What connections exist between Exodus 29:13 and New Testament teachings on sacrifice? Setting the Scene “Then take all the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and burn them on the altar.” – Exodus 29:13 Why the Fat and Organs Matter • In ancient Israel, fat and vital organs were considered the richest, most valuable parts of the animal. • Placing them on the altar signaled that the choicest, innermost portions belonged exclusively to God. • Burning them produced the “pleasing aroma” that Scripture repeatedly links with divine acceptance (Leviticus 3:16). Foreshadowing the Perfect Sacrifice • Hebrews 10:10 tells us, “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Just as the hidden, life-sustaining parts were wholly God’s, Jesus offered every inner affection, motive, and thought to the Father—nothing held back (John 8:29). • The irrevocable burning points to Christ’s total self-giving at the cross, never to be taken back or repeated (Hebrews 9:26). The Aroma Theme Picked Up in the New Testament • Ephesians 5:2: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” • The “fragrant” language mirrors the altar smoke of Exodus 29:13, underscoring that Calvary fulfills the scent of acceptance begun in the tabernacle. From Altar to Daily Life • Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” – Like the fat and organs, believers surrender the most protected parts of life—desires, plans, ambitions. • 1 Peter 2:5: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – The priestly pattern of Exodus becomes the church’s calling, made possible because Christ’s once-for-all offering opened the way (Hebrews 10:19-22). Key Takeaways • Exodus 29:13 showcases God’s claim on the best and deepest parts of the sacrifice. • The New Testament connects that pattern to Jesus’ wholehearted, inner-and-outer offering of Himself. • Because His sacrifice is complete and accepted, believers now offer their own inner lives as ongoing, living sacrifices that rise like a pleasing aroma to God. |
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