Levítico 2
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Levítico 2
Wiersbe explains that In seventeenth-century England, when the KJV was translated, the word “meat” meant any kind of food, including grain; and so the translators called this “the meat offering,” even though no “meat” (animal flesh) was involved. It should be called the “grain offering,” “meal offering,” or “cereal offering." (Be Holy Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament ) Now when anyone (nepesh = soul; cf 'adam = man in Lev 1:2) presents a grain offering - This offering could be presented at the altar in one of five forms: fine flour, oven-baked cakes, cakes baked in a pan, cakes baked in a frying pan (cf modern "pizza" or "pie crust"), or crushed roasted heads of new grain. David Baker - The next offerings to Yahweh were no farther away than the breakfast table. He desired a gift from the very bread of life, which was originally a gift from him in the form of grain. The grain was reworked, processed by human hands, and returned to God. These gifts implied the hospitality that was, and still is, part of Near Eastern life—the notion that “what I have, I am pleased to share with you” (cf. Gen 18:6; Kidner 1971:6). We all like to share a meal with a friend, and God was more than that: He was Israel’s covenant partner. The major difference between this sacrifice and the previous was that here there was no blood shed, and as a result, there was no atonement (Lev 1:4; Heb 9:22). Since grain offerings regularly followed the burnt offering in daily rituals (Num 28), they follow it here in the written description. It became representative of those types of offering that did not require blood (Heb 10:5). A grain offering was a gift from any of the people, male or female, to Yahweh as covenant Lord and King (Lev 2:1–3). (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary) Gordon Wenham - There is no specific reference to anyone bringing a cereal offering in the NT, but those occasions which required a burnt offering usually demanded a cereal offering as well. Presumably we should understand the presentation of a cereal offering in Luke 17:11-14 and Acts 21:22-26. NICOT Borrow The book of Leviticus) Rob Morgan introduces his message on this chapter - "Noah Webster said: “The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” I can give you quote after quote from almost every one of the Founding Fathers of our nation, warning us that a healthy society depends on strong morality, and strong morality depends on a respect for religion in general and of Christianity in particular. But this is a message that has fallen to the wayside in our own day of pride and pluralism. How do we as a nation rediscover a reverence and a respect for God’s holiness? Strange as it seems, there’s no better book for us to study on this subject than the Old Testament book of Leviticus, which contains the Mosaic law which serves as the underpinning of all biblical ethics and holiness. The theme of Leviticus is summed up in the words: Be holy for I am holy. Our God is a holy and sinless God, and He expects His people to reflect His holiness. In this book of Leviticus: • The word holy occurs 95 times. • The word unholy occurs once. • The word clean occurs 48 times. • The word unclean occurs 131 times. • And the phrase Be holy is found 24 times. Is there any subject or theme in the Bible more needed by the United States of America on this national birthday than this one?" (Leviticus 2 Amber Waves of Grain) Typically, the grain was offered in the form of fine flour, mixed with a bit of oil and frankincense; part of the flour was to be burnt before the Lord on the altar; but the rest was to be given to the priests, for their own use in making bread. Why would God want an offering of grain? In an agrarian society, this was a fitting symbol of thanks for God’s faithful provision. W A Criswell - The grain offering was the only Levitical offering which was not a blood sacrifice, except the sin offering for the extremely poor, where an offering of fine flour without oil or frankincense could be substituted (see Lev 5:11-13). The grain offering, brought to show one's homage and thanksgiving to God, normally accompanied the burnt offering, which necessarily involved the shedding of blood (Ex 29:39, 40; Nu 28; 29). Three types of grain offerings: (1) fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense (Lev 2:1, 2); (2) cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil and baked in an oven (v4), on a griddle (Lev 2:5), or in a covered pan (Lev 2:7); (3) fresh heads of roasted grain mixed with oil and frankincense (Lev 2:14, 15). The frankincense added a special fragrance to the memorial part of the offering burned on the altar (cf. Ex 30:34-38). (The Believer's Study Bible) WHY HAVE OT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES? Ideally these were believers, those saved by