Leviticus 3

1 quod si hostia pacificorum fuerit eius oblatio et de bubus voluerit offerre marem sive feminam inmaculata offeret coram Domino

2 ponetque manum super caput victimae suae quae immolabitur in introitu tabernaculi fundentque filii Aaron sacerdotes sanguinem per circuitum altaris

3 et offerent de hostia pacificorum in oblationem Domini adipem qui operit vitalia et quicquid pinguedinis intrinsecus est

4 duos renes cum adipe quo teguntur ilia et reticulum iecoris cum renunculis

5 adolebuntque ea super altare in holocaustum lignis igne subposito in oblationem suavissimi odoris Domino

6 si vero de ovibus fuerit eius oblatio et pacificorum hostia sive masculum sive feminam obtulerit inmaculata erunt

7 si agnum obtulerit coram Domino

8 ponet manum super caput victimae suae quae immolabitur in vestibulo tabernaculi testimonii fundentque filii Aaron sanguinem eius per altaris circuitum

9 et offerent de pacificorum hostia sacrificium Domino adipem et caudam totam

10 cum renibus et pinguedinem quae operit ventrem atque universa vitalia et utrumque renunculum cum adipe qui est iuxta ilia reticulumque iecoris cum renunculis

11 et adolebit ea sacerdos super altare in pabulum ignis et oblationis Domini

12 si capra fuerit eius oblatio et obtulerit eam Domino

13 ponet manum suam super caput eius immolabitque eam in introitu tabernaculi testimonii et fundent filii Aaron sanguinem eius per altaris circuitum

14 tollentque ex ea in pastum ignis dominici adipem qui operit ventrem et qui tegit universa vitalia

15 duos renunculos cum reticulo qui est super eos iuxta ilia et arvinam iecoris cum renunculis

16 adolebitque ea sacerdos super altare in alimoniam ignis et suavissimi odoris omnis adeps Domini erit

17 iure perpetuo in generationibus et cunctis habitaculis vestris nec adipes nec sanguinem omnino comedetis

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.

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.