Chapter 3
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
2And 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.
3And 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,
4And 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.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.
8And 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.
9And 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,
10And 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.
11And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.
12And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.
13And 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.
14And 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,
15And 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.
16And 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.
17It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
“It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.”
Overview
God gives instructions for the peace offering, which may come from the herd or the flock, male or female, but must be without blemish. The offerer lays his hand on the animal's head and kills it at the tabernacle door. The fat, kidneys, and other internal portions are burned on the altar, but the meat is shared between the priests and the worshipper in a communal meal.
Key Themes
Fellowship and Communion with God
The peace offering is unique because it is shared — God receives the fat on the altar, the priests receive their portion, and the worshipper eats the rest, symbolizing fellowship and peace between God and man.
The Fat Belongs to the Lord
All the fat — the richest and best portion — must be given to God, teaching that the best of what we have belongs to Him and is not ours to keep.
Peace Through Sacrifice
True peace with God does not come through human effort but through the blood of a sacrifice, establishing that reconciliation requires an atoning death.
Study Questions
How does the communal nature of the peace offering — shared between God, the priest, and the worshipper — illustrate the fellowship that sacrifice makes possible?
Why does God specifically claim the fat and the blood as His own, and what spiritual principle does this establish?
What is the significance of the peace offering being either male or female, unlike the burnt offering which must be male?
How does the peace offering relate to the concept of 'breaking bread together,' and what does this foreshadow in the New Testament?
In what ways does the peace offering teach us about gratitude and thanksgiving in our relationship with God?
Connection to Christ
The peace offering foreshadows Christ, who is 'our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made reconciliation between God and man through the blood of His cross. The communion meal shared at the peace offering anticipates the Lord's Supper, where believers share in the body and blood of Christ.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 3. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?