Leviticus 3

1 “If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering to the LORD, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects.

2 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.

3 The priest must present part of this peace offering as a special gift to the LORD . This includes all the fat around the internal organs,

4 the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys,

5 and Aaron’s sons will burn them on top of the burnt offering on the wood burning on the altar. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD .

6 “If you present an animal from the flock as a peace offering to the LORD, it may be a male or a female, but it must have no defects.

7 If you present a sheep as your offering, bring it to the LORD,

8 lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron’s sons will then splatter the sheep’s blood against all sides of the altar.

9 The priest must present the fat of this peace offering as a special gift to the LORD . This includes the fat of the broad tail cut off near the backbone, all the fat around the internal organs,

10 the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys,

11 and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food presented to the LORD .

12 “If you present a goat as your offering, bring it to the LORD,

13 lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron’s sons will then splatter the goat’s blood against all sides of the altar.

14 The priest must present part of this offering as a special gift to the LORD . This includes all the fat around the internal organs,

15 the two kidneys and the fat around them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver. These must be removed with the kidneys,

16 and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food, a pleasing aroma to the LORD . All the fat belongs to the LORD .

17 “You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation, wherever you live.”

Leviticus 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The peace-offering of the herd. (1-5) The peace-offering of the flock. (6-17)

Verses 1-5 The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner. They were called peace-offering, because in them God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace, our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock.

Verses 6-17 Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood. As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, the suet. The blood was forbidden for the same reason; because it was God's part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that made atonement to be used as a common thing, ( Hebrews 10:29 ) ; nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honour of making it. This taught the Jews to observe distinction between common and sacred things; it kept them separate from idolaters. It would impress them more deeply with the belief of some important mystery in the shedding of the blood and the burning the fat of their solemn sacrifices. Christ, as the Prince of peace, "made peace with the blood of his cross." Through him the believer is reconciled to God; and having the peace of God in his heart, he is disposed to follow peace with all men. May the Lord multiply grace, mercy, and peace, to all who desire to bear the Christian character.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 3:8, 13 .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 3

This chapter contains the law of the peace offerings, and gives an account what they consisted of, and of the various rites and ceremonies used at them, as of the bullock and the rites appertaining to that, Le 3:1-5 and of the lamb, and of the rites peculiar to it, Le 3:6-11 and of the goat, and of the rites belonging to it, Le 3:12-16 and the chapter is concluded with a law forbidding the eating of fat and blood throughout their dwellings for ever, Le 3:17.