the "Gospel" (Gal 3:8), by grace through faith (Hab 2:4) not by works. Remember that the OT sacrifices did not save from sin nor forgive sins. In short, the Levitical system per se had no provision for the sinful (flesh) nature of mankind inherited from Adam (Ro 5:12-note). The point is that the offerings did not save but were to be the natural (supernatural) response of one who had been saved. They were to be the outward demonstration of their inward (vital) faith. Indeed, without faith the sacrifices were futile and worthless as taught in Heb 11:4. See also 1Sa 15:22-23, Ps 51:15-19, Isa 1:11-15, Micah 6:6-8, all of these passage teaching that in the final analysis, God desires an internal circumcision of the heart, not an external circumcision of the flesh. Anyone presents a grain offering - Presents (07126) (qarab/qarav) has the basic meaning of being or coming very near. The Septuagint (Lxx) uses prosphero (pros = to, toward + phero = to bring, to bear) which means to bring to a person or place and in the NT refers to presenting offerings or sacrifices (Mt 2:11, Acts 7:42, Heb 5:7) Why would God want an offering of grain? In an agrarian society, this was a fitting symbol of thanks for God’s faithful provision. The grain could be offered raw, cooked, ground into flour or baked (Lv 2:4, 5, 7, 14). The grain offering could be offered by itself (Lev 5:11; 7:12-14) but often accompanied animal offerings (Lv 7:12-13; 14:20; Nu 28:4-15), but it could be presented independently . The Grain Offering was used by the very poor in place of a bird offering (Lev 5:11). Charles Ryrie adds that the grain offering "reminded the people that God gave them their basic food and that they in turn owed Him their lives as a gift or tribute (which is the meaning behind the Hebrew word minchah for this offering)." R Laird Harris - The drink offering or libation, which was also to accompany various sacrifices, is not mentioned in this section. “Drink offering” is somewhat of a misnomer. The wine was poured over the sacrifice or poured out in the Holy Place; it was not drunk (Num 28:7–15). For a lamb about a pint and a half was used. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) UNCOOKED GRAIN OFFERINGS Grain offering (04503) (minchah) means a gift (given to another without compensation = Ge 32:13, 2Ki 8:8), tribute ( payment by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection = Jdg 3:14, 2Sa 8:2; Hos 10:6) or offering (as a gift offered to God). The most common sense by far in the OT is as an offering (usually "grain offering" in the NAS but it could refer to animal offerings Ge 4:3-5 or "sacrifices" in general Isa 19:21). Minchah is translated most often (152x) simply as offering. The first use is in Genesis 4 describing the offerings of Cain and Abel - "So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering (minchah) to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering (minchah); but for Cain and for his offering (minchah) He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell." (Ge 4:3-5) Comment: Hebrews 11:4-note helps us understand clearly why the Abel's offering was accepted by God and Cain's was rejected. It was not so much "what" they brought, but "how" they brought it, for Abel brought it in faith, whereas Cain did not bring it in faith and his subsequent reaction (anger) was consistent with his lack of faith. NET Note on his countenance fell says that the literal Hebrew "is And his face fell. The idiom means that the inner anger is reflected in Cain's facial expression. The fallen or downcast face expresses anger, dejection, or depression." The Septuagint (Lxx) translates minchah in this passage with the noun doron which means a gift or present to show honor and respect (Mt 2:11 of gifts of Magi [Mt 2:7-10] at His birth). Doron also described sacrifices and other gifts offered to God (Mt. 5:23-24-note; Mt 8:4; 15:5; 23:18-19; Mk 7:11; Heb 5:1-note; Heb 8:3-4-note; Heb 9:9-note) Minchah is translated as gift(5), gifts(2), meal offering(7), meal offerings(1), offering(152), offering*(1), offerings(14), present(12), sacrifice(3), tribute(14). Minchah is translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) with the noun doron which means a gift or present, to show honor and respect (as in Mt 2:11), as a gift offered to God (Mt 8:4) and as God's gift to sinners of salvation (Eph 2:8- notenote: minchahis first used in Scripture for the offering of Cain (Ge 4:3) and then is also used for the offering of Abel (Ge 4:4). Only Abel's offering is translated doron (gift which stresses the gratuitous character) in the Lxx, while Cain's offering is translated with the noun thusia which means that which is offered as a sacrifice. Interesting distinction (cp Heb 11:4-note)! Minchah - 193v in NAS - Ge 4:3-5; 32:13, 18, 20f; 33:10; 43:11, 15, 25f; Ex 29:41; 30:9; 40:29; Lev 2:1, 3ff, 13ff; 5:13; 6:14f, 20f, 23; 7:9f, 37; 9:4, 17; 10:12; 