Leviticus 3:1-17
And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food
offering with a pleasing aroma.
All fat is the Lord’s. – Leviticus 3:16
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https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%203&version=ESV
The first two chapters of Leviticus show us that the burnt offering was completely burned for the Lord, while the grain offering was given both to God and to the priests. The peace offering, however, stands out as something special: it is the only sacrifice where the one offering could share the sacrificed meat with God (Leviticus 7:11–16). Perhaps for this reason, the NIV translates it as the “fellowship offering,” and the NiRV as the “friendship offering,” highlighting the deep joy of communion between God and His people. It is also significant that the peace offering was the only non-mandatory offering among the five.
The first three offerings—the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering—share a common refrain: “It shall be a food offering (an offering by fire) to the Lord.” These offerings picture a meal shared with God, celebrating restored communion. In contrast, the final two sacrifice categories, which we will explore further next week, emphasize forgiveness, marked by the phrase, “He shall be forgiven” (Lev. 4:26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7). All five sacrifices deal with sin and forgiveness, but notice how the first three emphasize restored relationship through shared fellowship, while the last two emphasize the removal of sin.
The procedures for the peace and burnt offerings were very similar. But the peace offering involved five steps: presenting a spotless offering (Lev. 3:1, 6); laying hands on the sacrifice (3:2, 7–8, 13); slaughter (3:2, 8, 13); offering a portion to God (3:3–5, 9–11, 14–16); and the fifth and final step, the worshiper and their family partaking of the meat in God’s presence (7:11–36). It is no accident that, in the New Testament, Jesus sat with His disciples for the last supper (Luke 22:7–23), offering Himself as the peace offering, revealing that He Himself is the true sacrifice who makes our fellowship with God possible. Now, instead of bringing an animal to the altar, we are invited to the communion table—to remember Christ with repentance and gratitude.
Burnt offering and peace offering are mentioned together 47 times throughout the Old Testament, often with the peace offering following the burnt offering. First comes the act of surrender—giving all to God, acknowledging Him as the Lord of life. Then comes the joy—receiving from His hand and entering into His fellowship.
The peace offering points us to a deeper kind of peace than we often imagine. In Scripture, the word “peace” (Shalom in Hebrew) is not simply the absence of tension or conflict. It is the gift of wholeness, harmony, and well-being that God grants to His people. Through Christ, our true peace, we are invited into a life of surrender, restored relationship, and joyful communion with God and one another. What a beautiful picture of the life we are called to live in Him.
Reflection:
Have you ever thought of your relationship with God not just in terms of duty, but of joyful fellowship? What might it mean for you today to experience friendship with God and fellow brothers and sisters?
When you come to God, is your focus more on clearing guilt or on enjoying a restored relationship with Him? How can you intentionally move toward deeper communion today?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way for me to have peace with You through Jesus. Help me to surrender fully, and to delight in the fellowship You freely offer. Draw me closer to You today. Amen.