How does Leviticus 7:32 connect to New Testament teachings on sacrifice? Key Verse “You are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offerings.” (Leviticus 7:32) What Was Happening in Leviticus 7 • The peace (fellowship) offering celebrated restored relationship with God. • Part of the animal—the right thigh—was set aside for the priest who mediated that sacrifice. • This act affirmed God’s provision for His servants and displayed that sacrifice brings shared fellowship: God, priest, and worshiper all partake. New Testament Echoes of the Priestly Portion 1. Provision for Ministers • 1 Corinthians 9:13-14—“Those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar… the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” • Paul draws directly from priestly privileges like the right thigh to validate support for gospel workers today. 2. Christ as Both Priest and Sacrifice • Hebrews 10:12—“But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.” • In Leviticus, priests received the choicest portion; in the cross, Jesus, our great High Priest, receives the full reward of His own finished work—our salvation. 3. Shared Fellowship Through a Better Offering • 1 Peter 2:5—believers are now “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” • The peace offering pointed to intimate communion; the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20) fulfills this in New Covenant fellowship, with Christ Himself providing the feast. 4. Living Sacrifices Today • Romans 12:1—“present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” • Just as the best part of the peace offering belonged to the priest, every “best part” of our lives now belongs to our High Priest, Jesus. Take-Home Reflections • God values and sustains those who minister His Word; supporting them is a New Testament expectation rooted in Leviticus 7:32. • The set-apart portion foreshadowed the exclusive glory and reward due to Christ for His self-offering. • Because we share in Christ’s priesthood, we, too, enjoy the benefits of His sacrifice and respond by offering ourselves wholly to God. |
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