14:10, 20f, 31; 23:13, 16, 18, 37; Num 4:16; 5:15, 18, 25f; 6:15, 17; 7:13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 87; 8:8; 15:4, 6, 9, 24; 16:15; 18:9; 28:5, 8f, 12f, 20, 26, 28, 31; 29:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18f, 21f, 24f, 27f, 30f, 33f, 37ff; Josh 22:23, 29; Jdg 3:15, 17f; 6:18; 13:19, 23; 1 Sam 2:17, 29; 3:14; 10:27; 26:19; 2 Sam 8:2, 6; 1Kgs 4:21; 8:64; 10:25; 18:29, 36; 2Kgs 3:20; 8:8f; 16:13, 15; 17:3f; 20:12; 1Chr 16:29; 18:2, 6; 21:23; 23:29; 2Chr 7:7; 9:24; 17:5, 11; 26:8; 32:23; Ezra 9:4f; Neh 10:33; 13:5, 9; Ps 20:3; 40:6; 45:12; 96:8; 141:2; Isa 1:13; 19:21; 39:1; 43:23; 57:6; 66:3, 20; Jer 14:12; 17:26; 33:18; 41:5; Ezek 42:13; 44:29; 45:15, 17, 24f; 46:5, 7, 11, 14f, 20; Dan 9:21, 27; Hos 10:6; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14; Amos 5:22, 25; Zeph 3:10; Mal 1:10f, 13; 2:12f; 3:3f David Baker on minchah - The term “grain offering” (Lev 2:1) is ambiguous in the Old Testament. It first referred to both animal and vegetable sacrifices (Ge 4:3–5), and at other times it indicated offerings of meat (1Sa 2:12–17), mixed meat and bread (Jdg 6:18–20), incense (Nu 16:15–17), and offerings in general (1Chr 16:29; Ps 96:8; Zeph 3:10). In fact, in one eschatological passage the term refers to human beings who would be an offering to Yahweh (Isa 66:20). At other times, including the passage in Leviticus 2, it designated offerings of grain (Le 9:4, 17; 14:10, 20, 31; Nu 15:1–10). In nonreligious contexts, the term spoke of a gift, often to someone who was being honored (Ge 33:10), such as a king (1Sa 10:27; 1Kgs 10:25; 2Chr 17:5), or tribute, an expected or enforced “gift” (Jdg 3:15–18; 2 Sam 8:2). “Gift” seems to have been the basic meaning, becoming more specific if used in a religious or in a sociopolitical context (NIDOTTE 2.978–990). Here it was a gift in appreciation and worship of God. (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary) Offering shall be of fine flour - Lev 2:1KJV has "meat" but the offering was actually a "meal" consisting mainly of fine flour without leaven (Lev 2:11). Fine flour (05560)(solet - see note) Oil (08081)(shemen - see note) refers to olive oil obtained by crushing, pressing, or grinding olives, which were a staple in Israel’s diet (1Ki 17:12-16) Oil though part of sacrifices such as this was never offered on its own. Duane Lindsey feels that "The typology (See discussion of Typology) of the grain offering pictures the person of Christ and points up the substitutionary value of His death on the cross. This is illustrated in the normal conjunction of the grain offering with the burnt or fellowship offerings....it is interesting that even the image of grain falling into the ground and “dying” to bring forth fruit was used by Jesus to illustrate His death (John 12:23–24). (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Offering (used twice - "offering to the LORD" "offering of animals") (07133)(qorban/korban from qarab signifies coming into near, intimate proximity of another [in Leviticus into intimate proximity with Jehovah!] - Does this root verb not help us discern the picture of "offering?") is a masculine noun which means that which is brought near (the altar), thus referring to an offering. Thus qorban/korban was a general term used for all Israelite sacrifices, offerings, or oblations. It is used in a variety of offerings in Leviticus. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates qorban twice in this passage with the noun doron which means a gift or present to show honor and respect (Mt 2:11 of gifts of Magi [Mt 2:7-10] at His birth). Doron also described sacrifices and other gifts offered to God (Mt. 5:23-24-note; Mt 8:4; 15:5; 23:18-19; Mk 7:11; Heb 5:1-note; Heb 8:3-4-note; Heb 9:9-note) Leon Hyatt Frankincense was an incense made from the fragrant resin of frankincense trees. They grew mainly in the deserts of Arabia, and the fragrant sap had to be imported into Israel. Since frankincense trees grew in the desert, they produced only a small amount of sap. Gathering the sap was a long, laborious task. After droplets were gathered, they were dried into pebbles for use in incense pots and for shipping all around the Middle East. These factors made frankincense scarce and expensive. It was used in the homes of kings and the wealthy to produce a pleasant odor. Frankincense added to the homage-offering enlarged the picture that this was an offering made to the Lord of all." (Leviticus 1:1-3:17.) To the LORD (101x in 92v) - Lev 1:2, 9, 13f, 17; 2:1ff, 8ff, 14, 16; 3:3, 5f, 9, 11, 14; 4:3, 31, 35; 5:6f, 15; 6:6, 15, 18, 20ff; 7:5, 11, 14, 20f, 25, 29f, 35, 38; 8:21, 28; 17:4ff, 9; 19:5, 21, 24; 21:6; 22:3, 15, 18, 21f, 24, 27, 29; 23:3, 6, 8, 12f, 16ff, 20, 25, 27, 34, 36ff, 41; 24:7; 25:2, 4; 27:2, 9, 11, 14, 16, 21ff, 26, 28, 30, 32; Frankincense (03828)(lebonah) describes a dry resinous substance in pieces or drops, of a pale yellowish white color, of a bitter, acrid taste, and very inflammable; used as a perfume. Frankincense was costly as it was from a tree resin imported from southern Arabia (Jer 6:20). note: The tree was gashed and the exuding sap collected in amber-colored drops. Incense is bitter and nauseous to the taste and thus not fit for food. note: Incense was prized for the pleasant smell when burned. It was used with grain offerings (Neh 13:5, 9; Isa 43:23; Jer 17:26) and also burnt on the inner incense altar (Ex 30:7–8, 34-36) to provide a sweet odor. