What New Testament passages relate to the sacrificial themes in Leviticus 7:3? Leviticus 7:3 – the Fat Given to God “ ‘And he is to present all its fat: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,’ ” Why the Fat Matters • The fat was the richest part of the animal—completely set apart for the LORD (cf. Leviticus 3:16). • By surrendering the best portion, worshipers acknowledged God’s absolute ownership and sought atonement through a substitutionary offering. • This pattern anticipates a sacrifice in which the whole—body, life, and every “best part”—would be devoted to God on behalf of sinners. Christ – the Once-for-All Fulfillment • Hebrews 9:14: “Christ … offered Himself unblemished to God.” • Hebrews 10:10: “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Ephesians 5:2: “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” • 1 Peter 3:18: “Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” In Jesus, nothing is held back; the entirety of who He is—body, blood, life—is placed on the altar, satisfying every symbol bound up in Leviticus 7:3. New Testament Passages Echoing the Fat Offering • John 1:29 – The Lamb of God takes away sin, fulfilling the need for substitution. • 1 Corinthians 5:7 – “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed,” linking Him to every OT altar. • Hebrews 13:11-12 – Just as the fat was burned “outside the camp,” Jesus suffered outside the gate to make the people holy. • Revelation 5:9-10 – Heaven praises the Lamb whose blood purchased people for God, acknowledging that the richest, fullest sacrifice is His. Believers – Living Out the Completed Sacrifice • Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” • Philippians 2:17 – Paul speaks of being “poured out like a drink offering,” echoing total consecration. • Hebrews 13:15-16 – Praise, good works, and sharing are “sacrifices with which God is pleased.” Key Takeaways • Leviticus 7:3 directs the best portion to God; the New Testament reveals Jesus as the ultimate “best portion,” wholly devoted to the Father. • Because Christ met every requirement of the fat offering, believers now live in continual worship, offering every aspect of life back to God. |
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