Leviticus 3:1-5 comments: a sacrifice of peace offering

3:1 ¶  And 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. 2  And 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. 3  And 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, 4  And 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. 5  And 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.

A peace offering could be male or female. One observation from this is that in the church there is no distinction between male and female when it comes to God’s blessings or privileges just as there is no distinction racially or of social status.

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Peace with God, as man has been in open rebellion against the king of the universe since Adam and Eve’s transgression in disobedience, is fundamentally important. Here is how Christ is our peace offering, making peace between Jew and Gentile and the new person in the Church composed of both and God.

Ephesians 2:11 ¶  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands [Jews];  12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

    14 ¶  For he is our peace, who hath made both one [Jew and Gentile], and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man [the Church, composed of both Jew and Gentile believers], so making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body [the Church] by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

God wanted animals that were physically without blemish and I believe that is because Christ was spiritually without blemish. As the Old Testament reflects the physical aspects of Law so the New Testament reveals more fully the spiritual aspects of God’s Grace, His unmerited mercy.

The peace offering represents reconciliation and communion with God. This is only possible now through Christ. The peace offering, more fully expounded on in chapter 7, represents a propitiation to God with propitiation meaning to appease someone’s anger and renew fellowship with them, which we can only achieve through faith in Christ, who is the propitiation of God’s wrath upon rebellious and wicked mankind.

Romans 3:19 ¶  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Peace offerings were not just made by the people but by leaders such as Nahshon the son of Amminadab and captain of the children of Judah in Numbers 7:17; Joshua in 8:31; and David in 2Samuel 6:17: 2Samuel 24:25 where we see the intent of the offerer.

2Samuel 24:25  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.