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates lebonah with the noun libanos which means frankincense which was a sweet smelling white resin obtained from several trees in Arabia and used both medicinally and religiously. Tabernacle worship required pure frankincense in the incense for anointing (Ex 30:34) and on each row of bread (Lev 24:7). Frankincense typically accompanied grain offerings, it was prohibited in cases of offerings for sin offering and jealousy offering (Lev 5:11; Nu 5:15). Lebonah is translated in NAS as frankincense (13) and incense (8). Lebonah - 21v in NAS - Ex 30:34; Lev 2:1-2, 15-16; 5:11; 6:15; 24:7; Num 5:15; 1 Chr 9:29; Neh 13:5, 9; Song 3:6; 4:6, 14; Isa 43:23; 60:6; 66:3; Jer 6:20; 17:26; 41:5. In Matthew frankincense is used as a gift as part of an act of worship... Matt 2:11 And they (magi - Mt 2:1) came into the house and saw the Child (Jesus) with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense - Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature Easton's Bible Dictionary - (Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., "white"), an odorous resin imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7). When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour, and hence the incense became a symbol of the Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an emblem of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3). HCSB - Frankincense's association with joy may explain its customary use (Song 3:6; 4:14; Isa 60:6; Jer 17:26). To the LORD - To Jehovah - Not to the priests , not to men - This recalls passages in the NT such as Eph 6:7 note-note, Col 3:23-24- note Gotquestions- Question: "What is a grain offering?" Answer: A grain offering is a type of sacrifice described in the Old Testament (Leviticus 2) that the Israelites offered to God. A grain offering would have most likely been one of wheat or barley, depending on what was available. While other sacrifices had very specific instructions from God as to how they were to be offered, the rules governing grain offerings had some flexibility.....the purpose of a grain offering was to worship God and acknowledge His provision. The burnt offering, which had strict regulations and could have nothing added to it, aptly represents the fact that we take no part in our atonement for sin. The grain offering, however, could be somewhat “personalized” in its presentation. It was to be given out of a person’s free will, just as our worship is our free will offering to God today. It’s interesting to note that during the Israelites’ forty years of wilderness wandering grain would have been quite scarce. This made grain offerings more costly and precious for the people to offer to God. Giving a grain offering in those circumstances represented the Israelites’ complete dependence on God to provide for their needs each day. Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), and we no longer have to do sacrifices as they did in the Old Testament. But, if the grain offering is similar to our offering of worship, it’s interesting to consider: how much does our worship today cost us? (Full article) DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE GRAIN OFFERING James Smith on "The Grain Offering" - THE PERSONAL CHARACTER OF CHRIST. Leviticus 2:1-16. There was no blood-shedding in this offering, signifying that the thought of suffering is not connected with it. We have here in type the character and real moral worth of Jesus as the Son of God. In looking at this offering we observe that it was— 1. OF FINE FLOUR (Lev 2:1). Flour is a product of earth, and may refer to the kinship of Christ with man. It was fine flour. Though He was truly human He was entirely free from the bran of carnal-mindedness. There was no defect, no coarseness of passion or feeling, all was perfectly even and sincere. 2. MINGLED WITH OIL (Lev 2:4). Oil is an emblem of the Holy Spirit. As the flour was mingled with oil, so the presence and power of the Holy Ghost permeated every act and thought of the Saviour. The process of mingling the human and the divine is a great mystery. Great is the mystery of Godliness. 