The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3)

Does the peace offering show the high cost of peace? Does peace with God come through the shedding of blood? As a fellowship or thanksgiving offering, was this shared with God and the priests? Is Jesus our peace? Let’s look at Leviticus 3.

We will later learn that a peace offering may have several purposes (Leviticus 7). Could a peace offering be made from the cattle herd?

If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering [fellowship offering or thank offering] to the Lord, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects. Lay your hand on the animal’s head, and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, will splatter its blood against all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:1-2 NLT)

Does the offering of an animal without defects remind us of a sinless Savior?

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19 WEB)

What was to be done with those parts of the animal that are not to be eaten? Were they placed on top of the burnt offering?

And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:3-5 ESV)

Is Jesus our peace, making peace between us and God, between Jew and Gentile?

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:13-16 NIV)

Could a peace offering also be made from the flock, the sheep and goats?

If his offering as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he must present a male or female without blemish. If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he is to present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering, then slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will sprinkle its blood on all sides of the altar. (Leviticus 3:6-8 HCSB)

What was to be done with the fat and internal organs?

The presenter is then to bring a gift from the peace offering as an offering made by fire to the Lord. He is to remove the fat—the entire fat tail near the spine, the fat that covers the internal organs, all of the fat that is inside the internal organs, the two kidneys with the fat on them by the loins, and the fatty mass that surrounds the liver and kidneys. Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the Lord. (Leviticus 3:9-11 ISV)

What if the sacrifice was a goat instead of a sheep?

And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 3:12-13 KJV)

Is there a fellowship aspect to communion for Christians?

Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16 LSB)

Were blood and fat forbidden to be eaten? Could this have been in part for health reasons? Are Christians still forbidden to eat blood?

From it he shall present his offering as an offering by fire to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire as a soothing aroma; all fat is the Lord’s. It is a permanent statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places: you shall not eat any fat or any blood. (Leviticus 3:14-17 NASB)

Does the peace offering show the high cost of peace? Does peace with God come through the shedding of blood? Is Jesus our peace? You decide!