The Peace Offering

“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” (3:1).

We have already noticed the progression from the burnt offering to the meal offering and it is continued with the peace offering. Amos recognised this order,

“Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor, will I regard your fattened peace offerings” (Amos 5:22).

The justified person (burnt offering) who is devoted to the Lord (meal offering) engages in acts of praise, fellowship and sacrifices of thanksgiving (peace offering). The peace offering was a meal that was shared between the priests, and the people of Israel. It was a fellowship offering. The worshipper was to bring a male or female ox, a sheep, or a goat. The sacrificial offering was similar to the burnt offering up to the point of the actual burning when the animal’s blood was poured around the edges of the altar. The fat and entrails were burned, and the remainder was eaten by the priests and (if it was a freewill offering) by the worshippers themselves. The fact that some of the offering was eaten shows that Christ’s offering conveys a blessing to the offeror. The peace offering was offered by the priest at the season of first fruits. The animal had to be without blemish as it represented Jesus and so also the church is to be blameless, “without spot or wrinkle.” The offeror placed his hand firmly on the head of the animal. The animal was killed, skinned and all its parts removed and burnt by themselves,

“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, 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” (Lev.3:3-4; see also vv14-16). Parts of the animal are removed (as above) and burned on the fire, the richest parts of the animal are removed from deep inside the animal (3:9-10), the breast was for Aaron and his sons to eat (7:30-34). We bring the deepest riches of our heart in worship to God. When Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, He offered His deepest soul to God which was tried in the fire of the cross.

This offering symbolizes fellowship with God. (1) Signifies thankfulness for a specific blessing; (2) offers a ritual expression of a vow; and (3) symbolizes general thankfulness (to be brought to one of three required religious services). This sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving was most of the time a voluntary act. (It was required to make offerings while making a vow of one’s life to God and thanking Him with praise while freewill offerings were voluntary). Fellowship with God; a communion meal. An offering made for unexpected blessing or deliverance already granted.