3. ANOINTED WITH OIL. "He shall pour oil upon it" (Lev 2:1). Oil in it and oil on it suggest the twofold truth of the indwelling and the anointing. The Holy Spirit in us for guidance and teaching, on us for power and service. The Holy Spirit was in Christ from His birth, it was on Him after His baptism at Jordan. So He is in us from our new birth, and on us from the day of our entire consecration to the service of God. 4. COVERED WITH FRANKINCENSE (Lev 2:2-16). The frankincense was "a sweet savour unto the Lord," and speaks of the satisfaction God finds in a Spirit-possessed and Spirit-anointed life. The life of Jesus was lived in and by the power of the Holy Ghost, and so it was well pleasing in His sight. 5. BAKEN IN THE OVEN. The green ears of corn were dried by the fire and beaten out (Lev 2:14). The fire and the beating are most suggestive emblems of the sufferings of Him who was the Holy One, yet the "Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief." He passed through the oven of fiery heat in the garden of Gethsemane. The Shepherd was sorely smitten, He was made a perfect meat-offering through suffering." Ours were the pangs He bore." 6. TO HAVE NO LEAVEN OR HONEY (Lev 2:11). Leaven as a type of sin represents the secret workings of deceit and corruption. Honey may symbolize the flattery and applause of men. Jesus Christ was unmoved either by the one or the other. There was no guile in His mouth, He could say, "I am the Truth." 7. SEASONED WITH SALT (Lev 2:13). Salt has a pungent, preserving influence, something opposed to corruption. Such is the effect of the truth as revealed in Jesus upon those who come into contact with it. The everlasting covenant and the unfailing faithfulness of Christ to the will of God the Father is doubtless taught by the salt. He abideth faithful. Have salt in yourselves. 8. OFFERED UNTO THE LORD (Lev 2:2). Flour, oil, frankincense, these three, body, soul, and spirit, all presented to the Lord, and accepted by Him. This is the "approach-offering." Through Jesus Christ we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Present yourselves (Rom. 12:1, 2). 9. FOOD FOR THE OFFERER (Lev 2:10). A portion of this offering was given to Aaron and his sons. "It was most holy." It was the Bread of God and also of man. It takes the most holy to satisfy the heart of God and the soul of man. It became the food of the offerer only after he had offered it to God. Christ can only satisfy our souls as we present Him to God as our Substitute, and plead the merit of His precious Name. God will not have us to feast our souls on less than that which has brought infinite satisfaction to His own heart. F B
Levítico 2
Wiersbe - Only the males in the family could eat it, and they had to do it in the holy place of the tabernacle (Lev 6:16, 18), and with unleavened bread (Lev 2:17). The only meal offering that was not eaten was the one presented each morning and evening by the high priest’s son, who would succeed him in office (Lev 2:19–23). Twice a day, God reminded His priests that they should maintain purity and integrity as they served Him. (Be Holy Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament ) F Duane Lindsey - The grain offering was described in the same terms as the burnt offering: an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD (cf. Lev 1:9, 13, 17). (Borrow Bible Knowledge Commentary - Old Testament) David Baker on the meaning of the memorial portion - Some suggest it was the goodness of God, especially in his provision of food, or that it serves as a prod to God to remember the offerer (Hartley 1992:30). More likely it was a reminder that this was just a token of all the offering, which in fact belonged completely to God (Milgrom 1991:182). The remainder was given to the priests for their use, since they were to be provided for from the people’s gifts instead of having to raise their own food (Num 18:8–32; cf. Dt 18:1–4). Just because they were dedicating themselves to God’s work, they should not miss out on his goodness. This has serious implications for today’s full-time religious workers, who are often expected by their congregations to exemplify sacrificial poverty rather than enjoying God’s providential bounty (see Lk 10:7; 1Cor 9:3-14). (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary) A SOOTHING AROMA "ODOR OF REST" Soothing aroma to the LORD (23x) - Lev 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9; 3:5; 4:31; 6:21; 17:6; 23:18; Num 15:3, 7, 10, 13f, 24; 18:17; 28:8, 24, 27; 29:2, 13, 36. Dr S Lewis
Levítico 2
