Leviticus 1-3
Offerings Required of the Lord
Leviticus 1:1-17
There are three sections to this chapter all dealing with offering burnt offerings to the Lord. It is commanded that these offerings be a sacrifice that is pleasing based upon the ability of the person provide the offering. Three classes of people: Rich heard owners, middle class flock owners, and the poor whom a pigeon would be a fine meal. The offering represents a sacrifice, giving up what is sustenance and the ability to provide for ones self and family, to be burned and consumed by fire. God is asking for us to give up, so we would see the cost of our sins, this giving up or turning is the act of repentance. It's not the action of repentance that has meaning though, it's the motivation of the heart. For a rich man to give a pigeon or a dove would be no offering, but to give the best of his herd is costly. Another observation is that the offerings here are a result of mans ability to work, husbandry of his animals, ability to hunt and gather, or labor. God is asking His people to make the fruit of their labor a sacrifice.
What of my labor could I give that would cost me the most? My time, my resources?
Where am I in my abilities, What does God require of me?
The cost of perfection is great, it takes time to groom animals and keep them safe, keep them from blemish. God asks for the best of our herd or flock. God also requires that it be cleansed, all the internal organs be washed. I know that this has a purpose, but It's something I will need to return and look at more closely.
Leviticus 2:1-16
The grain offering is an offering of the finest flour, grain, or unleavened bread in which a portion is burned but the remaining is offered to the priest as food. It must include seasonings, salt, a very valuable commodity of the day, and olive oil. Again all this is very labor intensive. Yeast and honey are banned from this offering, so bread baked with honey or yeast can not be burned on the alter. These are not banned as an offering, just as a grain offering, they are welcome as an offering of first fruits which is not consumed on the alter. Yeast in the bible is often shown as a sign of sin.
Leviticus 3:1-17
Fellowship offering is a bull, sheep, or goat that is slaughtered and the blood, fat and kidneys are given as an offering. Again this text repeats itself over three times, like in Leviticus 1, the requirement here is the instructions be followed. The chapter ends with an ordinance:
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
How does this apply to what I eat? We know today that eating fat isn't the best thing for our bodies, and the consumption of blood is still considered strange or even bad.
Matthew 24
The end will come
In this chapter Jesus is teaching his followers:
Leviticus 1:1-17
There are three sections to this chapter all dealing with offering burnt offerings to the Lord. It is commanded that these offerings be a sacrifice that is pleasing based upon the ability of the person provide the offering. Three classes of people: Rich heard owners, middle class flock owners, and the poor whom a pigeon would be a fine meal. The offering represents a sacrifice, giving up what is sustenance and the ability to provide for ones self and family, to be burned and consumed by fire. God is asking for us to give up, so we would see the cost of our sins, this giving up or turning is the act of repentance. It's not the action of repentance that has meaning though, it's the motivation of the heart. For a rich man to give a pigeon or a dove would be no offering, but to give the best of his herd is costly. Another observation is that the offerings here are a result of mans ability to work, husbandry of his animals, ability to hunt and gather, or labor. God is asking His people to make the fruit of their labor a sacrifice.
What of my labor could I give that would cost me the most? My time, my resources?
Where am I in my abilities, What does God require of me?
The cost of perfection is great, it takes time to groom animals and keep them safe, keep them from blemish. God asks for the best of our herd or flock. God also requires that it be cleansed, all the internal organs be washed. I know that this has a purpose, but It's something I will need to return and look at more closely.
Leviticus 2:1-16
The grain offering is an offering of the finest flour, grain, or unleavened bread in which a portion is burned but the remaining is offered to the priest as food. It must include seasonings, salt, a very valuable commodity of the day, and olive oil. Again all this is very labor intensive. Yeast and honey are banned from this offering, so bread baked with honey or yeast can not be burned on the alter. These are not banned as an offering, just as a grain offering, they are welcome as an offering of first fruits which is not consumed on the alter. Yeast in the bible is often shown as a sign of sin.
Leviticus 3:1-17
Fellowship offering is a bull, sheep, or goat that is slaughtered and the blood, fat and kidneys are given as an offering. Again this text repeats itself over three times, like in Leviticus 1, the requirement here is the instructions be followed. The chapter ends with an ordinance:
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
How does this apply to what I eat? We know today that eating fat isn't the best thing for our bodies, and the consumption of blood is still considered strange or even bad.
Matthew 24
The end will come
In this chapter Jesus is teaching his followers:
- The temple will be destroyed and no brick will be left unturned
- followers of Jesus will be persecuted
- Many will claim to be the Messiah, but they will all be false
- even the elect will be deceived
- Don't look to signs and wonders as a proof , even the false messiahs will be able to do these things.
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