Leviticus 22:21

21 And when anyone 1offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD 2to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.

Leviticus 22:21 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:21

And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offering unto the
Lord
This, as Ben Gersom observes, is distinguished from a burnt offering; for though it was to be perfect, and without blemish, yet not obliged to be a male as that, ( Leviticus 3:1 ) . This was either by way of thanksgiving for mercies received, ( Leviticus 7:12 ) , or to accomplish [his] vow;
made in any distress, that if God would deliver him, then he would offer such a sacrifice: or a freewill offering;
either on account of favours received, or in order to obtain them: which sacrifice, whether in beeves or sheep;
whether in bullocks or sheep, under which are comprehended goats, both being of the flock, ( Leviticus 22:19 ) ; it shall be perfect to be accepted;
perfect in all its parts, not only in those that are without and obvious to view, but in those that are within: wherefore the Jewish writers say F23, if it had but one kidney, or the spleen was consumed, it was unfit for the altar; wherefore, in order to be an acceptable sacrifice to God, it was to be complete in all respects: there shall be no blemish therein;
which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and that it might be observed. Such sacrifices were typical of Christ, the immaculate Lamb of God, who offered himself without spot to him, ( 1 Peter 1:19 ) ( Hebrews 9:14 ) ; and shows that no sacrifice of man's can be so acceptable to God as to atone for him, since none of theirs are perfect, and without blemish.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Maimon. Hilchot Issure Mizbeach, c. 2. sect. 11.

Leviticus 22:21 In-Context

19 if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats.
20 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
21 And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.
22 Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the LORD or give them to the LORD as a food offering on the altar.
23 You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Leviticus 3:1, 6
  • 2. Leviticus 7:16; Numbers 15:3, 8; Deuteronomy 23:21, 23; Psalms 61:8; Psalms 65:1; Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5
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