Wiersbe - Leaven (yeast) and honey were prohibited from being included in the meal offering (Lev. 2:11). The Jews would associate leaven with evil because of the Passover rules (Ex. 12:19–20; see Luke 12:1; 1Cor. 5:8), and certainly there was no sin in Jesus Christ. Honey is the sweetest thing nature produces, but our Lord’s perfect character was divine and not from this world. The fact that yeast and honey both ferment may also be a factor. (Be Holy Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament ) Leaven - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Leaven - Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Leaven - Torrey's Topical Textbook Leaven - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Leaven - Holman Bible Dictionary Grain offering (04503)( minchah - word study) Grain offerings, like fellowship offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, peace offerings, and burnt offerings involve both giving something of material importance and the desire to be right with God through worship. The giving spirit intended in these acts continues among Christians but with the recognition that Christ made the eternal atonement sacrifice for us (see 1Co 5:6-8), like fellowship offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, peace offerings, and burnt offerings involve both giving something of material importance and the desire to be right with God through worship. The giving spirit intended in these acts continues among Christians but with the recognition that Christ made the eternal atonement sacrifice for us (see 1Co 5:6-8) G Campbell
Levítico 2
Wiersbe points out that there was no shedding of blood involved in the Grain Offering, for it focused on the life and character of our Lord Jesus Christ rather than His death. This Grain Offering could be offered in various forms. The worshipper could bring the flour itself, or he could bake it into a loaf of bread, or he could cook it on the griddle, or he could bring the crushed heads of grain. But whatever the form, it was to be the finest wheat he could possibly grow, for it represented the perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice verse 1 of the chapter: “When anyone offers a Grain Offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour.” I think that it’s always a good idea for us to stand amazed at the perfections of Christ. I recently read an old biography of the Reformer Martin Luther, and I think one of the things that characterized Luther was a constant wonder at the perfections of Jesus Christ. Luther said on one occasion: When I am told that God became a man, I can follow the idea, but I just do not understand what it means. For what man, if left to his own natural promptings, if he were God, would humble Himself to lie in the feedbox of a donkey or to hang upon the cross? God laid upon Christ the iniquities of us all. This is that ineffable and infinite mercy of God which the slender capacity of man’s heart cannot comprehend and much less utter—that unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God’s love toward us. Oil = His Spirit-Filled Life The second characteristic of the Grain Offering was this: When the worshipper brought the Grain Offering to the Lord, it was to include oil. Look at verse 1 again: When anyone offers a Grain Offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it…. This is an easy symbol to interpret, for oil is a common symbol for the Holy Spirit. Think of how perfectly this fits. Fine grain mixed with oil. Fine grain anointed with oil. It represents the perfect humanity of Christ being anointed with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and rested upon Him, filling Him and possessing Him and empowering Him for His work. The very words “Messiah” and “Christ” mean, literally, the “Anointed One.” Frankincense = His Fragrant Life Added to the oil was frankincense. Look at verse 1 again: When anyone offers a Grain Offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. This perfumed oil called frankincense is referred to fourteen times in the Bible. It was a perfumed, sweet-smelling ointment that was derived from the resin of a special tree. It was a valuable specialty of the Middle East. When one of our soldiers, John Tanner, retuned from his tour of duty in Iraq he brought me a little wooden chest containing a vial of oriental frankincense. This is the anointment that the Magi brought to the Christ-child, and three times in the Song of Solomon frankincense is referred to as a perfume. I think it speaks of the perfumed fragrance of the human life of Christ. His pleasantness. His beauty. The historian Philip Schaff wrote: A catalog (list) of virtues and graces (of Christ), however complete, would merely give us a mechanical view. It's the spotless purity and the sinlessness of Jesus as acknowledged by friend and foe that raises His character high above the rich of all others. In Him we see the even harmony and symmetry of all graces: His love for God and man, His dignity and humility, His strength and tenderness, His greatness and simplicity, and His self-control and submission. It's the absolute perfection of Christ's character that makes Him a moral miracle in History. It's futile to compare Him with saints and sages, ancient or modern. Even the skeptic Jean Jacques Rousseau was compelled to remark, "If Socrates lived and died like a sage, Jesus lived and died like a God." No Leaven = His Sinless Life That brings us to the next observation. When