Leviticus 3: The Fellowship Offering - A Celebration of Communion
And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.
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.
And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s.
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
Leviticus 3 details the regulations for the fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering. This offering differed significantly from the sin and burnt offerings in its primary purpose: it wasn't primarily about atonement for sin, but rather a voluntary offering brought to the Lord as an expression of fellowship, gratitude, and joy in communion with Him. Leviticus 3:1-17 outlines the specifics of this offering, highlighting its unique characteristics and significance. This chapter provides valuable insight into the nature of worship and our relationship with God.
A Voluntary Expression of Joy (Leviticus 3:1-17)
Unlike the mandatory sin offering, the fellowship offering was largely voluntary. Israelites brought it to the tabernacle as a freewill offering. The preparation and offering shared similarities with the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:1-17), but a key distinction was the shared participation. The worshiper, along with their family and friends, partook in a meal using the meat of the sacrificed animal (Leviticus 7:11-35; cf. Deuteronomy 12:7). This communal meal symbolized and celebrated the restored relationship between God and His people. However, the fat portions were reserved exclusively for the Lord, burned on the altar by the priests as a fire offering, creating a pleasing aroma to the LORD (Leviticus 3:5).
Offerings from the Flock (Leviticus 3:6)
If the offering came from the flock (sheep or goats) rather than the herd (cattle), either a male or female animal could be presented (Leviticus 3:6). Birds were excluded from this particular offering, likely due to their small size, which would leave little meat for the fellowship meal. The emphasis on sharing the meal with family and friends highlights the communal aspect of the offering, turning it into a festive occasion.
A Festive Meal in God's Presence
The fellowship offering's nature as a festive meal underscores its purpose: to express the offerer's joy in experiencing communion with God. It was a celebration of the relationship, a tangible expression of gratitude for God's blessings and presence in their lives. The frequent pairing of the fellowship offering with the burnt offering (as seen in Exodus 20:24 and 24:5) paints a complete picture of worship. First, a sacrifice is offered to atone for sins – an offering entirely dedicated to the Lord. Then, a fellowship offering is presented as an act of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating the reconciliation achieved through the first offering.
The Significance of the Fat and Blood (Leviticus 3:16-17)
The prohibition against consuming fat portions of the fellowship offering is explicitly stated: "All fat belongs to the LORD" (Leviticus 3:16). While the exact reason isn't explicitly given in the text, various interpretations exist. One suggestion is that the fat, considered the richest and most desirable part of the animal, was reserved for God alone as a symbol of offering the best to Him. Regardless of the specific reason, the principle remains: God deserves our best and most precious offerings.
Similarly, the prohibition against eating blood (Leviticus 3:17) has deep roots, established in God's covenant with Noah. Genesis 9:4 explains that "the life of the flesh is in the blood." Consuming blood would be akin to consuming the very life force, something reserved for God alone. This prohibition reinforces the sanctity of life and the reverence due to God as the giver of life.
The fellowship offering, therefore, was more than just a sacrifice; it was a celebration of restored relationship, a tangible expression of gratitude, and a reminder of God's holiness and provision. It pointed to the joy and intimacy that comes from walking in fellowship with Him.
(Transition to the next section implied in the original text, leading to the Sin Offering in Leviticus 4:1-5:13)
And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.
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.
And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s.
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
Leviticus 3 details the regulations for the fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering. This offering differed significantly from the sin and burnt offerings in its primary purpose: it wasn't primarily about atonement for sin, but rather a voluntary offering brought to the Lord as an expression of fellowship, gratitude, and joy in communion with Him. Leviticus 3:1-17 outlines the specifics of this offering, highlighting its unique characteristics and significance. This chapter provides valuable insight into the nature of worship and our relationship with God.
A Voluntary Expression of Joy (Leviticus 3:1-17)
Unlike the mandatory sin offering, the fellowship offering was largely voluntary. Israelites brought it to the tabernacle as a freewill offering. The preparation and offering shared similarities with the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:1-17), but a key distinction was the shared participation. The worshiper, along with their family and friends, partook in a meal using the meat of the sacrificed animal (Leviticus 7:11-35; cf. Deuteronomy 12:7). This communal meal symbolized and celebrated the restored relationship between God and His people. However, the fat portions were reserved exclusively for the Lord, burned on the altar by the priests as a fire offering, creating a pleasing aroma to the LORD (Leviticus 3:5).
Offerings from the Flock (Leviticus 3:6)
If the offering came from the flock (sheep or goats) rather than the herd (cattle), either a male or female animal could be presented (Leviticus 3:6). Birds were excluded from this particular offering, likely due to their small size, which would leave little meat for the fellowship meal. The emphasis on sharing the meal with family and friends highlights the communal aspect of the offering, turning it into a festive occasion.
A Festive Meal in God's Presence
The fellowship offering's nature as a festive meal underscores its purpose: to express the offerer's joy in experiencing communion with God. It was a celebration of the relationship, a tangible expression of gratitude for God's blessings and presence in their lives. The frequent pairing of the fellowship offering with the burnt offering (as seen in Exodus 20:24 and 24:5) paints a complete picture of worship. First, a sacrifice is offered to atone for sins – an offering entirely dedicated to the Lord. Then, a fellowship offering is presented as an act of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating the reconciliation achieved through the first offering.
The Significance of the Fat and Blood (Leviticus 3:16-17)
The prohibition against consuming fat portions of the fellowship offering is explicitly stated: "All fat belongs to the LORD" (Leviticus 3:16). While the exact reason isn't explicitly given in the text, various interpretations exist. One suggestion is that the fat, considered the richest and most desirable part of the animal, was reserved for God alone as a symbol of offering the best to Him. Regardless of the specific reason, the principle remains: God deserves our best and most precious offerings.
Similarly, the prohibition against eating blood (Leviticus 3:17) has deep roots, established in God's covenant with Noah. Genesis 9:4 explains that "the life of the flesh is in the blood." Consuming blood would be akin to consuming the very life force, something reserved for God alone. This prohibition reinforces the sanctity of life and the reverence due to God as the giver of life.
The fellowship offering, therefore, was more than just a sacrifice; it was a celebration of restored relationship, a tangible expression of gratitude, and a reminder of God's holiness and provision. It pointed to the joy and intimacy that comes from walking in fellowship with Him.
(Transition to the next section implied in the original text, leading to the Sin Offering in Leviticus 4:1-5:13)