinkling of blood represents the life of the sacrifice being given to God, reinforcing the idea of atonement and peace between God and man. The fat, considered the best part of the animal, is burned as an offering to God, demonstrating that He deserves the finest.

Leviticus 3:4-5 (NKJV)
4 the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove;
5 and Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

The fat portions, along with specific organs like the kidneys and the liver, are separated and offered on the altar. These parts represent the innermost and vital aspects of the animal, reflecting the importance of offering the deepest and most significant parts of one's life to God. When these parts are burned, it produces a "sweet aroma" to the Lord, signifying that the offering is pleasing and acceptable to Him.

Leviticus 3:6-8 (NKJV)
6 ‘If his offering as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord is of the flock, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
7 If he offers a lamb as 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 tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.

These verses describe the peace offering if the worshiper brings a lamb instead of an animal from the herd. Again, the animal must be without blemish, reflecting the principle of offering the best to God. The same procedure follows, with the laying of hands, the killing of the animal, and the sprinkling of its blood, emphasizing the consistency of the ritual across different types of animals and maintaining the focus on purity and reconciliation through the shedding of blood.

Leviticus 3:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord, its fat and the whole fat tail, which he shall remove close to the backbone. And the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
10 the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove;
11 and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

This section highlights the specific portions of the lamb that are to be offered, similar to the previous verses about offerings from the herd. The fat tail of the lamb is singled out as a special offering. This further reinforces the importance of giving the best and most significant parts to God. The burning of these parts on the altar is described as food for the Lord, symbolizing His acceptance of the offering and His communion with the worshiper.

Leviticus 3:12-13 (NKJV)
12 ‘And 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 tabernacle of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.

In these verses, the peace offering involving a goat is described. Similar to the instructions for other animals, the goat must be offered without blemish, and the worshiper must lay hands on it, symbolizing identification with the sacrifice. The priest then sprinkles the goat’s blood on the altar, signifying that the life of the animal is given as a symbol of peace and reconciliation with God.

Leviticus 3:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord: the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
15 the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove;
16 and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord’s.

These verses emphasize the specific parts of the goat to be offered, with a focus on the fat and internal organs, as in previous offerings. The fat is once again described as the Lord’s, indicating that it belongs exclusively to Him as a symbol of the best and richest portion. The "sweet aroma" created when these parts are burned reflects God’s pleasure and acceptance of the offering.

Leviticus 3:17 (NKJV)
17 ‘This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’

This verse establishes a perpetual statute for the Israelites regarding the consumption of fat and blood. It underscores the sacredness of the fat, which belongs to God, and the blood, which represents life. The command to abstain from consuming these parts reflects their consecrated status and the need for the Israelites to respect God's holy requirements in their worship and daily lives. This command also points to the broader principle of reverence for life and for the offerings made to the Lord.