the Grain Offering was brought in the form of bread, it was to be baked without leaven. Look at verse 4: If you bring as an offering a Grain Offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. But if your offering is a Grain Offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil. In the Bible, leaven was sometimes used as a symbol of sin, and I’m sure this is the meaning and significance here. The Grain Offering was to be made of finest flour, anointed with oil, touched with fragrance, and containing no leaven. What a picture of the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ, a man without sin or stain or blemish. None of us can look upon the sun with our naked eyes without going blind. Yet the sun is not pure and spotless. There are sunspots. There are blemishes. There are flare-ups. There are imperfections and fiery explosions. But Jesus Christ radiates brightness like the sun in all its glory, and there are no spots. Nothing but pure radiance. Nothing but perfection. In my library are scores of biographies and autobiographies of great men and women. Some of these people have done great things. Some of them have changed the world and gone done in history as heroes of humanity. But every one of them—even the greatest and noblest—lived an imperfect life filled with faults and failures. I only have one biography that records the life of a human being who had absolutely no faults or failures—and that is the book I hold in my hands, the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus Christ. No Honey = His Difficult Life Now there is another interesting little detail about the Grain Offering that we observe in verse 11. Not only was the cake of bread to be devoid of leaven, but it was also to be made without honey. Verse 11 says: No Grain Offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire. This is the one element that I’m not sure about. I cannot be dogmatic or certain about the prophetic or typical significance of this. I’m sure that it isn’t meaningless, for there are no wasted words in the Bible; but I’m not sure as to the meaning. I can offer one suggestion. Honey was the sweetening agent of ancient times. When you wanted to bake a cake or some sort of sweet pastry or desert, you sweetened it with honey. It was the sugar of that day. It was the sweetening agent. When you added honey to the loaf of bread, it became a dessert. That was not appropriate for the Grain Offering. While Jesus Christ came as the unleavened, sinless Bread of Life, He did not come as a sweet dessert. His life was not one of pleasure. It was not one of enjoyment or amusement. His sacrificial life and death were not for His own entertainment. He brings pleasure to us to be sure, but He Himself was a “Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief.” He didn’t come to laugh and dance and eat desserts and enjoy life. He didn’t come to eat, drink, and be merry. He came to offer Himself as a ransom for many. He come to suffer anguish and pain and the horrors of crucifixion. His life was lived without desserts, as it were, without honey, without sweetness. He cried, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” It was a life of sacrifice and giving and dying on the cross for our sins. I don’t know for sure, but perhaps that’s the significance of the cake being made without honey. Salt = His Covenant Life The next distinction of the Grain Offering was that it was to salted bread. No leaven and no honey. But it was to be salted. Look at verse 13: And every offering of your Grain Offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your Grain Offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt. In the ancient world, they somehow used salt when they made a covenant or a contract with one another. Salt was thought of as being indestructible. When a house burned down, the salt remained unburned, undestroyed. And so I suspect that when they made a contract with one another, they took a little salt and sprinkled it over the agreement as a token of the permanent nature of the covenant. In the Upper Room, as Jesus passed around the cup of wine for the disciples to drink, He said, “This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Jesus Christ was God’s own contract – a flesh-and-blood agreement. In subjecting Jesus Christ to the pain and penalty and punishment for sins, we are released from guilt and made heirs of eternal life. Hebrews 8:6 says: But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 9:15 says: He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption for the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 10:16ff says: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” It is this covenant, this agreement that God makes with us through Jesus Christ that makes possible the forgiveness of our sins and lawless deeds. It’s our Lord Jesus Christ—perfect humanity, Spirit-anointed and fragrant, without leaven or honey, agent of the indestructible new covenant—that brings light and hope and life into our hearts. The Broken Bread = His Broken Life Finally, I’d like for you to notice something else about this Grain Offering. Another little detail. When it was brought in the form of bread (remember, it could be offered as flour, as crushed wheat, or as baked or grilled bread) it was to be broken. Look at verses 5 and 6: But if your offering is a Grain Offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil. You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a Grain Offering. This reminds us immediately of the rites and rituals of the last supper. Jesus said, “This is My body which is broken for you. Do this, whenever you do it, in memory of me.” There is a sense in which, in that Upper Room, Jesus was saying, “My Grain Offering is My own body which is broken for you.” Bread of Heav’n on Thee we feed, For Thy flesh is (food) indeed: Ever may our souls be fed With this true and living Bread; Day by day with strength supplied, Through the life of Him Who died. Several years ago, there was a movie that came out that was relatively true to life. It starred Denzel Washington, and it was the story of a man named Antwone Fisher. I haven’t seen the movie, but I’ve read about the man named Antwone Fisher, and his is a remarkable story. He was literally born in a prison in Ohio where his mother was incarcerated. By the time of his birth, his father was already dead, and Antwone became a ward of the state. For thirteen years he lived with a couple who abused him horribly. He was beaten down physically, emotionally, and psychologically. He never received a Christmas present. He was never given an allowance. He was sexually abused, and he was repeatedly beaten. In the movie, Antwone’s life doesn’t change for the better until he enters the United States Navy and meets a psychologist portrayed by Denzel Washington who takes an interest in helping him. In real life, Antwone did receive help from a Navy psychologist, but the real seeds of hope were sown into his life earlier by a school teacher who took an interest in him. By his own testimony, Antwone says that by the third grade he had lost any interest in learning anything. His foster mother had told him repeatedly that he was the worst child in the world and that he couldn’t learn anything and that he was nothing but a failure. But he ended up in the class of a school teacher named Mrs. Profit, Brenda Profit. She had compassion on the boy and started encouraging and helping him. He began to make progress, but still, by the end of the year, his grades were not really good enough to pass on to the next grade. But when Mrs. Profit learned that she was going to be moved to teaching the next grade herself, she promoted Antwone so that she could continue working with him in the fifth and then in the sixth grades. One day, Antwone was asked to read aloud in class. He was horribly shy and he sometimes stuttered. But on this day, instead of panicking, he read very well and even sounded out a difficult word. Mrs. Profit praised him, saying, “I’m proud of you. I want you to know that I really struggled over promoting you, and I’m so glad that I did. You are doing very well that year.” Years later, Antwone Fisher credited those words and that moment with changing his life. He said it was like a bolt of lightening and a thunder clap. For the first time in his life he realized that there might be hope, that he could improve, that he could do better, that he could help himself, that by working hard enough he could change his circumstances. He would still have plenty of ups and downs, but those words from a beloved teacher provided the moment in which the direction and trends of his life were reversed and he began traveling in a different direction. All of us need a life-changing moment in which the direction and trends of our lives are reversed and we began traveling in a different direction. No one can change our lives like Jesus Christ. He knows our sins and He sees all our weaknesses. But He says to us, “You know, I saw all your failing grades. I knew all your faults. And I struggled in my heart on your behalf, and I’m so glad I did. I’m so proud of what you can become through Me. That’s our Jesus, portrayed 1500 years in advance by the Grain Offerings of the book of Leviticus. • Fine wheat representing His perfect humanity. • Anointed with oil representing the Holy Spirit. • Offered with frankincense representing the aromatic beauty of His earthy life. • A life lived with the leaven of sin • …or the sweetness of honey. • Salted with salt representing an indestructible covenant between you and your God. • Broken before the altar, representing the body of our Lord, broken for our sins. He’s not only our burnt offering; He’s our Grain Offering. For He Himself said: I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.